Vintage Church DNA
Here’s a look at each DNA point and how they inform the ways we lead our community groups.
1. We are a church of doubters, seekers, and followers of Jesus.
At Vintage, we recognize that everyone is at a different point in their spiritual journey. Some doubt the claims of the Bible, some are seeking answers, and others are following Jesus in a full-life commitment to him. This diversity enriches our community and opens doors for meaningful discussions and mutual growth.
In our community groups we strive to create an environment where questions and doubts are welcomed. Encourage open dialogue where doubters can voice their uncertainties, seekers can explore faith more deeply, and followers can share their experiences. This fosters a supportive atmosphere where everyone feels valued and heard and, in particular, where doubters and seekers can hear the good news of Jesus without guilt or shame.
2. We believe the gospel is deep enough to simultaneously reach doubters, seekers, and followers.
The gospel’s message is profound and versatile, capable of addressing the needs of everyone regardless of where they are on their faith journey. This principle guides our teachings and interactions in every corner of the church.
In community groups we strive to bring this gospel-centered approach to everything we do. You’ll notice a particular focus on the message of the gospel—our desperate need and the sufficiency of Jesus to meet our need—in every discussion guide. As you guide your community group through discussion and through other interactions, be aware of the gradual slide we’re all susceptible to, the slide from grace to performance and from prioritizing the simple gospel to prioritizing more complicated or esoteric Bible knowledge. We never graduate from the Good News.
3. We are authentic.
We prize authenticity because of its direct tie to accepting the truth of the gospel in our lives. Acknowledging that we are saved by grace alone allows us to be honest about our shortcomings and the hope we find in Jesus.
In community groups, true authenticity can be risky, but meaningful relationships don’t happen any other way. As a leader, authenticity most often starts with you modeling vulnerability by sharing your own struggles and how Jesus provides hope and healing. Encourage members to be honest about their own journeys. This openness builds trust and deepens relationships within the group, creating a space where grace is experienced tangibly.
4. We are creative.
Being made in the image of our Creator inspires us to approach our work with originality and precision. Our creativity reflects the holistic picture of Jesus Christ to others.
You’ll notice Vintage’s visual and artistic creativity up on the stage, in the music and in sermon series design, even online. But creativity doesn’t stop there, because creativity defines how we approach the work of the church holistically. We never want to do ministry simply because that’s what churches or Christians typically do. We strive to think freshly about how to fulfill the ministry Jesus has given us by making disciples in relevant ways. For that reason, ministry models are never sacrosanct, so play around with the way your CG does discussion and meeting format, and consider creative ways to engage your neighbors, coworkers, and friends in the life of your group.
5. We are building a healthy multiethnic church.
Being the body of Christ called to ministry in the Triangle, we desperately want to reflect both the diversity of the Triangle and the diversity of the global church. We aim to bear credible witness to Jesus as a unified body, transcending ethnic and economic distinctions.
In some sense it is even harder to fulfill this DNA point in community groups than on Sunday mornings. Community groups are small, intimate social environments in which minority status of any kind stands out sharply. However, in another sense Vintage will be crippled in her ability to fulfill this DNA point if our living rooms and dinner tables aren’t filled with a diverse group of people. So, this starts in your group first with celebrating the diversity that currently exists by encouraging members to share their cultural backgrounds and experiences as they feel comfortable (an intersection point with DNA point 3, Authenticity). But welcoming a diverse swathe of people into community groups also depends on our own friendships and broader community relationships. As community group leaders, modeling this is essential to seeing its fruit in your community group.
6. We believe Jesus is worthy of our lives.
Our lives are to be lived wholly for Jesus, not just in part but in full. This belief calls us to follow Jesus passionately and wholeheartedly.
As modern-day followers of Jesus, it’s quite easy to compartmentalize our faith. In community groups we need each other’s help integrating our faith into every aspect of their lives. As leaders, look for ways to encourage your community group members’ practices of daily devotion, service, and worship, particularly when folks are in a hard stretch of their life. Consider ways group members can support each other, perhaps by reading the Bible together, forming discipleship relationships, praying for each other, or merely encouraging one another in our daily commitment to following Jesus.
Conclusion
As you were reading through these DNA points, I hope you got a glimpse of some of the things that you love about Vintage and that, by God’s grace, make us a unique, authentic, creative, and diverse church family. I hope you also saw just how core to our identity the good news of Jesus is, how it brings in the far off, speaks peace to our souls, fuels vulnerability and creativity, and unites disparate and different people into the one family of God.