Groups"Communities" are small groups of typically 5-12 people who meet twice a month or more in someone's home, usually for about two hours. Here, people study God's Word together and discuss the issues and challenges of life. It's also where they pray, care for one another, and are missed if they don't show up. It's a place to be encouraged, equipped, and challenged to become a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. On a practical level, there will never be a way for Pastor Chris or the staff to personally minister to everyone who attends our church – and this is why we place such a high value on small group life, or "communities". It's the most effective way to minister to each other. As we grow larger, we have to grow smaller. We believe that in community, sustained life change occurs – transformation doesn't happen just by showing up to a service on a Sunday. The bible speaks of "one another" more than 50 times in the New Testament. To carry these principles out, we need to be in authentic, close fellowship with each other. Jesus, before He was arrested, prayed for us, saying, "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father – that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe that you sent me." John 17:20. Jesus was in community with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and He was in community with the disciples – He is our ultimate role model. Have a look at how the early church lived their lives in community:
"They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Every day they continued to meet together... they broke bread in their homes and ate together... and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:42, 44, 46-47 "Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the Good News that Jesus is the Christ." Acts 5:42 "Greet also the church that meets at their house." Rom. 16:5 "Aquilla and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord and so does the church that meets at their house." "Give my greetings...to Nympha and the church in her house." Col. 4: 15 Small group communities are the place where real fellowship happens - where we get to know one another. We can celebrate the successes and good times of life as well as comfort one another during the tough and disappointing times and help each other out in practical ways. We're not meant to be "lone ranger" believers - one of God's primary purposes for our lives is to belong to His family.
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