COMMUNITY
GROUPS
WHAT IS A COMMUNITY GROUP?
The bible points us to partnering together as we seek to love God and love others. Sunday mornings provide a great opportunity for the church to gather, worship, and be taught by the Word, but it cannot be the only way the church gathers if we are to follow the biblical example.
In short, a community group is a smaller group of people (usually 6-15) that unite together and commit to helping each other follow Jesus for the purpose of fulfilling God’s mission in the world. This group will usually come together at least weekly for fellowship, prayer, friendship, bible study, worship, sharing meals, and serving their community (Acts 2:42-47, Hebrews 10:24-25)
WHY IS COMMUNITY SO IMPORTANT?
– The Trinity: There is one God eternally existing in three persons. God Himself, biblically defined, is community. Deep in the heart of who God is, is a perfect picture of unity with one another. This is the picture that God himself is calling us to with himself and with others. (John 17:21-23)
– Man: From the very beginning, even before sin entered the world, God made it clear that we were created to not be alone (Gen. 2:18). He created us for fellowship and to need one another. Community Groups are places where we can personally know others and be known by them so that we can help one another love and follow Jesus.
– Jesus: He chose a small group of people, called his disciples, to “be with him” and invested large amounts of time with them in community. The intimate relationship of Jesus and the 12 is an example for us as we live out our faith. (Mark 3:13-14; John 17:21-26)
– The New Testament Church: The church founded by the apostles met often in small groups in believer’s homes. (Acts 2:46; 20:20; Romans 16:5; Col. 4:15; 1 Cor. 16:19; Philemon 1:2). Community Groups help the church live out the biblical description of community and fulfill the “one another” commands in the New Testament (John 13:34; Rom. 12:10 14:19; etc)