The following article was written by Joe Filbrun, one of our deacons who helps oversee community groups. You can read this article and many others related to giving, the economy, and biblical generosity in the Stewardship Update, available this month at all Mars Hill campuses (download PDF version).

No matter the social, political, or economic climate, the world is filled with people broken, ravaged, and enslaved by sin. And in the midst of financial prosperity or ruin, Jesus continues to show himself to be the shrewdest of investors, taking up the cause of hopelessly lost sinners and transforming their lives in the most lopsided exchange imaginable: his righteousness for our sin. The return on this investment is not just personal transformation, but the creation of a new community, the church, that lives together in the freedom of his grace, to proclaim to the world the glory of God.

In Acts 2 and 4, we see very clear examples of the way the people of God live in this new community. In both cases, we see thousands of people saved by Jesus in single days, leading to the immediate, exponential growth of the church. Yet, contrary to our preconceived notions of community formation, the result of this growth is a depth of devotion to each other that radically alters the way people live, and even changes their view of personal finances.

Not only did these early Christians devote themselves to “the apostles teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers,” but they also began “selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need” (Acts 2:42-45). The word of God had taken root so deeply and immediately, “the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own” (Acts 4:32). Even those who “were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet and it was distributed to each as any had need” (Acts 4:34-35).

Jesus has worked through Mars Hill to transform thousands of lives, and to create a new community that shares life together, primarily in community groups, where individuals love, care for, and challenge one another to worship Jesus and glorify him by engaging our neighbors with his love.

But community groups aren’t warehouses for people who have it all together. Rather, community groups are where real life happens, and where the gospel truly takes root in our lives, as we learn to give and receive grace in community.

For example, members of one Mars Hill community group have been transformed as several young couples have had the opportunity to give of their time and money to care for a widow in the group, helping her with practical needs like lawn mowing and household projects, and dropping by from time to time with a gift card to a grocery store.

In another community group, young parents of two little children found out during a routine doctor’s visit that their infant daughter’s kidneys were not functioning properly. As they spent over a week at Children’s Hospital, they were blessed by an outpouring of love from their community group, who provided meals and helped take care of the couple’s toddler. And in the end, they all rejoiced together to see God answer their prayers for healing

These stories, and numerous others, are the stories of Mars Hill: the story of Jesus transforming the people into a new community that worships him by loving each other and showing his glory to the world.