Some random thoughts on where we're headed...
Life Groups - NCCd's Missional Communities - this ain't your mama's 'small group!'
A Church of House Churches gathering on Sundays. That's how we see our Life Groups.
The 1st Century Church did what Jesus and the disciples had done for 3 years. That is, they did life together! They ate together, they went to parties together, they ministered together, they met one another's needs together, they worshipped together... in fact, they did all of the Bible's 'one anothers' together. THAT is the aim of our Life Groups - to do life together within a gospel community.
The mission of these Gospel Driven Communities - to see the gospel transform everything within our reach - ourselves, our church, our city, and the world.
As House Churches, each Life Group will be a church, of sorts.
If the church is the people and not the building or institution (and it is), then each of our Life Groups will take on the characteristics of the church. That is, we will Worship - together in Community; we will Serve one another, our families, our city, and our world, proclaiming and showing the gospel as we do so; we will learn and grow as we walk together with Jesus. In other words, each Life Group will become a worshipping community of missional theologians.
Everything that the church is to be - the Life Group will be. Everything that should happen within the church, happens within the Life Group.
Geographically Driven
Many 'small groups', 'cell groups', 'home groups' are put together based on age or stage of life. I'm pretty sure we won't find that in Scripture! Doing so, separates the body and leads to division. It also hinders the natural rhythms of life teaching - older women teaching younger women and older men teaching younger men. Therefore, we see Life Groups as primarily driven by geography and inclusive of a variety of ages and life stages.
Open and Missional
Small Groups often become CLOSED Groups. They tend to turn inward and to be satisfied and comfortable with themselves. A closed group CANNOT be a missional group. Our Life Groups will be OPEN groups and our people will be encouraged to invite their friends and family members to come and see what life in a gospel community is like. They will be welcomed and our groups will provide them with a sense of BELONGING, even if they don't yet believe. Our hope is that each of our communities grows and multiplies - starting other new Life Groups!
Our groups will also be missional in the city - each group forming a missional partnership within the city (with, for example, the Macon Rescue Mission, Sav a Life, Salvation Army...).
Leadership Incubators
We see a church whose primary leadership comes from and is developed within the church as opposed to being brought in from the outside. Our Life Group leaders will always be on the lookout for the emerging leaders. Emerging leaders are leaders in the making. Life Group leaders will spend time helping that emerging leader to develop within the community.
Future Churches ?
New City Church will eventually be a church with numerous campuses. Each of our Life Groups could potentially become our next New City Campus. As the group multiples and becomes multiple groups in a geographical region (Warner Robins, Forsyth, Gordon...), the hope is that this region would be fertile ground for a new campus and new churches.
Jeff Vanderstelt of Soma Church has some great teaching on how they view Missional Communities - worth the listen! (HERE)
