Small Groups
Our VISION: Imagine a fellowship of believers who are ARMED with God’s living and active Word as well as TRAINED in its use; who know they’ve been strategically placed together by God, to BUILD UP and STRENGTHEN one another; who live as an army at war DESTROYING the works of the devil and MINISTERING to needs, wherever they’re found; who actively LAY HOLD of the promises of God and are DESPERATE to see them become their own as well as others’ regular experience.
Our MISSION: to make and mature disciples of Jesus Christ. What does a mature disciple look like? They love the Lord their God with all their heart and with all their soul and with all their mind and with all their strength. They love their neighbor as themselves. Mark 12:30-31
We at GCR talk about a process involving ENTER, ENGAGE, ESTABLISH and EQUIP. This process is actually our way of saying HOW we want to fulfill the Great Commandment to LOVE. We have all heard the statement, “Love is more than a feeling; it’s an action.” ENTER, ENGAGE, ESTABLISH, and EQUIP are the actions which give love traction in our relationships. Let me explain. (See 1 John for more insight on how God views our love for one another.)
PROXIMITY / ENTER
My love for you is not love until I take action and ENTER into your world and life. It is only when I ENTER that I see your life the way you see it. Only when I ENTER do I hear what you really are saying. Love begins withENTER.
WARFARE /ENGAGE (2 Corinthians 10; Ephesians 6)
Along with ENTER, love involves ENGAGE. Once I see your life and hear what you are saying, opportunities to ENGAGE in fighting for your full freedom and success become evident. I understand you are in the process of becoming like Jesus Christ in your motives, words and actions and that you need me to stand up for you in the spirit and ENGAGE. ENGAGE means I am unable to passively exist by your side. I’m compelled to ENGAGE in the fight wherever the enemy has gained a hold, wherever idols are being worshiped, and wherever your flesh is in rebellion.
IDENTITY / ESTABLISH (Romans 5-8; Matthew 5-7)
Along with ENTER and ENGAGE, love involves ESTABLISH. I not only ENTER your life; I not only ENGAGE in the fight for your freedom; but I also work to ESTABLISH you in your identity as a son / daughter of your heavenly Father AND I work to establish you in the ways and character of God. To not ESTABLISH you in these would be something less than love.
RESOURCE / EQUIP (2 Peter 1; Matthew 5-7)
Along with ENTER, ENGAGE, and ESTABLISH, love involves EQUIP. You are fearfully and wonderfully created by God to skillfully use the resources of heaven to LOVE GOD and to LOVE OTHERS while here on earth; Yet only the one who has experienced the ENTER, ENGAGE, ESTABLISH work of love from another can effectively be EQUIPPED in how to use these resources are used. This EQUIPPING, when complete, brings the process full circle where it begins all over again.