Engaging in Mission through Life Groups

Tim Keller

The Bible’s purpose is not so much to show you how to live a good life. The Bible’s purpose is to show you how God’s grace breaks into your life against your will and saves you from the sin and brokenness otherwise you would never be able to overcome . . . religion is ‘if you obey, then you will be accepted’. But the Gospel is, ‘if you are absolutely accepted, and sure you’re accepted, only then will you ever begin to obey’. Those are two utterly different things. Every page of the Bible shows the difference.

As we come to understand and respond to God's grace in the gospel we are overwhelmed with a desire to obey the commands of Him who has sent us into the world. Remember in John 20:21 Jesus says, "As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." We have been sent into the world on mission for the sake of the gospel. We are commanded to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to everyone that God has placed in our lives.

re:Generātion is therefore not designed as a Sunday night gathering for Christians to get together and hang out, but is made up of Life Groups on mission for the sake of the gospel who all gather together weekly to worship God.

In order to keep you posted as to what groups have formed, and what groups are doing we will have a weekly Community post to keep you up to speed. Each week there will also be a Life Group Bio posted so if you are without a group you can read a description of groups already formed.

This week's Life Group Bio comes from James Calkins who has started a group that will begin by reaching out to a local Children's Hospital. Here's what James had to say . . .

Our life group is intended to focus on different "cultural" groups. We will be spending time partnering with a Children's Hospital, going to elderly homes, working with prison fellowship, and helping refugees that live in and around our neighborhoods. As we are spending time with a cultural group the number one goal is to bring the gospel to people through word and deed. Also, as we serve these different cultural groups we want to raise up Life Group leaders in order to have individual Life Groups targeting each of the four areas I have identified. The main point is to reach a lost and dying world with the good news of Jesus Christ, and then raise up new leaders and groups that will continue serving that cultural group.

I am excited to see what God will do through James's Life Group as they seek to reach out to a local Children's Hospital. If you are interested in joining this group they meet at 6pm every Sunday night at New Life church before re:Generātion's Sunday gathering. Come check it out.

If you have questions about how to get plugged in please feel free to contact me at johnmckaysmail@gmail.com