Tim Keller on Being Missional
Monday, April 13th, 2009 | Community Groups | No Comments
2009 PCGs Ready to Launch!!
Friday, January 16th, 2009 | Community Groups | No Comments
We are very excited about launching our Point Community Groups in 2009! God has blessed our Community Groups and we look forward to seeing what He will do through them in this New Year. Not only are we launching more PCGs, but we have also seen our existing ones grow and deepen.
Table Groups were a big sucess, last year, and helped to feed our Community Groups. As we continue to grow as a church, it will be important to connect folks with people from the church. This is accomplished primarily through PCGs, but Table Groups have also assisted some with that process. However, our bigger and long-term goal is to develop and grow our Community Groups as that primary connection point.
A couple of things have developed, that we believe, have strengthened our Community Groups. One, we started to process some of our Benevolence Requests through our PCGs. It was amazing to see how quickly and enthusiastically our folks responded! This has provided us with a way to reach out to some in our community who really needed a personal touch from a church. It provides us with a way to develop relationships with those in the community that, otherwise, would not have happened. Another aspect that has strengthened our groups is us being more intentional about inviting visitors to our groups. We’ve been able to connect folks almost instantly by just being more proactive.
These are all positive developments that have helped grow our groups. As we continue to seek after God for wisdom and as we prayerfully pursue future groups, we can anticipate great things from our God. Not only do we meet the needs of the Body of Christ, but we also get to share and demonstrate that love to the lost and hurting through the power of the Gospel. This is clearly the intended purpose for the local church.
If you have any questions or comments about Point Community Groups, then please feel free to contact us. If you are interested in either hosting or leading a group (or both) then please let us know. We would love to meet with you and talk about starting new groups. God bless!
Pastor Shane McGrath
PCGs Ready To Kickoff for the Fall!
Friday, September 5th, 2008 | Community Groups | No Comments
Since the start of The Point Community Church, we have sought to be a fellowship that emphasizes and nurtures the small group setting. True, biblical community can only take place as we gather in smaller groups and get involved with each other. Now that we have seen groups flourish and take off, we have been very impressed with the fruit that has been born within the church. We’ve seen strong relationships developed because of these groups. We’ve even seen groups reach out and bless their community. This is all good confirmation that our PCGs are accomplishing what we wanted them to do.
This Fall, we are launching another expression of PCGs, through our new Sunday morning Table Groups. Table Groups will be The Point’s expression of Sunday School. Though we don’t want Table Groups to take the place of PCGs, we do realize that some find it hard to fit another night of the week into their schedule. Table Groups should provide some of that community setting for those who can’t make it to a PCG. It should also give us another avenue to connect with folks who are checking our church out.
We would appreciate your prayers as we embark on another round of PCGs. If you are not currently a part of a PCG or Table Group, then please don’t hesitate to contact us. We would love to talk with you about how you can be a part of these groups. God bless!
Pastor Shane McGrath
Stirring up one another to love and good works in PCGs
Monday, April 21st, 2008 | Community Groups | Comments Off
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!
Great Article on Community
Saturday, March 1st, 2008 | Community Groups | Comments Off
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.
ht:Andrew
Community Groups - With or Of?
Wednesday, February 13th, 2008 | Community Groups | Comments Off
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.
What’s So Special About The Gospel?
Friday, November 23rd, 2007 | Community Groups | Comments Off
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.
The Gospel is a Community Project
Saturday, November 3rd, 2007 | Community Groups | Comments Off
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!
Taking Community to the Next Level…
Monday, September 17th, 2007 | Community Groups | Comments Off
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!
