Gospel Communities

The beginning of a new school year brings about change, excitement, and energy. This August is no different. In light of this reality, we will be rolling out a few new changes within our church structure and stated values over the next several weeks. Beginning Sunday, August 22, we will start a 5-week vision series explaining our new core values, why we felt a change was needed, and what we’re asking of anyone who calls Providence Road home.

Additionally, we will be making changes to our group structure. Moving forward, we will call our groups “Gospel Communities” rather than “Missional Communities.” To help understand this change, a bit of history is helpful.

When Providence Road was planted over 10 years ago, we often described Missional Communities by what they weren’t. We would say MCs aren’t:

• Small Groups (although they were smaller than a Sunday Gathering)
• Bible Studies (although the Bible should be studied in the life of a MC)
• Social Justice Groups (although serving the community could be an element)
• Counseling Groups (although caring and supporting one another is present)

The one thing we always said should be central and foundational is the gospel. Paul reminds us that the gospel is the “power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16) and is “of first importance” (1 Corinthians 15:3). Because the gospel is the power of our salvation and of first importance, our desire is that our community groups would display the gospel in word and deed. Ray Ortlund talks about what a “gospel culture” looks like:

“A gospel culture is harder to lay hold of than gospel doctrine. It requires more relational wisdom and finesse. It involves stepping into a kind of community unlike anything we’ve ever experienced, where we happily live together on a love we can’t create... A gospel-defined church is a prophetic sign that points beyond itself. It is a model home of the new neighborhood Christ is building for eternity. People can walk into this kind of church right now to see human beauty that will last forever.”

Mission will still be one of the foundations Gospel Communities are about, because being ambassadors (“sent-ones”) is a part of a Christian’s identity. The three points of emphasis within a Gospel Community will now be care, community, and mission. We believe putting “Gospel” in the name is better suited for what we want our groups to become and how we hope the individuals within our groups are being formed.

We are also changing our “fight clubs” to “discipleship groups.” With one of our new core values of the church being “discipleship,” we felt it would be wise to connect this value with the kind of environment where discipleship should happen.

Discipleship groups are small groups of 3-4 girls or 3-4 guys, primarily for spiritual formation focusing on the basics of the faith (knowing, loving, and following Jesus). Most people are in a discipleship group with those in their gospel community.

Discipleship groups will have a slightly broader focus than fight clubs. All followers of Jesus are called to grow as His disciples. Anyone committed to a Gospel Community is now therefore invited into a Discipleship Group. They can be more of a peer-to-peer environment, or it can be a man or woman discipling those younger in the faith in a more traditional discipleship setting.

To find out more information and to find a Gospel Community check out our Gospel Communities Page.