How Do You Start a Simple Community?

• Gather people who desire to live in community together.  Groups need to spend time together on mission, having fun, learning and growing.  Groups who experience greater depths of community usually spend more than one meeting together a week.
• Essential Elements of a Simple Community include studying the Word, prayer, breaking bread, worship and mission.
• Word – Groups vary in their approach to Bible study.  Some groups read Scripture together and discuss personal applications.  Other groups may use study questions.  Some watch a teaching video.  The goal is greater Scripture knowledge and life application.
• Prayer – Jesus taught the disciples the Lord’s Prayer.  Prayer in groups range from personal needs to seeking God’s will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
• Breaking Bread – Groups eat together.  Usually the host and hostess supply the main dish and others bring sides and dessert.  Most groups rotate homes each month.  We have discovered your friends will come to your house rather than coming to a stranger’s.  Communion is usually celebrated weekly at the conclusion of the meal or some other time during the meeting.
• Worship – Groups vary in style and frequency of worship.  Those groups with some or many musicians often spend a considerable time in worship.  Other groups may spend more time in Bible and use a CD as a worship aid.
• Mission – Each group decides upon a mission in the community and the world.  This is an essential difference between a simple community and just another small group attached to a traditional church.  Groups have a great deal of autonomy in selecting and funding how to serve the community.
• Multiplication – Simple Communities multiply organically.  As they grow, the community decides how to multiply.  Sometimes it may split, but usually a few people are called to start another community.

If you desire to associate and network with The Journey with Christ, we ask you to affirm the Mission, Vision and Core Values and the Statement of Faith.  Your leader would receive a mentor and would be invited to monthly leadership meetings.   Communities associated with The Journey with Christ gather monthly for worship, prayer, fellowship, testimonies, vision, communion and Word.