Mars Hill Church Website

Community at Mars Hill Church

Community Groups are essential to the mission of Mars Hill Church. In light of our Biblical convictions that community is a critical part of sanctification and growth of a believer, and a crucial aspect of our ability to image God, we want to see everyone living out their faith in a Community Group. One of the primary functions of community groups within the church is pastoral care. Our structure has been designed to ensure that every active member of the church is being shepherded by a leader, coach, or pastor.  Community Groups are our primary vehicle for discipleship and an important strategy for the mission of the church.

What is a Community Group?

A Community Group is a group of disciples who live life together for the purpose of sanctifying one another and giving glory to God. It is a group of disciples who find their identity in Christ, who worship Jesus together, who care for one another and spur each other toward godliness and who own the mission to see more people glorify God. A Community Group is not an event. It is a lifestyle of discipleship, shared lives with Gospel Intentionality.

Neighborhood Strategy

To simplify the mission of Mars Hill, our goal is to transform our city and see the name of Jesus exalted. The goal of our Community Groups is to live out the conviction from God’s Word in a way that transforms our lives and the lives of those who see God’s work in us. This is where the Neighborhood Strategy comes in. Although your Community Group may not be able to affect the whole city, it can affect your block and your neighborhood. If the other groups in your neighborhood do the same, and the groups in your church affect their neighborhoods, eventually we can transform a city.

Belonging Before Belief

In our culture today, many people want to belong to a community before they actually commit to belief in their values. They want to see if the values you profess are actually lived out in your life. This means that a non-believer wants to participate in your group and watch you be Christians to see if your life is different because of the Gospel. Our groups need to think about providing opportunities for engagement in the culture and the ability to invite non-believers into their community in accessible but authentic ways.

Replication

One of the key elements of a Community Group is replication, which safeguards against becoming lost in complex rhythms and spaces. It also allows room for new people to join and see lives transformed by the gospel.  As these groups continue to grow and replicate, we make steps towards our goal to transform our city. Replication is an opportunity to plant another community in your neighborhood and provide another outpost for the gospel. Every group should strive to plant more communities and saturate their neighborhood with the Gospel of Jesus.

How to Join a Community Group