This week, Pastor Matthew shared the vision of Groups Sunday.
He reminded us who we are, and why we do the things we do.
We are a Spirit-led, Biblically based family of God who is committed to worship Jesus and live out Kingdom values in the context of community. We are called to make disciples and plant churches while embracing beneath-the-surface spirituality and a multi-ethnic church. We aim to impact and transform people in every sphere of our society, as well as the nations of the world for His glory.
The Lord is calling us to move forward in our vision, as now is the time for the body of Christ to mobilize. We need to lift our eyes from everything that has been weighing us down, and instead look to the Lord and His purposes. We need to get our eyes off ourselves and onto the harvest, because people need Jesus.
We say it every week, but we are a people who are passionate about Jesus and His purposes in the earth. We make disciples who encounter God, make disciples, and live on mission.
More than anything else in the world, people need Jesus – and they meet Him through the church; a body of believers who lay their lives down for one another daily.
We live out and express our discipleship calling within the five circles of church: me and Jesus, life on life discipleship, Life Groups, the Church Gathered, and Life on Mission.
Why should we be in a group:
1. We need to have a deep and rich relationship with God, and a deep and rich relationship with one another.
2. We live in a culture that needs to be reached with the gospel of Jesus again. The best thing we can do for our nation is to be like Jesus – to love and lay our lives down.
3. One of the best places for discipleship and spiritual formation is groups. Jesus’s Discipleship model was never without mission.
4. It’s the best place to care for each other.
5. It’s the New Testament Model.
It is in relationship with God and others that fills us and support us. Relationships with others are difficult, but they are essential, and they are how we grow.
