It is important to start new groups. I believe this because of my own experience. I moved to a new town to begin graduate school and joined a new church; soon after they started a new Sunday school group. Here’s why it was a great experience for me.
I Made New Friends
My wife and I were in a new town and knew almost no one. Quickly, our best friends became couples in our new group. In fact, we’ve kept up with some of them over the years. They were a source of support during a busy and stressful time as young adults with young children.
I Found Opportunities to Serve
Unlike the existing group where leadership was established, the new group needed leaders. I served first as a care group leader and later as an outreach leader. Both were growth experiences, especially as I gained comfort in contacting people. As a substitute, I taught my first Bible study. The long-term result was me teaching more Bible studies than I could count. New opportunities to serve in a new group were opportunities for me to grow.
I Enjoyed Participative Bible Study
We moved from a large group taught by lecture to a small group with
participative teaching. This helped me work through many connections between biblical truth and daily life. I grew in my spiritual walk as I discovered how to adjust my life to the biblical revelation.
I Experienced Spiritual Transformation
I already mentioned how the new group helped me grow through opportunities to serve and participative Bible study. In addition, because the group was relatively small, the teacher was able to invest individually in group members. The investment of that teacher has had a continuing impact on my life and ministry.
How about you? Have you grown from being in a new group? Do you need a champion for starting new groups in your church?
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Bob Wood serves the Baptist State Convention of Michigan, assisting churches to become more intentional and effective in making disciples.
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