7 Reasons to Be in a Gospel Community or A-Team

With the fall fast approaching, we will be launching new Gospel Communities and A-Teams. Here are seven reasons why you should consider joining one if you haven’t already.

• Companionship: It is not good for man (or woman) to be alone (Gen 2:18). While in context this verse immediately precedes the marriage of Adam and Eve, it is also true of singles. It is not good or right if we do life alone, either as marrieds or singles.
• Encouragement: Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! (Eccl 4:9-10). We all need encouragement at various times in our life. Especially when we live far from family and friends at home. Who do you have to encourage you when the chips are down?
• Accountability: If another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. (Gal 6:1-3, NLT). It’s easy to live a double life when you live in a foreign country. Being in a Gospel Community or A-Team will give you the accountability you need to live your life in accordance with the Gospel.
• Confession: Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working… (Jas 5:16-20). It is one thing to pour out your heart to God, but it’s another to pour out to a friend who can look you in the eye and tell you with the authority of Christ that your sins are forgiven. Whom do you have that you can confess your sin/s so that you can repent effectively and walk in ongoing freedom and holiness?
• Togetherness: And he [Jesus] went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired… so that they might be with him (Mark 3:13-14). Even Jesus had friends with whom he simply hung out. Only after that came the ministry. Who are your friends with whom you can simply shoot the breeze? (See also 1 Thes 2:8).
• Friendship: A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Prov 18:24). In the church we may have many acquaintances, but only in a smaller group will you find and experience the friends who stick closer than brothers. A lot of people might know you a little bit, but a few people can know you deeply. That is something you can’t put a price on.
• Wisdom: Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm (Prov 13:20). Wisdom comes from God’s word and godly friends. Who do you have that can speak God’s wisdom into your life?

We pray that you would find gentle, humble encouragement in this to lead or to connect with a small group at SIBC, be it a Gospel Community (8-10 people) or an A-Team (3-4 people). God has not just saved us individually. Rather he has saved us into a community: a body of believers to know and love; and to be known and loved by one another. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by this fall. Contact Pastor Dave  if you’d like to lead a group or get connected.