Community … Together

This is the kick-off week for a new season of Community Group ministry at LifePoint. Significant changes have been implemented to expand the ministry: new leaders, new groups, new locations, and a new strategy for connecting people more quickly and effectively. Strong community is vital for LifePoint to accomplish mission. Community Group is the key to this strength.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 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 2.42–47

First, be clear of the relationship between community and mission. To use a phrase from a good friend, LifePoint is not a mission of community, but a community of mission. “Community” is not the mission of LifePoint, but it is the pathway to accomplishing our mission: leading people to be real Christ-followers in life…together. We must remain absolutely clear of this in order to understand the value of making community a high priority for every member and regular-attender at LifePoint. The value of active participation in a Community Group is great! Community Group…engages people through study of the Bible and the life-transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ…encourages people by connecting them with others whose lives are being impacted by the Gospel…equips people to participate in sharing the Gospel through missional living.

When a person actively participates in Community Group, the Gospel works in their life and grows them in authenticity (a buzzword heard so often that it may become worthless in meaning). Two concepts help to define real authenticity; transparency and vulnerability. Transparency is the willingness to open up your life to others and speak with an honest recognition of life, including joys and celebrations, weaknesses, brokenness or struggles. Vulnerability includes the willingness to trust others, open your life up and allow others to ‘speak into it’. It is encouraging to experience a group that is led by a spirit of authenticity, spreading from those who will lead in it to those who are more hesitant initially. Sin fights against us and condemns us in our weaknesses and brokenness, building pretense to put forth our best façade and so deflect the ‘magnetic attraction’ of authenticity. Thankfully, the grace of God is greater and the light of God’s truth is brighter, to overcome sin’s darkness and condemnation.

The cumulative impact of the Gospel through community is immeasurable and unimaginable. God uses the power of Holy Spirit and his Word along with encouragement from his people to nurture his work of grace in a disciple’s life. Over the next couple of weeks I want to consider more deeply the impact of the Gospel through community by taking a look at it in its infancy in Acts 2.42-47. Community does not begin with this passage in Acts, but we do begin to see the power of grace and redemption among God’s people that forms Biblical community.

I encourage you…connect with a Community Group this week. Check out the complete listing on our website or e-mail the office at info@lifepointozark.com and let us help you. Be an active participant in a strong community of transformation and help LifePoint move forward in mission. Because He Lives…

–Pastor Lane

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Photo by Chris Austin at LifePoint’s 2006 Thanksgiving Celebrate LifePoint