The vision for fellowship groups in our Church family is to build upon the primary purpose of glorifying God and as a Church family growing and strengthening each other through Bible study and fellowship.

 

Timothy 2 vs 22 – 24 states “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.  Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness”.

 

Therefore, the Bible gives us a vision of pursuit of righteousness, faith, love and peace with our fellow Christians.  The function of fellowship groups is to provide a forum to allow our Church family to undertake this pursuit together.

 

So, are fellowship groups about fellowship, Bible study or evangelism?  A simple answer is, yes all three! However, the focus can vary during each session and from session to session.

 

The fellowship groups would meet on a regular basis in somebody’s house, study the Bible and provide a time of fellowship.  Ideally there would be a mix of ages, genders and maturity of faith within each group. This would provide a healthy level of discussion, viewpoint and teaching. Potentially, once a month, or on an agreed periodic basis, the fellowship groups meet for a meal together.  This would provide an opportunity for evangelism and to extend an invite to others who might be interested Bible study.

Fellowship groups seek to

• Deepen relationships, encouraging a greater sense of being a Christ centred community rather than individuals attending worship on Sunday
• Provide opportunities for discipleship, growth in our faith and involvement in His mission for His church
• Developing a genuine care for one another and encouraging one another in the faith
• A tool for growth, through social gatherings inviting others in to explore the faith and become part of a fellowship group and indeed our church family