PURPOSE

GATHER together around the Gospel as the family of God

Our Gospel communities (GC) gather together around the Gospel because it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ that has made us children of God and fellow brothers and sisters in God’s family (Jn 1.11-13; Rom 8.14-17; Gal 3.26-28; Eph 2.19). Our GC exist to foster the core identity of FAMILY in the church through fellowship, Bible study, prayer, serving one another, and sharing meals together. We want everyone to experience the church as being a network of relationships rather than a service, or meeting you attend. GC are the specific family within the bigger family of Calvary where you live out your discipleship to Jesus in the everyday.

GROW together in the Gospel as disciples of Jesus

When we gather, we seek to grow together in the Gospel as disciples of Jesus knowing that it is only through beholding Jesus more deeply in the Gospel and turning to him in faith and repentance that true spiritual growth takes place (Gal 2.1-2; 2 Cor 3.18 Col 2.6). GC exist to foster an environment where we can experience the grace and truth of the Gospel  – where we can be vulnerable about our sin in confession, be prayed for and be healed (James 5.16). 

GO together with the Gospel as Spirit-filled servant missionaries

Through faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we have given the Holy Spirit to live for the glory of God and to make him known to the world. Our Gospel communities are formed with priority around geographical location in the Muskoka area in order that GC members can more easily live life together on mission to share and embody the Gospel in their homes, neighborhoods, and workplaces (2 Cor 5.14-20). 

We devote one gathering every other month to serving someone in your GC, Calvary, neighborhood, or broader community to live out our calling to love another as Christ has loved us (Jn 13.34). 

We also will be devoting one gathering every other month to sharing a meal together where we can grow in fellowship together and invite unbelieving family, friends, and neighbors to build relationships and make new disciples of Jesus.

STRUCTURE

CONTENT

The first gathering of every month we will spend time at the start and at the end of each night intentionally building relationships with one another. Then we will spend approximately 30 mins studying in greater depth the sermon from the previous Sunday and 30 mins in prayer. 

We will also reserve about 15 mins to discuss the next gathering (see below).

The second gathering of every month we will alternate between focusing on serving (within your GC, Calvary, neighborhood, or broader Muskoka) – or sharing a meal together for the purpose of fellowship and mission. We want GC members to invite unbelieving family, friends, coworkers etc. to this meal to further build relationships and share the story of God in the Gospel. 

TIME COMMITMENT (one of the following time slots)

1:00-3:30 Sunday afternoon

2:00 - 3:30 pm  Tuesday afternoon

6:30pm - 8pm.  Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evening

SCHEDULE CADENCE

We will be starting Gospel community gatherings the week of October 20th, 2024. Gospel Communities will meet every other week.

CHILDREN

Children are not only welcomed but encouraged to attend these nights. Babies are welcome to join the parents in prayer and the younger children will be provided a space to play in another room such as a basement with the other children who will be attending. Parents, please don’t worry if the kids make noise or need you, they are just as important to Calvary as any other age group and your GC will have plenty of grace for them.