GC Life

Family – First of all a gospel community is a group of believers who live and experience life together as a gospel family.  They see God as their Father because of their faith in the person and work (gospel) of Jesus Christ and the new life brought about by the Holy Spirit.  This means that they have and know of God’s love that leads them to love one another as brothers and sisters.  They speak the gospel truth to one another, regularly building each other up in the love of Christ Jesus.  They also love the people the Lord has placed around them as if they were part of the family, showing them what the love of the Father looks like and in doing so inviting them to experience life in the family of God even before they know God through Jesus Christ (John 1:11-13; Rom. 12:10-16; Eph. 5:1-2).

Missionaries – God’s family is also a sent people, like the Son by the Father (John 3:16; 20:21) to proclaim the good news of the kingdom – the gospel – and fulfill the commission of Jesus to make disciples.  A gospel community is more than a Bible study or small group that cares for other believers.  A gospel community is made up of Spirit-led and filled people who radically reorient their lives together for the mission of making disciples of our neighbors and networks of relationships. This means that we die to self in order to live for Jesus in everything (2 Cor. 5:14-21); our  schedules, resources, and decisions are now collectively built around Jesus’ mission of seeking and saving the lost, and following Him as fully devoted disciples (Matthew 3:16-4:1; Lk. 9; 14; Jn. 4; Jn. 20:21; Acts 1:8; Acts 13:2).

Servants – Jesus is Lord and we are His servants.  A gospel community serves those around them as though they are serving Jesus.  In doing so, they give a foretaste of what life will be like under the rule and reign of Jesus Christ.  Living as servants to the King who serve others as He served, presents a tangible witness to Jesus’ kingdom and power to transform lives.  A gospel community serves in such a way that it demands a gospel explanation – lives that cannot be explained in any other way than by the gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus being among us (Matthew 5-7; 20:25-28; Jn 13:1-17; Phil. 2:5-11; 1 Peter 2:16).

Followers – Jesus’ calling on our life is to follow Him.  Jesus commanded us to make disciples who believe the gospel, are established in a new identity in Christ, and are learning to obey all His commands (Mt. 28:16-20).  The gospel community is the best context in which this can happen.  Disciples are made and developed: 1) through life on life where there is visibility & accessibility; 2) in community where we can practice biblical hosptitality & gospel love; 3) on mission where we can learn how to live out and proclaim the gospel thereby making disciples.

Slogan: Ordinary Life, Gospel Intentionality!