| What’s the huge deal about community groups at Mosaic Church? Why is participation in a community group emphasized in every Sunday worship service? I can’t think of a better answer than this: God wants it! He wants the members of the body of Christ to meet regularly in small gatherings to express and deepen their common life in Him. A scriptural “proof text” for the above assertion is Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” God’s heart’s desire for community groups demonstrated in this passage is that we know, encourage, and motivate one another. Hebrews 10:14a literally says, “Consider one another.” Scot McKnight, in his translation of the New Testament called The First Testament, translates it “…may we ponder one another.” The call to consider one another is the call to give each member of the group care-ful, thoughtful, affirming, and loving attention. God calls community groups to provide a safe place where believers or attending unbelievers, for that matter, can be known, heard, accepted, and valued. “Remember, one of the most concerning issues of our time is loneliness. The one thing small groups do is give everyone a place to belong, a place where they are expected and friends [are] looking out for them.” -Pastor Mike Glenn of Brentwood Baptist Church God calls Christians to meet together in community groups for mutual encouragement (“…encouraging one another…” v. 25). The Greek participle translated “encouraging” literally means “coming alongside.” It calls to mind a word picture of one person coming alongside another to help lift a heavy object. Charles Swindoll defined encouragement as “the act of inspiring others with renewed courage, spirit, and hope.” In community groups, we want this kind of encouragement to be a regular and natural part of how we care for one another. These are examples of the kinds of things we hope and intend for each person to hear, see, receive, and participate in as we encourage one another: – By speaking words of affirmation – By really listening to others as they share a need or struggle instead of thinking about what you are going to say next, but seeking to understand and care – By sharing God’s answers to prayer in our lives – By testifying to God’s grace sustaining us in a present trial in our lives – By praying specifically and earnestly for one another – By referring others to resources that may be helpful in addressing a particular problem or need God’s desire is that disciples of Jesus meet together in small groups in order to motivate one another to be better disciples (“…spur one another on to love and good deeds…” v. 24). As someone has said, “God accepts us just as we are, but He loves us too much to let us stay that way.” His purpose is that we keep growing to become mature disciples (apprentices) of Jesus. This is at the heart of Mosaic Church’s mission: “Mosaic Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ through the core values of worship, community and mission in a multiethnic, multigenerational context.” A primary focus of community groups, therefore, must be helping one another grow in Christlikeness as we learn to follow Jesus together. We need to motivate, challenge, and spur one another on to love and good deeds, essential marks of discipleship. As we worship Jesus, grow together in community, and live on mission, our love and good deeds must not be limited to “insiders” (other believers) but extended also to “outsiders” (unbelievers) in the world. – Jack Hammans (Jack is a retired former pastor who has called Mosaic home for a number of years, along with his wife, Oneta. He has regularly preached and taught classes at Mosaic, and for his presence, we are ever thankful. We asked him to write this week’s email on his perspective of the importance of community.) __________________________________________________________________ Thanks, Jack! Our community groups are places where disciples are continually being formed, encouraged, challenged, and equipped to follow Jesus faithfully and make Him known. If you would like to participate in God’s work in your life through community groups, where you can be known and know others, be encouraged and encourage others, and spur one another on to live out our faith both inwardly and outwardly, here’s how you can get started. Check out the Mosaic Community Group Directory and find a group that’s right for you. – Cori Sullivan, Mosaic Pastor of Community |
