Small Group, Big Benefits

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
Matthew 18:20

Have you ever wondered about the meaning of life? Have you ever wanted to find out more about God? Or maybe you've tried reading the Bible but have a difficult time understanding what it says. Maybe you find the traditional church service to be impersonal and boring. If you find yourself agreeing with any of these sentiments, then maybe a small group Bible study is for you.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with members of a small group that meets once a week in the home of Larry and Carol Nelson.

"Our group has been together fourteen months now. It's just like family," said Carol.

A typical evening starts in the kitchen with coffee and snacks. Everyone catches up with each other about the past week. Afterwards they head to the living room for an opening prayer and worship. They watch a DVD that features teaching based on the current sermon series at church, followed by questions and topics for discussion.

For Dave the study is very important. "You can read the Bible all you want, but without a small group to sit around and discuss it, you really don't understand it."

After the study, the group asks for prayer requests and shares stories about the good things that God has done for them.

Perhaps the most important parts of the small group experience are the service projects and community outreach. This group has become partners with the local YWCA, volunteering at the facility to repair a damaged ceiling, and to scrub carpets and baseboards at the shelter. When a local teenager was seriously injured in an ATV accident, they collected money for groceries and also a gas card to assist the family with travel to the hospital in Pittsburgh where the young man was undergoing rehabilitation. During the winter, they donated blankets to Catholic Charities to help the homeless, as well as a crib filled with baby items and supplies to assist two expectant mothers at the shelter.

After a six-week study is completed, the group meets for a potluck dinner. After the meal there is a spirited game of charades, men versus women. Lloyd jokes: "It's a charades whuppin," referring to the men's unbeaten record. Although he does concede that "the women gave the men a run for their money last week since we raised the time limit."

Friendship, fun, prayer, learning, serving others, and growing closer to God are all some of the many blessings that have come to the members of this small group.

Lloyd sums up his small group experience this way: "Friendship and family. I've had a lot of acquaintances in my life, but I've never had a lot of friends. The small groups I've been in have allowed me to build friendships. It's more like a family."