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One of our six core values is
Biblical Community which is defined as the sense of
togetherness that is produced by the Holy Spirit among God’s
people when they gather together over God’s Word.
One way Biblical community is
effectively lived out is in smaller gatherings that we call
Life Groups.
The scriptures tell us to
encourage, admonish and pray for one another as a regular
part of our Christian life.
While this “one another
ministry” can take place during a Sunday morning service it
is best
accomplished within the environment of small groups.
Life Groups enable us to
fulfill the mandate for Biblical Community and the result is
that ministry is multiplied and the church flourishes and
grows .
The Biblical model for this
can be seen in the book of Acts.
All
the believers were together and had everything in
common...every
day they continued to meet together in the
temple courts.
They broke bread in their
homes and ate
together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and
enjoying the favor of all the people.
And the Lord added to their
number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:44-47
Day
after day in the temple courts and from house
to house, they never stopped teaching and preaching the
good news that Jesus is the Christ.
Acts 5:42
You
know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would
be helpful to you but have taught you
publicly and from
house to house.
Acts 20:20
From
these passages we can conclude that the early church met in
different locations …temple courts (publicly) and from house
to house.
The size of the meeting place
determined the size of the meeting.
There were large group
meetings and small group meetings … and both are needed.
There is a different dynamic in a small group when compared
to a large group.
Thank God for what he does on
Sunday morning in the large group meeting.
But we also need the spiritual
nourishment that is imparted by God when we gather in small
groups committed to encouraging one another with God’s Word,
praying for one another, bearing one another’s burdens and
so fulfilling the law of Christ.
Click here to see our current list of
groups. Youth
Women's
Men's
Combined
To check out a Life Group or become a Life Group Facilitator
please contact Chuck Rustin …
chuck@gracepsl.org
772-878-2040
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