GBC in 2023
Church is not so much a building we go to, but who we are as a community. We celebrate that all churches across the world are part of one new people, sharing much in common in what they do and how they live. This includes us as GBC. But in addition to these core elements, GBC has a combination of distinctive features which make us who we are as a local church. This is what we are exploring as we begin the year together.
Who is GBC?
Our vision is to be a growing contemporary Australian intercultural, intergenerational and inclusively-diverse church of intentional discipleship for integral mission.
Put simply we are: All ages, all cultures, for Jesus, for life.
29 Jan Inclusive in Diversity (Gal 3:26-29) - John Merchant
Life Group Questions
What has been your experience or observation of people being excluded in our world?
Who gets excluded from churches today, and why?
Read Galatians 1:6-7; 2:11-16; 5:1-6; 6:12-16. Why were some followers of Jesus trying to exclude other followers of Jesus?
Now read Paul’s radical statement of inclusiveness in Galatians 3:26-29.
a. What principles of inclusion do you understand Paul to be teaching and practicing here which instruct us in being inclusive as a church today?
b. How do these fit with him calling people to faithfulness in their behaviours as disciples of Jesus?
What actions help build an inclusive community? Can you think of practical examples of these you could exercise at GBC?
Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. Why is diversity so important in the church, and how does this diversity connect with inclusion?
5 Feb for Integral Mission (Eph 1:8-10) - John Merchant
LIFE GROUP QUESTIONS
Read Ephesians 1:8b-10.
a. Describe in your own words Paul’s understanding of God’s mission.
b. What is included here, compared to other more limited perspectives of mission?
Read Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:10; 3:9-10, 20.
a. How do you think our church might respond to this teaching as an invitation to partner with God in his mission? Try and give practical suggestions.
b. Is God saying anything to you about taking a new step into faithfulness in any of these ways?
What does God use the church as a ‘team’ and not just individual Christians to accomplish his mission? (Compare Ephesians 4:3-4, 7, 11-13, 15b-16 if you need some prompts.)
Choose one or more areas of integral mission that you’d like to explore further as a group: SHOW, SHARE, SERVE.
a. How can we SHOW in our Living that Jesus is King? (Compare Ephesians 4:1b, 21-24; 5:15-17). Why is this powerful and essential?
b. How can we SHARE in our Conversations living that Jesus is King? (Compare Ephesians 6:15, 19-20). What makes for good gospel conversations,.
c. How can we SERVE in our Activity that Jesus is King? (Compare Ephesians 6:8, 12-13, 18). What things are included in this activity, and how does this happen in your activity now?
12 Feb Intercultural in Composition (Mark 1:40-45) - Gary Yiu
Life Group Questions
Read Mark 1:40-45
Take some time to consider the man with leprosy who came to Jesus to be healed.
a. What barriers existed for him to approach Jesus and ask to be healed?
b. Putting yourself “in his shoes” do you think you would have done what he did? Why, or why not?
The man with leprosy said to Jesus, “If you will, you can make me clean”. What do you think the man meant by saying this?
Gary suggested that this man with leprosy needed significant courage and determination to come to Jesus for healing. Is there an area in your life where you would do well to learn from the example of this man?
At GBC we seeking to be an intercultural church.
a. What do you think we mean by this?
b. What hinders or stops you (and us as a whole church) from forming this kind of church that learns from cultures that are different to our own?
Spend some time praying about these barriers and hindrances, asking for God’s help in overcoming them together.
19 Feb Intergenerational in Formation (Psalm 78:1-8) - Miso Kim
Life Group Questions
Read Psalm 78:1-8. From these verses, what do you understand about God’s intention for his people to live as an intergenerational community?
Compare Mark 10:13-16. From this account, what do you understand about Jesus’ intention for his people to live as an intergenerational community?
What challenges have you experienced in connecting with people from different generations?
What character traits are required in order to be formed by generations other than your own?
What are some practical ways in which you intend to be formed by people from different generations in the life of our church?
26 Feb Intentional in Discipleship (Matt 4:17-22, 28:18-20) - Steve Bernard
Group Questions
Read Matthew 4:17-22.
What do you understand Jesus as saying when he announces, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand?”
Immediately after this announcement, Jesus goes out and begins calling people to follow him. Why does Jesus call people to follow him?
Jesus then teaches what seems upside-down or backwards to the normal way of the world. Is there an aspect of Jesus' teaching that baffles you, or you find particularly difficult?
Read Matthew 28:18-20.
What are the disciples told to do when Jesus ascends to his heavenly throne?
What implications might what Jesus says here have for us?
What are some things you have already learnt from following Jesus?
How are you being intentional in discipleship to Jesus this year?
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