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Fellowship Groups
Our Fellowship Groups are small communities
of believers meeting in homes in throughout Contra Costa County
and surrounding areas during the week. They are centered upon
the study of the Bible, but are more than Bible studies. They
are the primary vehicle for mutual ministry and edification at
GBC. Our group meetings include prayer, fellowship, accountability,
mutual care, opportunities for serving, and interactive spiritual
nurturing. All groups are led by trained leaders from the congregation
who receive continuing oversight and support from the elders.
Why are Fellowship Groups Important?
In many ways Fellowship Groups are the central place for body-life
to be developed and matured through focused relationships, one
to another. Because of this, it continues to be our prayer and
desire that every member of Grace Bible Church view participation
in a Fellowship Group as an integral part of their privilege and
responsibility of being part of this local church. It is also
our desire that these smaller cross sections of Grace Bible Church
will provide a place where everyone can minister their gifts and
have the love of God ministered to them.
What do home Fellowship Groups provide?
A place for learning and growing We are committed to the sufficiency
of Scripture and a firm belief in its authority for our lives.
All of our home fellowships are intended to increase the knowledge
and application of God's Word in the lives of His people. We need
the help of others in order to accomplish this. The implications
of God's Word and grace are so broad that we cannot hope to understand
or perceive all by ourselves.
A Place for Caring and Sharing
Many of the biblical commands related to fellowship have become
increasingly difficult to fulfill in our disjointed contemporary
society. These especially include commands for Christians to minister,
encourage, build up, and love one another (Hebrews 3:13, Galatians
6:2; Colossians 3:16; James 5:16; 1 Peter 4:8-9; Ephesians 4:32;
etc.). The very "one anotherness" of these commands
necessitates Christian fellowship contexts small enough for our
ministry to become truly mutual. Fellowship Groups are the first
place that many of our members turn to in order to find such mutual
care and concern. As a result, Fellowship Groups play an integral
part in the pastoral care of GBC.
A place for exercising spiritual gifts
We are told in Scripture that God freely distributes spiritual
gifts to His body as He wills for the purpose of edification,
so that we might become mature in Christ (Acts 20:32; Ephesians
4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 14:12,26; Hebrews 2:4). Fellowship
groups are a place for these gifts to be discovered and developed.
Members are encouraged to invest themselves in relationships with
others as stewards of God's multifaceted grace (1 Peter 4:10)
not merely to "attend" or "consume."
Where do They Meet?
The Groups meet in various locations throughout
Contra Costa and surrounding counties. There are groups that meet
in Clayton, Concord, Lafayette, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Walnut
Creek and Benicia, and we plan to add more to more fully minister
to as many members as possible. For more information about a group
that meets in your area, please call the church office at (925)
676-1584 or send us an email.
