At Community Bible Church Ilderton one of our strongest desires is to develop disciples of Jesus. As important as Sunday morning worship is, we believe that much spiritual and personal growth takes place in community during the week, and therefore encourage everyone at CBC to connect with a Life Group. Life Groups are small groups of about 8-10 that gather at different times and locations to study, pray, serve, and fellowship together. We believe our Life Groups are one important way that we care for congregants, train and grow disciples in godliness, and reach and serve the community where we live.
Inevitably, people have widely varying ideas of what “small groups” and “Christian community” look like. In Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes:
The serious Christian, set down for the first time in a Christian community, is likely to bring with him a very definite idea of what Christian life together should be and to try to realize it. But God’s grace speedily shatters such dreams. Just as surely as God desires to lead us to a knowledge of genuine Christian fellowship, so surely must we be overwhelmed by a great disillusionment with others, with Christians in general, and, if we are fortunate, with ourselves. (pp26,27)
Thankfully, Jesus is very patient with us and our opinions as He builds His Church! Although often taken for granted, it is a glorious privilege to be in community, to love and serve one another, and demonstrate that love to others. Primarily, our love for one another illustrates and commends the power of the gospel (John 13:35). Wonderously and incredibly, the gospel takes wildly different people from every walk of life and transforms them to care deeply for each other. Every time your Life Group walks in love, prayer, and service for (and with) each other the transforming grace of Christ is on display!
If you wish to join a Life Group please contact me by phone or email. I would be pleased to see you placed in a group just right for you. I also wish to advise that later this month we will be having a “Family Chat” following Sunday morning service in which we share a vision for Life Groups at CBC Ilderton going forward.
Much love,
Pastor Gary