5 years ago a group 50 individuals were making the transition from being a core group planting a church called City Bible, to a group beginning to function like a church family. 

From the very beginning we knew the importance and benefits of gathering together in smaller groups. So establishing regional community groups was a priority in order to cultivate healthy community life.

While there’s never a direct command in Scripture to have small groups, there are numerous commands in Scripture instructing believers on how to care for each other. A few examples:

• Be devoted to one another in brotherly love (Rom. 12:10; 1 Pet. 3:8)
• Admonish one another (Rom. 15:14; Col. 3:16; 1 Thess. 5:14)
• Serve one another through love (Gal. 5:13; 1 Pet. 4:10)
• Teach one another (Col. 3:16)
• Build one another up (1 Thess. 5:11)

In other words, small groups provide a setting for believers to more easily and more realistically carry out these biblical commands.

• The desire was, and still is, for these groups to:
• Cultivate deeper accountability (Prov. 27:17; Jas. 5:19-20)
• Encourage more intimate fellowship (Col. 3:16; Heb. 10:24-25)
• Provide opportunities for believers to serve and exercise spiritual gifts (Rom. 12:1-8; 1 Pet. 4:10)
• Create an environment of prayer.
• To be a good way to incorporate new Christians and members into the larger fellowship.

What we as a church valued 5 years ago is what we still value today. So if you’re not plugged into a community group, the launch of these groups next week will be a great opportunity to enjoy church life at CBC in a small group setting.

You can learn more information about these groups here:
Community Groups

What We’ll Be Studying
It was also at this time 5 years ago that the original core group was working through a little book titled “Spiritual Disciplines Within the Church” by D. Whitney.  The purpose was to understand the biblical function of a Christian within a church and to turn church members from passive attendees into active participants.

We want to go back to those basics this fall. Let’s dust off the quarantine cobwebs and remember our role in the church. That’s why each of the community groups will be reading and discussing this book (Amazon Link).

You won’t want to miss it! So consider finding a community group if you currently do not have one.

For the King,

Vlad B.