Resources for Building Faith Community

Community is absolutely essential to life.  However, the fragmentation and individualization of contemporary life makes finding community especially difficult for many people.  That's what the COME TOGETHER Series is all about: helping people find and build community.  Using a variety of sociological tools and insights combined with the perspectives of long tested-spiritual principles and Scripture, these materials lay down a path of relational discovery.

The basis of a faith community is the activity of God, whether seen in the past through the Bible or viewed in the present through the working of his Holy Spirit.  His activity is most often evident in relationship.  This means that believer's connections with each other are the conduits for the movement of God.  The COME TOGETHER materials are intended to facilitate this movement.

A brief description of each material is given below, along with a link to obtain that material.  Some resources also include specific instructions in the "How to use this resource" page.

COME TOGETHER Materials

	COME TOGETHER: BOOK I Becoming Organic This 22-page booklet is intended for use as a workbook to help groups work through the development of a basic strategy for spiritual development.  Becoming Organic begins with the Exploring You Worldview Survey and helps the group identify the various worldviews present, develop a understanding and appreciation for all worldviews, and discuss the changing cultural trends of the Modern-Postmodern transition.  Then the booklet looks at the universal principles of how God works with different worldviews and asks the reader how God may be working in her life.  Next, the concept of the Kingdom Gospel is presented and explored.  Finally, the group is introduced to an organic analogy for lasting growth in both personal and community life. Download >> becoming_organic.pdf [772K] | How to use this resource
	COME TOGETHER Small Group Sharing Cards A sheet of 6 cards for small-group sharing break-out sessions. Participants discuss what's been happening in their lives spiritually and then pray for each other. Part of the "Come Together" series now in development by MetroSoul. For use in groups of 2-4 people. Download >> come_together_cards.pdf [57K] | How to use this resource COME TOGETHER Small Group Sharing Card (Single) This JPEG version of a single Come Together card can be viewed and printed directly from your web browser. Download >> come_together_card.jpg [72K]
Community Building Articles and Resources Organic / Simple Church Planting page by MetroSoul. This page includes resources on planting and growing organic/simple churches.  The COME TOGETHER Series has been developed for use especially by this type of faith community, but has broader applications which could be useful for a variety of group types. The Learning Log on MetroSoul The Learning Log is a journal of insights and experiences by people involved in building organic/simple faith communities.  Many of the short articles may be helpful in spiritual formation and group dynamics.  Some of the more relevant articles are: Church Growth Principles and the DNA Analogy Relationships key to "church within church" postmodern ministry by Jordon Cooper (off site) Christian Discipleship in Postmodernity: Toward a Praxis of Spiritual Friendship by Stephen Shields (off site)