One day a week J and I get together with four other couples to eat good food, catch up, read the Bible, and pray together. It’s called many things: small group, discipleship group, life group, bible study, fellowship, etc. What it continues to be for me is a continual burst of refreshment for this endurance race of life.
In high school we had them for youth group, in college I led one, and now we are in one with other married couples. Different seasons of life, different levels of maturity, but always the same goal: a group of human beings sharing life together, processing Scripture, praying for each other, connecting.
I am passionate about ‘small groups’ because it is accountability, and it teaches me steadfastness.
It’s not a weekend revival complete with spiritual mountaintop experiences, but it is a weekly challenge to lean a little more into Jesus, to learn a little more about the Bible, and to interact with other believers. It is a weekly couple of hours where we externally process verses we read, where we break them down and dig deep. Taking the time to do that kind of study consistently can seem unattainable amidst our busy lives, but it’s possible. And it’s even greater to hear what other people think about a verse or topic, because we all come from different experiences, and we all perceive life in different ways.
Over the weekend I heard a sermon on John 10, the Good Shepherd and His sheep, and something new caught my attention.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
The wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. How much more vulnerable are we when we are isolated and alone? And that is the Enemy’s goal. To discourage us, to cause us to doubt and fear, to tempt us to sin.
I’m also thankful for the weekly visiting with other people who, like me, are trying to surrender their lives to Jesus more and more.
I encourage you, friend, if you don’t have a relationship like this, find one, pray for one.
I love this!! I’m a big fan of “group” (as I call it!), too. It’s so important to find good, encouraging, Christian community! (And I never thought about that verse in that context before!)
Great, great point! My husband I host a bible study weekly at our house and we love it. It is a “anyone is welcome” kind of thing, so we stay pretty basic, but it is a great time of fellowship and bible study each week!
Kristin // The Peculiar Treasure
athisfeetdaily.blogspot.com
My husband and I love our weekly small group as well. It is so good to learn and grow together through this stage of life with other young couples!
I love this so much! I too, am passionate about life groups/small groups…community! I cannot believe how I feel when I miss it for a few weeks. Honestly, we have only recently really jumped back into community, and weekly – If not daily – I wonder how we made it for so long without it. (The answer is we really weren’t.)
I agree, Mandy. Ours is also made up of couples from all different stages of life — 25 year marriages, 5 year marriages, etc. I love it.
That’s cool, Kristin C! I think any kind of place to get together consistently is great! Cool of you guys to open up your home. :)
I hadn’t thought of it like that either, Ally! But it was a fresh perspective I’m grateful to have heard.