Three reasons you should join a small group
September 13, 2016 by Alex Johnston
God never intended for us to do it alone.
At HPUMC, we believe that in order to become a deeply devoted follower of Christ, you have to be connected to a community. That’s because we know that God uses small circles of friends to encourage growth and discipleship that has the ability to go deeper than what happens during a worship service on Sunday morning.
Specifically, here are three reasons we think you should sign up to join a small group today.
1. There is power in community.
In Romans 1:11-12, Paul writes, “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong – that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”
There is power in sharing your story and hearing the stories of others. When you hear someone else’s faith story, it strengthens yours. And when you share your story, it builds up someone else.
2. Small Groups help you find practical ways to live out spiritual truths.
It’s one thing to hear Biblical truths about what it means to do life as a Christian, it’s another thing entirely to actually live out those truths in the real world. We may believe everything that is being preached on Sunday, but how do we put those things into practice on Monday?
By joining a small group and connecting with others, we begin to broaden our perspective. By sharing our stories, we can learn from the experiences of those around us.
3. We all need personal connection.
We all have a deep desire to be known, not just in times of great pain but also in times of great joy.
Small Groups are people who have committed to doing life together. These are people who ‘know’ us, not just our names, but what we struggle with. These are people who are ready and willing to walk along side us, through fellowship and prayer. We believe the power of Jesus Christ is with us when we are engaged in community.
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20
What is holding you back from not joining a small group?
Maybe you’re nervous about opening up to strangers. Or maybe you’ve tried connecting through a small group before and it didn’t go well. Whatever your reason for not joining, we encourage you to give it another try.
We believe small groups are a vital piece of the puzzle if you want to live a life that reflects the joy of the Lord all week long.