Gospel Centered Ministry
At Calvary, we call our small groups Gospel Communities because we desire to live everyday in response to the gospel of Jesus Christ. This calling is captured by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians:
“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one died for all, therefore all died; and he died for all that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised . . . Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.”
(2 Corinthians 5.14-15,17)
Through faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ — we have been saved from the just wrath for our sins and instead experienced the love of Christ. It is through Jesus Christ, we have been made new creatures with new gospel identities and a new purpose — to live not for ourselves, but for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Four of these core gospel identities that we receive through faith in Jesus Christ are that of: FAMILY, DISCIPLES, SERVANTS and MISSIONARIES.
Our gospel community ministry exists to train us as a church family to live in light of these core gospel identities that we would see more lives transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God our Father.
LIVING INTO OUR GOSPEL IDENTITY
Because we have been made Family in Christ — we gather together outside of our Sunday morning worship service to grow in relationship with one another.
Because we have been made Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ — we grow together by not only hearing, but applying and obeying the word of God together in our daily lives.
Because we have been made Servants of the Lord Jesus Christ — we give of ourselves (time, gifts, and money) to serve one another, and community in humble acts of service.
Because we have been made Spirit Filled Missionaries sent by the Lord Jesus Christ — we go out from out gatherings praying and actively seeking to have gospel conversations with those God has placed in our lives – trusting the Holy Spirit to give us the words to speak and to open hearts to believe in the gospel and be transformed by Jesus Christ.
WHAT TO EXpECT
GOSPEL COMMUNITY (GC) GROUP SIZE: GC’s are generally made up of 8-12 adults with children always welcome.
FREQUENCY OF GATHERINGS: Our GC’s will meet every other week beginning the last week of September to the last week of November (five total gatherings). We will then take a break for December and resume meeting every other week beginning the second week of January to March the first week of March (five total gatherings).
LENGTH OF GATHERINGS: Gospel Community gatherings are generally between 1.5-2 Hrs.
STRUCTURE OF GATHERINGS: Our bi weekly gatherings generally include three main spiritual disciplines:
1) discussion and application of the preached word of God, 2) prayer, and 3) spurring one another on to love and good works. Some GCs regularly share a meal, but for those GCs who do not they will plan to have at least one meal together in the Fall and one in the Winter.
LONG TERM VISION: Our desire is for our GC’s to remain together year by year with the long term vision of multiplication for more disciples of Jesus Christ to be made and formed. Multiplication will be pursued with wisdom and based on each unique Gospel Community.
If as an individual your schedule changes or you would prefer to switch to a different GC for another reason you are welcome to contact Pastor Josh to facilitate that change.
If you are new and would like to be part of a Gospel Community group, please click on the button below to sign up. For more information please email Pastor Josh: josh@calvarygravenhurst.com.