City Groups :: City Group Practices (Part 6)

Over the next two weeks we’ll finish a blog series about City Groups at The Paradox: their vision, their identities, who they are and how they live. This is the sixth installment of the series and will look more into the what the people of God do at The Paradox as they work out their identities as a family of disciples on mission.

We live out our identities with specific practices in our City Groups. We believe that it is not enough to teach facts and gain knowledge. Disciples must be formed in ways that change their motivation and give them active gospel experiences.

WEEKLY GATHERINGSWeekly Gatherings are a time to share life around a meal. THe dinner table is a critical time for the family to connect. It takes intentionality to ensure we do it. Sometimes there is formal instruction, but more often than not it’s a dynamic conversation. We share stories, struggles, prayers, and encouragement.

DISCIPLESHIP GROUPSDiscipleship Groups are small, simple groups of 2-3 men or women who meet regularly to help one another defeat sin and grow in grace. The focus is studying Scripture, applying the gospel to one another, prayer, helping one another follow, worship, and obey Jesus.

THIRD PLACEThird Places are neutral grounds that are informal and non-committal; doneregularly, they naturally fit into the rhythms of your non-believing friends' lives. A third place creates space where someone can belong to before they believe. We want to do it regularly and invite those who don’t know Jesus to participate often. Examples of third places include: restaurants, bars, parks, your kid's ball games, and—our people's favorite— block parties. Block parties are great opportunities to meet and build relationships with neighbors, as well as coworkers and friends.

PROACTIVE MISSIONA Proactive Mission is a defined group of people that the City Group is trying to reach. The City Group is committed to serving and making disciples of a group of people, while also taking non-believing friends and coworkers along the way and evangelizing/discipling them.Below is a visual representation of our City Groups as expressions of The Paradox Church, and the identities, practices, and City Group Leads that are involved in individual City Groups. 

Find a City Group near you here.

Read all of the installments of this series here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7.