Are you part of what churches now are calling a “small group?” It can be called a Bible study group, a Sunday school class, a prayer group, etc. Whatever the group does, it has at the heart a desire to fellowship and share in the love of Jesus Christ. It’s not a clique, it’s a fellowship.
Over the weekend, we hosted a Christmas party for 22 people at our house. It was for our Sunday School class, and I think everyone, including me, had a great time. We played our traditional “Dirty Santa” game with Christmas ornaments (I know, where is “Thou shalt not steal” when you need it?), celebrated the retirement of one of our members, welcomed our new pastor and his wife (they lowered the median age significantly!), and ate more than we should have.
And we had sweet fellowship.
See the BLUR? That’s me.
Did I mention that this is the “Class Formerly Known as the Young Adult Class?” Many of us have been together, off and on, for over twenty-five years. We’ve lost a few and gained a few, had children, grandchildren, and major health issues, but you know what? We have one another’s backs.
We pray together.
We study together.
We laugh together, often in the midst of our praying and studying.
I’ve heard many say “I can worship God in a deer stand/fishing boat/camper as well as I can in Sunday school or church.” No, you can’t. It never fails that one of our teachers will bring out something in a lesson that I wouldn’t have wanted to miss, I learn that our class had an awesome time of prayer for one of our own or someone they love, or someone shared a testimony that moved the class to tears of joy or sadness. I don’t want to miss those times.
Hebrews 10:24 and 25, in The Living Bible translation says this: In response to all He has done for us, let us outdo each other in being helpful and kind to each other and in doing good. Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of His coming back again is drawing near.
If you don’t have a small group, or if you’re a SMO (Sunday Morning Only), you’re missing out. I remember as a preschooler learning the song based on Psalm 122:1 – I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD!
Find a group of Christians that will come alongside. If you’re not a Christian, I pray that someone will love you so much that you’ll be able to see the love of Jesus and want it for your own life!
Have a blessed Monday!
P.S. Thanks to Britt Wright for a couple of the party pictures!!
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