Community Groups
What is a Community Group?
A Community Group is a family of missionary servants who make disciples who make disciples.
Family
First of all, a community group is a group of believers who live and experience life together like a family. They see God as their Father because of their faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ and the new regeneration brought about by the Holy Spirit. This means they have and know of a divine love that leads them to love one another as brothers and sisters. They treat one another as children of God deeply loved by the Father in everything — sharing their money, time, resources, needs, hurts, successes, etc. They know each other well. This knowledge includes knowing each other’s stories and having familiarity with one another’s strengths and struggles in regards to belief in the gospel and it’s application to all of life (John 1:11-13; Romans 12:10-16; Ephesians 5:1-2).
Missionaries
God’s family is also sent like the Son by the Spirit to proclaim the good news of the kingdom — the gospel — and fulfill the commission of Jesus. A community group is more than a bible study or a small group that cares for other believers. A community group is made up of Spirit-led and Spirit-filled people who radically reorient their lives together for the mission of making disciples of a particular people and place where there is a gospel gap (no consistent gospel witness). This means people’s schedule, resources and decisions are now collectively built around reaching people together (Matthew 3:16-4:1;John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 13:2).
Servants
Jesus is Lord and we are his Servants. A community group serves those around them as though there are serving Jesus. In doing so, they give a foretaste of what life will be like under the rule and reign of Jesus Christ. Living as servants to the King who serve others as he served, presents a tangible witness to Jesus’ kingdom and the power of the gospel to change lives. A community group serves in such a way that it demands a Gospel explanation — lives that cannot be explained in any other way than by the Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus (Matthew 20:25-28; John 13:1-17; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Peter 2:16).
Disciples
We are all learners of Jesus our rabbi who has given us his Spirit to teach us all that is true about Jesus and enable us to live out his commands. Jesus commanded us to make disciples who believe the gospel, are established in a new identity and are able to obey all of his commands (Matthew 28:19-20).
The community group is the best context in which this can happen. Disciples are made and developed:
- Through life on life, where there is visibility and accessibility
- In community, where they can practice the “one anothers” of scripture
- On mission where they learn how to proclaim the gospel and make disciples.
* written by Jeff Vanderstelt, a pastor at Soma Communities in Tacoma, WA
What to expect
The purpose of community groups is to make disciples of Jesus Christ (living a gospel-informed and gospel-conformed life)
These are smaller groups of people who are committed to Jesus, His ongoing mission, and each other. CG’s come together on a regular basis, usually in someones home. We come together to continue studying the scripture preached at the weekend gathering, encourage one another, pray for one another, consider how to be missionaries in our culture, and often share a meal together.
To get involved in a community group or get more information simply contact the CG leader or email community@mercyhilldayton.org
What should I expect at a Community Group gathering?
Every Community Group looks different, because it’s made up of different people with different interests, schedules, and passions. Some communities might share a meal together one night a week. Others might volunteer time at various charities or get together to study the Bible. But no matter the specifics, every Community Group at Mercy Hill aims to live out our Five identities: Worshipers, Family, Learners, Missionaries, and Servants.
Here are some things involved in our CG gatherings:
- Fellowship: We pray for each other, study God’s word, share meals, and just enjoy hanging out.
- Hospitality: We look to bless those inside and outside our community with invitations to join us for meals or parties or whatever else they might enjoy.
- Bible: We open our bible’s and seek to know God more deeply and how to respond appropriately to what He has revealed to us.
- Participation: CG’s require you to participate. This means you come ready to engage with one another, willing to open your life to others, ready to discuss the text of scripture from the sermon, serve and love others, etc.
