Participate in a Small Group Study

In an interview with Darryl Wilson, he stated that something that contributed to his spiritual growth was participating in a small group of men that prayed and studied together.  I have also found personal growth by participating in small groups and learning from others.  No matter how much we feel we know about the Bible, no matter how spiritual we feel we are, we can always learn from something that God teaches another believer.  A small group is a perfect place to experience that.

There are a number of ways that we can grow by participating in a small group:

• Spiritually - God did not create us to function in isolation.  We are created for community, also known as the Body of Christ or the Church.  God teaches us wonderful things as we study Scripture, but we can also learn from what He teaches others. 
• Emotionally - seeing how others deal with struggles or trials can be a model for us when we encounter our own trials.  Trials have a way of sneaking up on us, not leaving time for preparation.  Consequently, our first response may not be one that we're proud of.  But if we've seen someone else go through a similar trial and handle it relatively well, we can rein in our emotions and proceed with caution.
• Intellectually - It's hard to walk away from a good Bible study and not learn something new.  While Bible study should not be solely an intellectual pursuit, learning facts and figures can open a door to spiritual lesson.
• Socially - I've made some of my best friends by participating in a Bible study.  It's good to be able to call someone that is like-minded when you need prayer, a shoulder to lean on, or just someone to hang out with. 

Here's an important point for Sunday School or Bible teachers - try to participate in a small group as a member and not a teacher.  We learn so much when we're preparing a lesson, but we can also learn by sitting quietly in a small group study or by actively participating in a discussion led by someone else.  When we're teaching there's the stress of getting the discussion going, wondering if we're communicating effectively, trying to end on time, etc.  When someone else teaches, we can relax and simply enjoy.  It's another experience entirely.

So check out your church website and ask around about a good small group.  You'll never know how much you can grow until you try.

Now it's your turn - how have you grown by participating in a small group?

Comments

[Carol ~ I Throw Like A Girl]

So glad I found your blog. I am praying about leading a Bible study at my church this fall and can use all the pointers I can get!