Community Group

Another element of our recent move to a new area was finding a new church family. While it was our initial intention to drive 45 minutes each way back to our former church, God had a different plan. His plan was at the very least, more practical as there is a church basically across the street from our new home. If that were not enough, my son and his family attend the church that we can see from our back window.

My slight hesitation was leaving behind the friends and relationships that we had formed over the years at our former church. I am not a big fan of saying goodbye to people who have loved us for many years, but again common sense prevailed and we made yet another big change in our world. We started attending a new church. It is a smaller church, but the only people that we knew in our new church were my son, his wife, and our grandkids. We had briefly met four families who graciously helped us move from our old house, something that we will never forget.

Our timing as the newest members was perfect since our new church was just starting to form small community groups. These groups of 5-6 families meet each Thursday night in a host home to share a meal, study God's Word, and share each other's prayer requests and praises. My wife and I were excited to get started and assumed that we would join the group meeting at our son and daughter-in-law’s home until they suggested that we might want to consider a different group. You can imagine our disappointment, being told by our own family that we might be better off meeting with perfect strangers! After some discussion, the logic was that it would be best for us to meet some other families and not just be known in our church as "Billy's parents". So we signed up to meet with folks that we had never before met, and at the very least now I would be known as "Rosemary's husband".

As you can see from the picture above, I can also be identified as the "old guy" as God put Rosemary and me in a group of younger people, much younger people. I am old enough to be a parent of any one of our group members. Thankfully no one but me has mentioned that fact.

So you might be wondering, how is it working out? It is working out great, and thanks for asking. God has placed us in a group of some of the most special people on the planet. OK, at least the most special people in Pennsylvania. My wife and I knew none of these people just a few months ago and we now feel like a part of our new Thursday night family. We feel incredibly blessed that these young people have graciously welcomed us despite our differences. In case you are missing the obvious, the world of a recently retired 63-year-old and the worlds of 20 and 30-year-olds raising children are very different. Again, I seem to be the only one that recognizes the differences, and I am so grateful to be a part of the group.

So what is the point? Thanks again for asking. Regardless of your age, I am strongly recommending that you find a small group of your own. If your church does not have a small group program, I recommend that you start one; you will be blessed by the experience. It would be silly for me to think that you would join a small group just because I did, so here are two better reasons to consider it.

First, the early church met in small groups in their homes.

1 Corinthians 16:19 the churches of Asia greet you, Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. All the brethren greet you.

The Bible makes references in many places about the early church meeting in homes. If it was a good idea then, it’s an even better idea in the days we are living. What better way to navigate all of life's challenges than to meet weekly in small groups to share in our struggles and our victories. In my life, I have always said that I need Jesus first, but right after that I need people. I need to be a part of a body of believers who help me get through the daily challenges of life. God rarely speaks to me directly, but He speaks to me indirectly through His people almost every day.

The second reason to meet together in a small group is that there is strength in numbers, small numbers if you will. I am much better equipped to deal with life in 2021 when a small group of others is there to help me along.

Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12 (9) two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor. (10) For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to pick him up. (11) Again if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? (12) Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Please pay particular attention to the middle of verse 10 when it says "when he falls" . The fact is that we will all fall. It makes total sense to surround ourselves with a small group that can help us up after we fall.

I will close by suggesting that your life and the lives of others will be easier and more blessed if you are part of a small group bible study. If you are not, please prayerfully consider the idea. And lastly, I have to share the most persuading reason of all to join a small group. Please look at the picture below and tell me who on earth had it better than me last night as I got the biggest most beautiful smile from my new best friend Mia.