Why Community Groups?

When do we have time to sit down, vent, or get help with our busy lives? Community Groups are a place where people can form relationships, process life and faith, and receive care through the ups and downs of life. Community Groups are a gathering of 8-12 people meeting weekly and bi- weekly in homes based on geographical location. These groups are the primary place in our church for pastoral care, discipleship, service, and prayer. It is through these groups we have seen people receive encouragement, care, process their faith in a safe environment, and grow in their relationship with God. All of our groups are led by trained leaders and members of our church who consistently receive support and oversight. You can contact any of the leaders by clicking their e-mail.

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A PHILOSOPHY OF COMMUNITY GROUPS

Purpose
The purpose of RMPC community groups is to fulfill a necessary component of our mission to make disciples who are passionate for God, the gospel, and the world by providing a forum for authentic gospel community to take place.

Rationale
Community is essential to growing in Christ. Apart from true community, no believer can properly grow into a fully devoted disciple of Christ who is passionate for God, the gospel, and the world. Furthermore, our culture, for a host of reasons, has moved away from community; people are now more isolated than ever. Community Groups (CG’s) combat this isolation by providing a context for people to reconnect so that we can all become mature disciples in Christ.

Description
For these reasons, CG’s play a central role at RMPC. In our church, they are the primary place for pastoral care, discipleship, service, mission, evangelism, and prayer. Centered and organized geographically, individual groups develop a primary Christian community where Jesus Christ is experienced in his presence and power. They are communities where his Spirit ministers through group relationships so that each person is cared for and encouraged to lead a God-pleasing life, and a community is formed where Christ transforms our lives as individuals and from there, our surrounding community. CG’s are therefore the chief place in which the following are accomplished: encouragement and support for personal spiritual growth, gathering of people inside and outside the church, execution of evangelism and mission, development of leaders, identification and expression of spiritual gifts, ministry to felt needs, and diaconal services of mercy and social justice.

Essential Elements of Community Groups
RMPC Community Groups are more than just small group Bible studies. Healthy groups that accomplish the purpose stated above incorporate each of the following elements:

1. Worship-acknowledging the presence of God in our midst and reflecting on His works on our behalf.
2. Scriptural Study-Scripture teaches, rebukes, corrects, and trains us in righteousness in order to equip us for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
3. Sharing-truly caring for one another and maintaining accountability through biblical fellowship.
4. Kingdom-centered Prayer-focusing our attention outside our group/church to join Jesus in His redemptive and re-creative work in this world. As we do so, we develop a deeper relationship with Christ.
5. Kingdom-directed Mission -the church is called to share the gospel with a needy world. By jointly seeking to meet this challenge, both the individual and the church will be strengthened.
6. Encouraging the Saints for the Work of Ministry-leaders are expected to prepare the saints for works of service and point them in directions where their gifts can be developed.

Community Group Leadership and Multiplication

Because RMPC places such a high value on community groups, it is important that CG Leaders are on board with the overall mission of the church and its philosophy of ministry for community groups. Furthermore, it is essential that CG Leaders receive training and support to effectively carry out their important ministry in the life of the church (the Community Group Mentor Meeting is an attempt to meet that need). Because CG’s are ultimately missional, they will be looking to multiply. Therefore, the CG Leader will be identifying emerging leaders as soon as possible so that he or she can be trained within the context of a CG itself. When the new leader is ready, and/or when the group becomes large enough that some levels of depth and intimacy are compromised, they are encouraged to begin the process of multiplying by splitting and forming a new group.