Last month, I was reading a blog and it sparked an idea within me. It really hit home as I was trying to think of a schedule and plan for the next year. With so much uncertainty, it almost seemed impossible to put anything on the calendar but after praying about it, something popped into my mind and I wanted to share that with you. It is the idea that smaller groups of people meeting together for fellowship and Bible study isn’t a new concept in churches. In fact, we see in Acts chapter two that the first-century church relied on it “every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house (Acts 2:46). Most churches today allow people to be a part of some version of a small group. Here at St. Jacob’s we have many options: discipleship groups, Sunday school, Wednesday morning Bible study, Lutheran men/women, Up + Going, KFC, etc. No matter what the group is called, the goal has primarily stayed the same from the early church: to disciple fellow believers to be more like Christ through Biblical community and the study of God’s Word. We’re now at a turning point in history where one major shift must happen for churches to be able to thrive in the “new normal.” As you know, churches can no longer offer large events or even in our case, one worship service due to capacity restrictions. Even as restrictions lift, we may never be the same as we once were- packing into the pews on a Sunday morning. One good thing to come of this is the fascinating idea that the church can be brought back to what she was designed to be. We can use this circumstance as an opportunity to disciple and equip people for ministry- more than ever before. I have a passion for small group ministry not only is it what I am used to but I really do believe that it is the history and the future of the Church! I believe that God has each of us in an auxiliary or on a ministry team for a reason and I feel like this is the time to utilize that group. This is the time to really press into that small group and invest your time, service, and heart. I promise it will not return void. I want to encourage you that as these small groups begin to meet again, if you’re comfortable, please attend. I believe that there is so much that can come of this “down time” whether it be joining Bible study for the first time (and maybe reading a book you’ve never gone through before), finally joining that ministry team that you feel God has gifted you to serve on, or finding a need and helping to meet it alongside a few others. There are so many ways to utilize this time and we can do so remembering the fact that, God wastes nothing.
Grace + Peace, + a Happy New Year!
Rachel
