To each of these, Jesus’ invitation was the same: Follow me.
And that diverse and discordant group did follow Jesus for the better part of three years. He trained them. He invited them into the tasks of the Kingdom of God. And then, on the night before he was crucified, he reclined with them at the table, sharing life and mission, grace and truth. That night, Jesus told his disciples: “I have eagerly desired to eat this meal with you” (Luke 22:14-38).
At Grace Snellville, that kind of Table Community is the goal. Around godly tables, our families flourish, our friends find life, and our neighbors are welcomed and loved. It’s the kind of connection we eagerly desire instead of an obligation or calendar-clogger.
But here’s the catch: you can’t just sign up to be part of a Table Community. These kinds of communities can’t be manufactured or engineered. Rather, life-giving Table Communities full of family, friends, and neighbors emerge organically as we worship together (Temple Community), grow together (Training Community), and serve together (Task Community).
This is why our mission at Grace Snellville is to equip one another to follow Jesus well into the neighborhoods, nations, and next generation. Our main focus is not to get as many people as possible into our buildings but to see as many people as possible following Jesus well out in our community, engaging needs across barriers, and raising up the next generation to know God.
Values
ROOTED
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. –Jeremiah 17:7–8 (ESV)
In everything we do, we aim to be anchored in God’s trustworthy Scripture. Every Sunday, our preachers across all age-levels will encourage you to “open your Bible” and then teach from it. In our training, we want to help you hear from God’s Word and live it out faithfully in the midst of a thousand contrary cultural currents. Scripture shapes the way we do mission both home and abroad. And just as Jesus’ words guided that last Passover meal, we hope our Table Communities are rooted in truth.
RENEGADE
Jesus answered [Pilate], “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” –John 18:36 (ESV)
The word “renegade” means “a treacherous change of allegiance.” Salvation in Christ means the allegiance of our hearts changes “from the dominion of darkness to the kingdom of his beloved Son” (Col. 3:1). As we go about the work of that Kingdom, we are committed to follow Jesus wherever he leads–whether it’s the farthest reaches of the Muslim world or the cafeterias of our local middle schools.
REAL
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. –John 1:14–15 (ESV)
If our Rooted value keeps us anchored in Scripture and our Renegade value calls us to courageous service for the sake of God’s Kingdom, our value of being Real calls us to authenticity. How did God make you to be unique?
What is your gifting? Where do you struggle? All too often, religious communities can become unsafe spaces that cultivate hypocrisy. But Jesus was full of grace and truth–supremely compassionate to meet us in our messes and supremely honest to walk us out of them.