Join a Small Group? What’s In It For Me?
Small groups offer conversation, spiritual growth, relationship, and community. If you’ve ever thought about joining a small group, check out Jeanne Mills’ recent reflection on her experience:
I have to admit that I was never interested in being in a small group. I didn’t really feel like I had room in my life for more people I needed to invest in, but what I was interested in was learning. I remember Mark Miller doing a few sermons around Paul and a small inkling of wanting to know more about him started to grow in my heart.
The next fall, a Bible study was starting up on this apostle. I was in my first year of teaching and was a full-time student trying to finalize my teaching license, but the study was on a Monday and I didn’t have classes on Mondays, so I took a chance. There were about eight women in the Bible study, and I was the youngest and most inexperienced with a Bible. These women from all walks of life never made me feel less than. The weekly homework was something I looked forward to so I could bring my questions and discussions to the group. It wasn’t long before I grew to love these women and the influence they had on my spiritual walk. We ended up being together in Bible study for almost ten years! We saw each other through births, deaths, graduations, retirements, and so much more.
I would still be in a women’s Bible study today if my husband hadn’t suggested we join a couples’ study when our son started elementary school. Life changes had taken my women friends into different areas and we were all of different stages of life, so I knew in my head that it was time, but my heart started having the same feelings as before of not having room in my life for more people. God sure has a funny way of proving us wrong!
We joined a couples-with-elementary-aged-kids study. We rotated through parenting studies, marriage studies, and books of the Bible. Although couples came and went, we have still remained true to this style. We have been together through many of the same life situations, and all of our kids are in college or high school now, but what’s fantastic about “doing life” with these people is that I’m getting out of it what I’m putting into it. I have great conversations about hard topics with people who have been through it. I’m not alone. Plus, we’re digging into the word of the Lord in a safe space where we can ask questions and get answers.
Whether it was the women’s group or the couples’ group, we have all had very different backgrounds and, in some cases, beliefs, but we all held to the core of wanting to learn and grow into what God has called us to be, and that’s in community with each other.
Jeanne Mills
You can find more information about small groups at Ebenezer, including a complete list of groups and meeting times, at ebenezerumc.org/small-groups