What is a Community Group?
In this lesson you will learn about the purpose and nature of a community group at Grace Community Church. “Community Groups” is our new title for “Small Groups”, and describes our purpose and mission to celebrate Jesus, love one another, and live on mission where we work, play, live, and learn.
Chapter 1: Planning Monthly Rythms
Definition of a Leader
We define a leader as someone who strives to imitate the character of Christ. Jesus was and is our supreme example of what it means to lead, love and serve others. In this lesson you will explore the distinctives of a Biblical leader.
Chapter 2: Developing Character
Identity of a Leader
Healthy leaders lead out of their gospel identity. When a leader operates from the acceptance, love, and approval they have received in Christ, they will serve and shepherd others with appropriate boldness and genuine humility. In this lesson you will discover how a leader leads from an identity that is firmly rooted in Christ.
Chapter 3: Religion vs. The Gospel
Self Reflection: Cycle of Grief & Grace
Practices of a Leader
Healthy leaders seek to abide in Christ, live by the Spirit, and know God through his Word and prayer. A Christian leader draws deeply from God’s resources in order to meet human needs through the Spirit’s power and provision. In this lesson you will learn what it means to abide in Christ and practice habits of grace that will draw you closer to your Lord and Savior.
Chapter 4: How to Have a Quiet Time
Part Two: The Upward Nature of Community Groups
Priority of the Gospel
The gospel is good news for our salvation and sanctification. It is the doorway for becoming a Christian and the pathway for growing as a Christian. As we grow in our understanding of the gospel, and believe with greater faith all that God has given and promised to us through Christ, we will find ourselves living more fully out of our identity as sons and daughters of our heavenly Father. In this lesson you will learn how the gospel continues to change us as followers of Jesus.
Chapter 5: Speak the Truth in Love
Priority of God's Word
The Bible is central to our knowledge, adoration, and worship of Jesus. It is the living Word of God that reveals to us who God is and what he requires us as his children. Healthy community groups make the Bible a focus of their gatherings and a priority for their study and formation. In this lesson you will learn about the foundations of the Bible and how to lead various studies in God’s Word.
Chapter 6: Inductive Bible Study Method
Chapter 6: Study and Ask
Chapter 6: The IOUS
Priority of Prayer
Prayer is the fuel for our communion with Christ, our care for one another, and our missional engagement in the world. In this lesson you will hear from a variety of voices on the importance of prayer, how to lead a group in prayer, praying for the lost, and partnering with our Beyond field workers.
Chapter 7: Praying for Focus Areas
Chapter 7: Tips for Praying the Word
Part Three: The Inward Nature of Community Groups
Compelling Community
Christian community is compelling when the diverse family of God gathers in unity and love founded on their identity in Christ. When community groups pursue unity and seek to love each other as Christ has loved them, others will know that they belong to Jesus. In this lesson you will hear how a group pursues compelling love and unity while becoming a visible community to a watching world.
Chapter 8: 10 Ways to Relationally Connect with Others
Chapter 8: 10 Questions to Help You Listen to Others
Conflicted Community
No community group is perfect and every group will experience conflict. Conflict is not something to avoid but rather is a healthy sign that a group is moving toward authenticity and true community. In this lesson you will learn why conflict should be embraced and how to navigate it with wisdom and love.
Chapter 9: Navigating Relational Conflict
Competent Community
Every member of a community group has something to offer. If they are an adopted son or daughter of God then they have been given gifts from the Holy Spirit and those gifts are to be used for the good of the group and the building up of the body of Christ. In this lesson you will learn how to lean into your own gifting as well as identify and encourage the gifting in others.
Chapter 10: Group Roles
Chapter 10: Mission Statement
Part Four: The Onward Nature of Community Groups
Discipleship and Disciple Making
Jesus has given us the responsibility and privilege to go and make disciples of all nations. This is the central goal of community groups as they seek to make mature disciples through life on life relationships, life in community fellowship, and life on mission engagement. In this lesson you will learn the why and how of discipleship and disciple making.
Chapter 11: Coming soon
Chapter 11: Accountability Questions
Chapter 11: Leader Discipleship Questions
Declare and Display
The gospel is good news that is meant to be shared! We are to declare and display the gospel through our words and actions and we seek to live on mission where we live, learn, work, and play. We are everyday missionaries with everyday opportunities to make the good news of Jesus known. In this lesson you will hear how a community group can seek to be on mission together as well as encourage the missional opportunities every individual group member has in their everyday lives.
Chapter 12: 10 Ways to serve Others
Chapter 12: Mission Engagement Planning Guide
Chapter 12: Missional Community
Chapter 12: Topic of Getting to know your neighbor’s story
Chapter 12: The Bells Challenge DNA
Chapter 12: Tips for Becoming a Better Listener
Develop and Deploy
Community groups join the mission of Jesus by expanding their community to reach more and more people with the gospel. This happens as groups welcome new members, develop new leaders, and deploy new groups. In this lesson you will learn a way of thinking and operating with a multiplication mindset for the extension of gospel community and the growth of God’s kingdom.
Chapter 13: 9 Steps for Healthy Multiplication
Chapter 13: Developing an Apprentice
Chapter 13: Identifying an Apprentice
Chapter 13: Leader and Apprentice Task Chart
Appendix
Coach Job Description
Community Group Rules
Counseling Info Card
Group Covenant
Leader Agreement
Leader Job Description
Membership Pathway
Realm Roster
COMMUNITY GROUPS
Grace Community Church