Communities are the heartbeat of Citizens Church
Each Wednesday, our communities gather in homes around Bryan and College Station to share meals together, pray together, and study God’s word together.
1. Why the term “Community”?
Various approaches and concepts related to the practice of community exist in the church today (ie. Small Groups, Community Groups, Life Groups, Home Groups, Missional Communities, Discipleship Groups, Parrishes, House Churches, etc). Each concept has related strengths and weaknesses. Each approach has a slightly different focus based on purpose and mission.
Some aim at the creation of a Christian Community -- giving people a place to belong and be known within the larger church body. Some focus on accountability, others education, still others have an entirely missional aim. Acts 2:42-47 describes a community that did not choose between being missional, praying together, studying God’s word, breaking bread or caring for one another. Citizens Church does not either.
Jesus lived in community, and His call to follow Him is synonymous to living in community with other students of Jesus. The early church gathered regularly in homes to pray, study God’s word, share communion and care for one another. We see the picture of this kind of community in The New Testament in Acts 2:46, Acts 5:42, Acts 12:12, Acts 16:40, Acts 20:20, Romans 16:5, 1 Corinthians 16:19, Colossians 4:15 and Philemon 2.
2. What is a Community?
Communities meet in homes and apartments across Bryan and College Station. Communities are intergenerational, geographic, open and multiplying. Each community will take spiritual responsibility for their geographic area. Communities are where Family is formed. A Community shares meals together, prays together and studies God’s word together. Community is the focal point for word and prayer, meal and mission.
A Community takes ownership of the neighborhood where they are located for the glory of God and the good of the city. Our prayer is to have Community in every neighborhood in BCS. Communities are open. They’re always welcoming new people. We will encourage people to join a Community near their home. If they try it and it doesn’t feel comfortable, we’ll encourage them to visit another Community. If they don’t like the second Community, the problem is probably not the Community, and we’ll encourage them to go back to the first one.
A Community is Cross Generational. We want to create families. Families are cross generational (1 Tim 4:12, Titus 2:3-5, 1 Cor 12:24-25). College Students at Blinn or TAMU are looking to be a part of families where they can be supported and discipled. These campuses provide our mission field, and we will not ignore or segregate them into college-aged Communities. We will strive to create cross generational families of students, young marrieds, singles, widows, empty-nesters and elderly.
In summary, a Community is Diverse. Communities are where life is built, life that’s shared together, breaking bread together, being fully known and fully loved. Community is where Discipleship happens, where the Apostles’ Teaching is studied. Communities are places of prayer. Communities are the frontline for benevolence, where we share with each other as each has need. Communities are the foundation of Citizens Church. Our prayer is that the result of Communities will be that God would add to His number daily those who are being saved (Acts 2:47).