COMMUNITY GROUPS AT
THE JOURNEY
WELCOME TO
When thinking of discipleship at The Journey, our heart turns to the concept of friends gathering regularly enough to become more like a healthy community. Community Groups are primarily a people focused environment for discipleship, but with so many more attributes.
The group concept creates opportunity for:
-
Deeper investigation of a biblical truth along with the exchange of insights and ideas through dialogue
-
Proximity for care, encouragement and support for one another
-
Group service projects
-
Collective prayer
For more information email: communitygroups@thejourneyhastings.church
Participants
These are the people who voluntarily and regularly attend a group gathering intending to become a community.
Facilitator
This is the person or persons who plan out the Community Group gathering time. Facilitators are not teachers and so they only need simple training on keeping a group's focus.
Hosts
This is the person or persons who opens their home or orchestrates the fellowship side of the gathering.
The Purpose of Community?
o Community is encouraging.
Being in community gives you the chance to be around people at different stages of their faith journey—and to bear their burdens alongside of them. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)
What it comes down to is lifting each other up, learning from one another, and being the friend each of us needs. That’s how Hebrews describes community: And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving 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 (Hebrews 10:24–25 NIV).
o Community is fun.
Community should never feel boring or forced. In fact, it should be the exact opposite. Psalm 133:1 (NIV) tells us, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Believers can be goofy, witty and just really fun to be around. Yes, community has a higher purpose. But it should also be enjoyable!
o Community attracts the Holy Spirit.
The Bible says the Holy Spirit is present whenever believers gather together (Matthew 18:20).A great example of this was the early church of Acts, which made a habit of meeting together, eating together, and worshiping together. As a result, “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:46–47 NIV).
o Community fosters love and creates disciples
Community is life-giving—and essential to following Christ. Scripture says that’s because we’re better together than we are alone (Romans 12:4–5). Community is God’s desire for us—and a sign of a mature faith. Because at the end of the day, when we grow in our relationships with others, we’re growing in relationship with Him!