By now many of you have been hearing the phrase “discipleship communities” tossed around at Grace as the new name for what was once called our “care groups”. We anticipated a bit of questioning as to why it is necessary to change what we call our small groups at Grace, and our expectations have been met as many members of our church family have been asking why the need to change. “What’s the point”, many have asked along with “does it really matter what we call them”? And why “discipleship communities”? After all, eight syllables doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue like “care groups”.
A little history of our church replant here at Grace is helpful. About eight years ago as the replant at Grace was underway, we were a small community of about 30 somewhat “seasoned” followers of Jesus, and by the Spirit’s direction we felt the need to break up this small community of believers into even smaller communities that would meet in homes for the purpose of deeper fellowship and growth. At that time they were simply called “community groups”. Over time, as Grace continued to grow, we realized that we needed to narrow the focus of these groups to target certain spiritual disciplines that sought to give and receive care for each other’s souls. We also wanted the name of the groups to reflect what was going on in those groups so anyone coming to Grace would be able to discern what those groups were all about just by what they were called. Hence the name “care groups”.
God has continued to be kind to Grace in allowing us to continue to grow as a church family, both in numbers and maturity. We are not that community of about 30 somewhat “seasoned” followers of Jesus anymore. To the contrary we are an ever growing community of over 300 people who are at every stage of the “discipleship journey”. Currently, some of you at Grace are in the process of finding out more about who Jesus is and have not yet turned from your sin to trust in the good news of his life death, and resurrection for sinners. Some of you have just started to follow Jesus and are learning the ropes of discipleship. We have also been delighted to see some of you who have become disciples in recent years and have grown and continue to grow. Finally, some of you have been following Jesus for decades and continue to serve him faithfully. We believe that in order for us to be obedient to both the Great Command (Matthew 22:34-40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) it is our call and mission to help each other, no matter where we are in our own personal journey, to continue to grow in our discipleship through loving God, loving others, and making disciples together.
As we felt several years ago that we needed to narrow our focus in our care groups to meet the needs of the spectrum of people that are a part of the Grace community, we now feel the need to broaden our focus to meet the broad spectrum of people that are a part of the Grace community today. Our Discipleship Communities have a focus and a flavor to them that we hope will be helpful to anyone attending them who is seeking to grow in their walk with Jesus for the foreseeable future.
So what’s in a name? Not much, really. At the end of the day what we call our groups doesn’t matter as much as what we do in them. We hope and pray that our Discipleship Communities will be laboratories in which every person will be encouraged and exhorted to love God, love others, and make disciples. Our desire is that everyone who attends Grace Bible Church will embrace this vision with us and plug into one of these communities in their neighborhood and play a key and vital role in them, both for their good and others, and most of all for the glory of God. Is one of these groups for you? We think so, and hope that you will come and see.
Grace and peace to you,
Tom Horton
Pastor for Family Life
Read More
We gather to worship our God and King now and forever because of the great things he has done for us!
Curt Brown, Worship Leader, Directs Music
Nothing But the Blood (Traditional) …what can wash away my sin?
Ian McConnell, Pastor for Preaching & Vision
Psalm 145:1-9, 21
(Leader) I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.
(Congregation) One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
(Leader) The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.
(Congregation) My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Curt Brown, Worship Leader, Directs Music
Glorious & Mighty (Sovereign Grace) Joyful songs we raise…greatly to be praised!
10,000 Reasons (Redman) …for all your goodness I will keep on singing
Stronger (Hillsong) Sin is broken you have saved me…
Danny Adams, Pastor for Children’s Ministry
Before the offering we will be praying for the building and advancement of God’s Kingdom through the gospel in the following local churches:
U.S.— Grace Community Church, Pastor Allen Snapp, serving in Corning, New York and is a part of our family of churches with Sovereign Grace.
Abroad— Hunfeld Church, Lead Pastor Dale Sigafoos, church planting in Hunfeld, Germany. Grace has been partnering with the Sigafoos’ for many years by supporting their mission in Germany.
(break) Children are dismissed to childcare & grace4kids
Message: IDENTIFY-with who we are becoming in Jesus
Text: 2 Corinthians 3:16-18
Ian McConnell, Pastor for Preaching & Vision
I Stand Amazed (Traditional) …You took my sins and my sorrows
Curt Brown, Worship Leader, Directs Music
Read More
We gather together to rejoice in God, our exceeding joy!
Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music & Biblical Education
I Sing the Mighty Power of God (Traditional) I sing the goodness of the Lord…
Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music & Biblical Education
Psalm 16
(Leader) Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
(Congregation) As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.
(Leader) The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.
(Congregation) The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
(Leader) I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
(Congregation) Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music & Biblical Education
Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee (Bolognone) Jesus our only joy, be Thou…
Always (Stanfill) I lift my eyes up; my help comes from the Lord.
Behold Our God (Sovereign Grace) Behold our King / Nothing can compare!
Tom Horton, Pastor for Family Life
Before the offering we will be praying for the building and advancement of God’s Kingdom through the gospel in the following local churches:
U.S.— Renewal Presbyterian Church, Pastor Paul Kim, serving Philadelphia in University City.
Abroad— We will also be praying for Covenant Life Church in Ethiopia, led by Mo Tegene, and is a part of our family of churches in Sovereign Grace.
(break) Children are dismissed to childcare & grace4kids
Message: IDENTIFY-with Who We Are in Jesus
Text: Matthew 28:18-20
Ian McConnell, Pastor for Preaching & Vision
Before the Throne (Sovereign Grace) …one with himself I cannot die
Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music & Biblical Education
Read More
We gather to sing God’s praise because of his wonderful and merciful deeds toward those who trust in Him!
Curt Brown, Worship Leader, Directs Music
Come Praise & Glorify (Sovereign Grace) You are the God who saves!
Tom Horton, Pastor for Family Life
Psalm 9:1-2, 9-11
(Leader) I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
(Congregation) I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
(Leader) The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.
(Congregation) Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds!
Curt Brown, Worship Leader, Directs Music
Wonderful, Merciful Savior (Praise & Worship) Counselor, Comforter, Keeper, Spirit we long to embrace…
He is Exalted (Praise & Worship) …he is the Lord, forever his truth shall reign
Mighty to Save (Hillsong) Everyone needs compassion…
Danny Adams, Pastor for Children’s Ministry
Before the offering we will be praying for the building and advancement of God’s Kingdom through the gospel in the following local churches:
U.S.— Crossway Church in Lancaster, PA, led by pastor Pete Privatera, and is a part of our family of churches in Sovereign Grace.
Abroad— We will also be praying for Jim and Fran Lines who are missionaries in Italy supported for many years by Grace.
(break) Children are dismissed to childcare & grace4kids
Message: IDENTIFY-with Jesus in Community
Text: Matthew 22:36-40, 28:18-20
Tom Horton, Pastor for Family Life
Take My Life (Traditional) …take myself and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.
Curt Brown, Worship Leader, Directs Music
Read More
We gather to look to the Lord because we are weak and all our help comes from Him!
Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music and Biblical Education
Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners (Bolognone) He, my strength, my victory wins.
Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music & Biblical Education
Psalm 121
(Leader) I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
(Congregation) He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
(Leader) The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
(Congregation) The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music & Biblical Education
Your Great Name (Nordhoff) All the weak find their strength…
Always (Stanfill) Oh My God, He will not delay / My refuge and strength always…
Let Your Kingdom Come (Sovereign Grace) Give us Your strength, O God, and courage to speak.
Tom Horton, Pastor for Family Life
Before the offering we will be praying for the building and advancement of God’s Kingdom through the gospel in the following local churches:
U.S.— Seven Mile Road Church in the Far Northeast section of Philly, led by pastor Ajay Thomas.
Abroad— We will also be praying for John Ofumbi who is lead pastor at the Nagongera Gospel Centre in Uganda which is a partner church in our family of churches with Sovereign Grace.
(break) Children are dismissed to childcare & grace4kids
Message: IDENTIFY
Text: Matthew 28:18-20
Ian McConnell, Pastor for Preaching & Vision
There is a Fountain (Traditional) And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains…
Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music & Biblical Education
Read More
This Saturday from 11am-1pm we are getting together around God’s Word—Prayer—Grilled Meat—Whiffle ball. Need we say more? Come. Bring your friends and neighbors. It’s free but you must let us know you’re coming. Email grace4richie@gbcphilly.com with a number by Friday.
grace & peace,
Ian
Read More
The story of God, the Bible, and of redemption is such a precious one to us that we have to share it with you. Please click on the image below to be shown this wonderful story!
Website by G. A. Dietrich Consulting 
