Walking with Jesus: Intermission Groups at New City
One of the most important activities we do as a church is to gather for worship on Sunday mornings. In this way we meet with God, hear him speak to us in the Bible, and worship him together in song and prayer.
But there are other important activities we take part in together as a church. At New City, Intermission Groups are a key component of our vision to be a community of the Spirit in the heart of the city, announcing the gospel of Jesus.
So why should you be part of an Intermission Group?
Intermission Groups provide a unique opportunity to build community
The Bible is filled with vivid imagery that describes God’s plan for the unity of the church. For example, the church is a body, (1 Cor. 12:12-30) a living temple being built up by Jesus, (1 Pet. 2:2-4) and the family or household of God (Eph. 2:19). While these are demonstrated in our worship together on Sunday mornings, Intermission Groups provide a smaller, intimate setting in which we can grow into these metaphors. As we socialize, discuss God’s Word, share our joys and sorrows, and pray together we more and more become a body and a family. Community is built in a special way as we come together to seek God in small groups.
Intermission Groups are key means of further discipleship
Certainly our souls are fed as we worship and hear God’s Word together on Sundays. Yet as powerful as the preaching of God’s Word is, there are numerous topics to which the Bible speaks that can’t be covered in every sermon. This is not to undermine our worship services in any way, but it is to say that Intermission Groups provide the opportunity to study a variety of topics that are important to the Christian life. We have studied prayer together as well as a Biblical, gospel perspective of work. This fall we will be studying gospel generosity, considering how the incredible grace of God calls us to foster and live with generous hearts.
Intermission Groups allow us to serve one another
When we talk together, pray together, share our experiences, and offer our insights on a particular Bible passage or our experiences on a particular topic, we serve one another as we seek to follow Jesus together. God may use something you say to encourage a fellow group member. A prayer you pray may speak exactly to a situation in someone’s life and comfort them. As you come and participate in a group, you are loving your neighbour and ministering to them.
Whether you have been at New City for years or have just started to attend, we encourage you to join an Intermission Group and in this way be part of a community that is seeking by God’s grace to follow Jesus together as we seek to bring the gospel to Hamilton.
A few key dates:
Sep 13: Sign ups open!
Register quickly as groups fill up quickly.
Sep 27: Intermission Meet & Greet.
Join us after the service to meet group leaders, find out group information, and to celebrate the start of the new season!
Oct 05: Launch Week!
Groups begin meeting in people’s homes.