Living On Point

In his sermon yesterday, Pastor Rick taught out of John 13 and Hebrews 10.  Rick preaching on the Hebrews passage (Hebrews 10:23-25) reminded me of an article I had read by John Piper.  In it, Piper talks about how we can look at Hebrews 10:23-25 from a corporate gathering perspective, and also from a small groups perspective.

Take a moment to read this article.  It’s the very foundation of how we seek to honor God in our small groups at The Point.

John Piper - Consider Each Other How to Stir Up Love

It is my prayer that the entirety of all that is done in our Point Community Groups can be summed up in that one phrase:  That we would stir up one another to love and good works.  That’s Biblical community!

Jonathan Dodson of Worship.com recently posted a great article on their blog about Gospel-Centered Community. It’s encouraging to see a movement rise up seeking to develop true, Biblical, Gospel-Centered community among the Church. I pray that this vision of community will continue to permeate all that we do at The Point regarding our Community Groups.

Take a moment to read this article. It’s good stuff.

Gospel-Centered Community

ht:Andrew

Is The Point a church with Community Groups or are we a church of Community Groups? Before we officially launched the church we determined that small group Bible studies in homes would be ideal for our make-up and style. These home groups reinforce our stated value of community and the priority of relationships. Being in homes for the purpose of Bible study and fellowship provides a warm, nurturing environment for our people to grow. We believe that Community Groups are a great pathway for spiritual growth and the building of Gospel-driven relationships.

But are we a church of Community Groups or are we a church withCommunity Groups? You may be thinking that one of these is the right answer….that we should be one or the other. Actually, I see that the answer is both. We are a church with Community Groups simply because we do in fact have organized groups that meet in homes for the purpose of Bible study and fellowship. But are we a church OF community groups? Are groups part of our DNA? Are our Community Groups part of the foundation of the church? Clearly, the early church in Acts was a church OF community groups. Meeting in homes in small groups was a key element of the early church’s strength, health and structure.

As The Point grows, it is vitally important that we not just be a church withgroups, but that we become a church of groups that foster relationships. There is a significant difference between the two. Both are ok, with and of is the right answer. More and more people are coming to The Point. There are more relationships that God is growing and forming for the advancement of the Gospel and the sanctification of His people. We cannot merely be a church with groups and continue to grow and enjoy health. We must intentionally strive to be a church of groups so that we are growing smaller while growing larger.

In the same vein, Community Groups are not the end all. Community Groups are our primary way to grow spiritually and relationally, but they are not the only path for growth. The key here is relationships. Community Groups cease to be affective if they do not foster relationships as a result of fellowship and true community. Last year we changed what we call our groups from “Connection Groups” to “Community Groups”, because we believe that relationships is the key and not merely connections to others. A connection can be made on Facebook or a blog for example, but relationships are formed when we get involved in each other’s lives. Our people have the responsibility to develop relationships, we have the responsibility to create environments for that to happen. In every area of church life the need for relational groups is key- home groups, ministry teams, missions, men/women/kids groups, service ministries, etc.

Our Point Community Groups offer the ideal environment for true Biblical community/relationships to be formed. It is our prayer that PCG’s are the embers that cause the wildfire of true Biblical community to spread.

We are a church with groups. We are a church of relationships.

Well, if you’ve ever visited the site before, you’ll notice it has been redesigned for 2008!  I like this new look because, to me at least, it depicts what life these days feels like.  Signs everywhere pointing in different directions, and everything moving at a hundred miles an hour.  Sometimes I feel like that one car on the left - just sitting on the side of the road watching everything rush by and trying to figure out how to jump in the flow of traffic!

With all that God’s doing at The Point, and all the people He’s drawing to Himself through the ministries here, there may be the tendency to feel the same way on Sunday mornings.  As I look around, I’m amazed every Sunday at the new faces.  It seems that God helps someone new find their way through our doors each and every time we open them!  And while that is amazing and wonderful and glorious, it can also become difficult to keep up as a leader!  In the same way, it can be difficult (maybe even impossible) to develop a deep personal connection with other people who attend The Point with all the people that walk through the doors each week.

Where am I going with all of this?  To Point Community Groups, of course.  Sunday mornings at The Point are a time of corporate worship and corporate teaching by Pastor Rick to the congregation - but it is only one part of the TPCC community. Point Community Groups (or PCGs) are where The Point attenders and members gather together every week throughout our region, in small groups of 8-15, to laugh, love, learn, cry, share, rejoice, and pray for and with one another.  PCGs are where people can get together and experience a deep and authentic community fellowship experience that just isn’t possible in our large and growing corporate worship environment. PCGs meet once a week, every week, in someone’s home. They are taught by volunteers who are doctrinally sound (reliable Bible teachers). PCGs get together and spend time fellowshipping with one another and enjoying one another’s company.  They then study the Bible, spending time talking about the very particular passages that Pastor Rick preached on the previous Sunday morning.  This allows the TPCC community to take the same Bible text Pastor Rick preaches, and study it in an in-depth way as a small group community every week. We talk about what that passages teach us about God, and how we can apply what we learn from that passage to our everyday lives.

Right now is a PERFECT time to get involved in a Point Community Group, whether you’ve never been involved before, or if you’ve taken a break and want to get involved again.  PCGs are currently re-forming for the Spring of 2008, and will begin meeting the week of February 3rd. We’ll be posting all the groups’ days, times, and locations soon on the Current PCGs page and on the PCG Regional Map. You’ll be able to sign up for a PCG that meets on a night that works in your schedule after the morning worship service at The Point on Sunday, February 3rd.  There will also be an online sign up form posted, once all the groups’ details are finalized.

So from those who participated in a Point Community Group last fall, to those who have participated in a PCG before but have taken a break, and especially to those who have never participated in a PCG before - I pray that you will take the opportunity this Spring to get connected to a small group community at The Point that will love on you, live life with you, and study the Word together. Praise God just for the opportunity!!

Why do we meet together as a church?  Sometimes, we have the tendency to take this for granted.  Of course, you would say, we meet to worship Jesus.  But what is it that really drives us to fellowship with one another?  Why do millions of people spend so much time, money, and energy in “church” related things?  Why have missionaries, for the last 2000 years, left the comforts of modernized society to take this Gospel to the uttermost parts of the world–many whom experience great pain and even death to get the message out?  The answer to these questions center around a message–the only true good news for mankind.  The Gospel message is at the heart of the church.  Without the Gospel, the church doesn’t need to exist. Church becomes pointless and an utter waste of time and energy. But the Gospel gives us everything to live for and everything to look forward to.  It’s worthy of our consideration and meditation.  It’s worthy of our celebration. And it’s even worthy to die for.

In the following essay, C.J. Mahaney defines what the Gospel is and also applies it to our practical, daily lives (Essay found here). The Gospel isn’t just a one time event that we believe and then forget about.  The Gospel is a way of life.  It’s not only our future hope but also our present joy.

Why are Community Groups so important? The answer to that question actually starts with something other than ourselves. Our Triune God, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, existed in perfect unity and community before the existence of the heavens and earth. Before mankind was even created, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit enjoyed fellowship at the highest level. As His image bearer, we also need these relationships. There is something deep within us that needs to relate and commune with others. Without this, there is a sense of incompleteness. Without meaningful relationships, we are simply not what God wants us to be. God is redeeming a people unto Himself.  As His church, we have gathered around His Son and the Gospel. And as His church, we are called to “bear each others burdens” (Gal. 6:2).  We are also called to “encourage one another and build each other up,” (I Thess. 5:11).  Simply put, we need one another. This is why we meet to worship God together. This is why we also meet in small groups.

May the Lord grant us great love for one another.  May the Lord bless our relationships. Cherish these relationships and don’t take them for granted.  For they are deeply bonded in the love of God.  What a privilege it is to serve one another together!

Welcome to the new TPCC Group Life page.  Here you will find information on current Point Community Groups, TPCC community events, and information about opportunities to get involved at The Point.  Be sure to check back often, as information will be updated frequently.  To see a current listing of Point Community Groups, visit the “Current PCGs” page.  Sign up and get involved today!