Join RLCC

If you have decided to learn more about Jesus, the best way to do that is to be with others who are interested in that same pursuit. To be a Christian is to take a journey of faith together with others so that you can help each other along the way. Some of the people in this journey may be further along than you, or others are just starting up with their journey and you are ahead of them. Regardless of where you are in this journey, having friends who can come alongside you would be a big help. That's why in RLCC, we are encouraging everyone to join either a congregation, a community, or a cell (i.e., a small group) as soon as possible. Understanding the difference between these three types of groups will help you decide how to be involved in RLCC.

What's the difference?

A congregation is a group of about fifty people or more who share the same desire to know the Lord Jesus better. Usually, they meet at set times of the week, like on a Sunday, for worship, to listen to God's word, to pray, to give to the Lord, and to fellowship with other Christians. The relationships inside a congregation may not be that deep or intimate because of the size. But for most people who are starting out on their Christian journey, the congregation may be a good place to start. Of course, there are those who are content with this type of commitment only, even though they have been Christians already for a long time. This is okay, because we want everyone to grow in their own pace and according to the leading of the Holy Spirit in their lives. We won't force anyone to do anything apart from faith. That's why the types of people who attend a congregation may be quite varied. Some are new and some are old in the faith. What may be common among them may just be the schedule or the place of gathering, whether it is in person or online. Don't expect to have deep conversations during congregational gatherings. It is not designed for that, and there may not be enough time for that. If you want deeper connections, you need to join either a community or a cell.

A community is a group of about twenty to forty people, bonded together by something more deeper than just their common schedules or the place of worship. They can be bonded together by their situation in their lives, their backgrounds, their gender, their status, their age bracket, their location (i.e., where they live, work, or study), etc. In other words, they have something more in common with each other than a typical congregation. A group of young adults or students may be a community. So can a group of adult men or adult women or couples, etc. The frequency of their gathering may not be as frequent as a congregation, and the format of their gathering may be more social and informal. Sometimes they may have a program, but not always. Each community will have its own unique way of celebrating their life together. Time is usually not much of their concern. Since they may not gather weekly, once they gather (like quarterly), it can be more fun and family-like. It's like being in a family reunion with relatives and friends. Some churches call these groups "fellowships". That can be a good name for it. If you want to have deeper connections with people of the same kind (and not the just typical greeting-one-another part of congregational meetings, like what happens during the Sunday Worship Celebration or SWC, which may be shallow for some), then joining a community or fellowship will be the best option for you. Of course, you have to be ready and open for people to know you more, and even to be more involved with your life, asking you personal questions, etc. If you are not comfortable with that, remaining in a congregation is just okay for the time being.

In RLCC, there is a special kind of community called a "Simple Church". It's a cross between a congregation and a typical community or fellowship. In other words, its gathering is much like a congregation but without the complexity. It is, in other words, simple. The atmosphere is still like a community but the meetings are more like a congregation. This is appropriate especially for those who desire that kind of combination. Attending a Simple Church is much like attending a congregation but smaller and simpler. There is no need for a platform, a band, or even a building. Usually, a Simple Church may just meet in a clubhouse or garage. Once the size grows, there may be a need to convert it into a congregation. But this may not be necessary since it can easily multiply into another Simple Church somewhere else.

A cell or small group is another option. A cell is composed of five to ten people meeting together to accompany and help each other in the journey of faith. The goal is to become "soul friends". Their meetings are for "soul talks" rather than just casual chitchat. The "soul" is the totality of our person, with special attention to our inner lives in relation to God and others. To become "soul friends", we must be willing to share our lives with each other. We must open our hearts to each other and be honest with each other. We must learn how to love each other sincerely and not judge one another. This type of relationship may be challenging. There may be conflicts along the way. To open our hearts to others can be quite scary. Not many of us are secure enough to do so. But if we want to grow spiritually, joining a cell or small group is the way to go about it. Speaking the truth in love to each other will help us mature in Christ (Ephesians 4:15-16). It will expose those areas of our lives that the Lord wants to save or redeem. Usually, the dialogue inside a cell or small group include the following themes or topics:

• Life events (good or bad)

• Insights or lessons learned (usually there is some content that a cell or small group may choose to study together)

• Faith challenges or trials

• Emotional experiences that require discernment

The goal is to listen to each other while listening to God. Usually, this is done in the context of eating or drinking something together (not alcoholic drinks, of course). That's why the common agenda of a cell or small group meeting is Eat, Share, and Pray (ESP). While eating together, you share your LIFE (the acrostic above) with each other, and you pray together to discern what the Lord may be saying to each other, and how each person can respond in faith and obedience to the Lord. That's why we call our cells or small groups LIFE Groups. The goal is faithful submission to God, not just talking about feelings or problems. Not all of the LIFE themes or topics needs to be shared. One theme or topic is enough for each person or for the whole meeting. Also, there must be a mutuality of care. No one should dominate the meeting, dumping his or her problems to the group. If necessary, a cell or group member may need to consult a counselor if they have problems. In addition, if a person is going through something that the group cannot co-discern, he or she must meet with a Spiritual Director who might be able to help. The aim of the cell or small group is to grow in faith together, not solve problems for each other. As the group cares for you by listening and co-discerning the Lord's voice for you, you must also do the same for them. Related to this, each one must learn how to travel the Real Life Journey. After the Real Life Bible Study (RLBS), each member of a cell or small group must take this course in order to contribute faithfully to the group.

So where do you go from here?

Now that you understand the differences between a congregation, a community, and a cell (i.e. small group), you need to take a step of faith and join the appropriate group that you feel comfortable with. Don't be anxious about this. There is no demand for you to join a cell or small group now, if you are not yet ready for it. Doing so will definitely help you grow spiritually, but don't feel that you are being forced to do so by anyone. Guilt is not a good motivation and you won't be able to persevere in the process. Take your time and pray to the Lord. Start with attending a congregational meeting like the Sunday Worship Celebration or SWC as regularly as you can. When you are ready, join a community or fellowship. If and when the Lord leads you, and you want to grow spiritually, join a cell or small group as soon as you can. This is how you can join us in Real Life Christian Communities. We are excited for you. If you need any help, please contact our pastors or interns.