On Mission with Community Groups

As Mars Hill hovers around six thousand people attending on a Sunday and a growth rate that doesn’t show any signs of slowing down, I often ask myself what our legacy will be. It’s a fair question. I ask the same question about my own family, it only seems natural to ask it about my spiritual family. As the new Mars Hill mission statement indicates, the legacy of Mars Hill will not be how many people came to hear the gospel, but the depth to which that gospel penetrated their lives. This is why Community Groups exist.

Community groups are the vehicle through which Mars Hill Church gathers to live life for Jesus in and among the city: knowing culture, loving people, and seeing lives transformed for Jesus through authentic relationships.

It is our purpose to see lives transformed by integrating all areas of life and faith, developing relationships to live out love for Jesus in community, and to see expressions of gifts being used to further the kingdom of God within the city, ultimately manifesting in the salvation of unbelievers.

Here is how Community Groups integrates with the mission of Mars Hill.

Living for Jesus
As a diverse community of believers, the common thread that brings us together is our love for Jesus. Whether through prayer, Bible study, service, or fellowship, we seek to bring Glory to Jesus.

Building a City within the City
Community Groups are small gatherings of the church within the city. These groups reflect the character of the borough where they meet and seek to develop a relationship with the local culture through service and hospitality.

Knowing Culture
As our culture longs for authentic relationship and connection, Community Groups provide a place where we can deal with the realities of life. Groups reach out to neighbors with an understanding of the needs and desires present in their neighborhoods.

Loving People
We love one another by sharing in life’s struggles and victories. We heed the scriptures by encouraging one another and calling each other to repentance as we deal with sin. We love the city through acts of service and through hospitality to those who visit our groups.

Transforming Lives
As stated before, transformed lives must be the fruit of our labor in groups. We endeavor to see all areas of our lives submitted to God and exposed to the light, so that we glorify Jesus though our whole lives. We seek to see non-believers become believers, believers to live in freedom, and for all our members to live lives in the Spirit as God intends.

Christianity is intended to be lived out in community. Our goal is to see every member and person who calls Mars Hill home to be connected in meaningful community. That is not to say that Community Groups are the only way that this is accomplished but it is the primary way for most of us. As one of your pastors I encourage you to find a Community Group to plug into and join the family if you haven’t already. If you need help finding a group you can stop at the Community Kiosk at your campus or email community@marshillchurch.org. In addition, it will take many more leaders and homes opened up to accommodate the needs of Mars Hill. If you are interested in leading a group or opening your home you can stop by the kiosk or email leadership@marshillchurch.org.