uGroups
Gospel-Centered Community
The gospel is the fuel of the Christian life, not just the ignition that starts the journey. The God we worship has eternally existed in community. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have dwelt in perfect unity, love, and joy before and throughout time. We reflect this love when we love one another, bear one another's burdens and walk in biblical community. We read in the Gospels that among Jesus' final words before the cross was a prayer for the unity of His people, a unity expressive of the unity found within the Trinity (John 17:21-22). We know from the testimony of the early church that community was the natural result of the Spirit's influence on the Church (Acts 2:42-47). Theologically, we see our foundation for community. It's not an option. It's in our DNA. We, as human beings, desire to belong in community. The question then isn't "if" we do communnity but rather "what" our community is directed toward. Sanctification (continual transformation into the image of Christ) is the goal of all Christians, and community is the vehicle God designed for us to live in as we press on to maturity.
Our U-Groups are one of the primary ways in which we experience community as the body of Christ at Unite Church. We believe in the vital importance of Sunday gatherings where the Word of God is taught (Acts 20:26-32; 1 Timothy 4:11-16; 5:17; 2 Timothy 1:13-14; 2:2; 4:2-3; Titus 1:9-16) and we participate in corporate worship and the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper (see Acts 20:7;1 Corinthians 5:4; 11:17-18, 20, 33-34; 14:19, 23, 26, 28, 35; 16:2; Hebrews 10:25). But one does not typically find community or enter into deeper and more meaningful personal relationships with other Christians simply by attending church on a Sunday.
The dimension of community can only be experienced in the context of smaller gatherings during the week. These are what we call U-Groups. Other churches my call these gatherings "life groups" or "community groups" or "missional communities." They are the Church, meeting in homes, where Christ is exalted, life is shared, spiritual growth is facilitated, mission is pursued, and community is cultivated in the power of the Holy Spirit with others who know and love Jesus. These "U-Groups" are not in and of themselves local churches, for in that case they would each require a plurality of Elders providing governmental oversight and the authority to exercise discipline among its members (see Acts 14:23; 20:17, 28-29; Phil. 1:1; Titus 1:5). They are instead, smaller embodiments or missional expressions of the one local church body known as Unite Church.
Relationships take time. Sharing experiences with others requires effort and intentionality. Getting people who don't know each other, live near each other, or work with each other to come together routinely is nearly impossible--unless there is a common thread among them. For believers, that thread is the gospel. Lives changed by Christ begin to gravitate towards depth and intention, and they do so with effort.
We hope and pray that our U-Groups will be used by God as a catalyst for Scripture-driven discussion, stirring your affections for The Lord, and deepening gospel-centered community. Our desire is to take you to the Word of God and share the mission of our body at Unite Church.
Our goal is biblical, gospel-centered community, in which we value genuine, real and authentic relationships and strive together to see our lives changed by the power of the gospel. At Unite Church, U-Groups are the primary means by which this becomes a reality. They attempt to not only provide an opportunity for community, but for the individuals in that community to be reminders of the gospel to one another, glorifying God and participating together in the mission to make disciples of all nations. Groups help us to learn and grow in truth while experiencing and exercising love.
Maturity in Christ does not happen by accident; rather, depth in your walk with Christ comes through active pursuit by the power of the Holy Spirit in the company of those who are willing to speak truth into your life. Much of the growth in the body of Christ is bound to experiencing the gospel working through the lives of others. Sanctification is a community project. Through Gospel-Centered Community, the body can tangibly take on the responsibility of seeing you grow more into the fullness of Christ.
