| If you've been in church for any length of time, | | | | Earth. It has to be nurtured and paid attention to, |
| you've probably had the opportunity to join a | | | | it has to have a "two way street" of |
| small group Bible study. Maybe you've already | | | | communication consistently flowing back and forth |
| taken advantage of this wonderful opportunity, | | | | between both parties in the relationship, and both |
| but if you haven't, there are some benefits you | | | | parties need to know that the other party is just |
| may not know about that you'll experience as the | | | | as much invested in the relationship as they are. |
| result of being part of a one of these intimate | | | | Joining a small group Bible study is a great way to |
| groups. If you have been part of one of these | | | | fulfill all of these requirements for a healthy |
| special "events" you'll probably find yourself | | | | relationship with God and will only strengthen the |
| relating well to the following three benefits you | | | | relationship you already have with Him. |
| can experience when you're part of a small group | | | | More Applicable Biblical Knowledge |
| Bible study. | | | | Have you ever known someone who can quote |
| Fellowship with Other Believers | | | | scripture off the top of their head like they're |
| One of the best things about being part of a small | | | | reading it straight from the Bible? I've always |
| group Bible study is having the opportunity to | | | | admired people who can do this because they |
| meet on a regular basis with an intimate group of | | | | seem to have exactly the right scripture at any |
| other believers. While attending church and church | | | | given moment and don't have to thumb through |
| wide events is a great way to follow God's urging | | | | the pages of their Bible only to say, "Well, I don't |
| that we have "fellowship one with another," | | | | know exactly where it is but it says something |
| sometimes, there are so many people in church, | | | | like..." The only way to be able to know what |
| that you may never feel like you're making a real | | | | scripture says and where it says it is to study the |
| connection with anyone. | | | | Word and commit it to your heart and mind. |
| A small group Bible study is just what it says it is; | | | | And, by joining a small group Bible study, you're |
| a small group of people meeting together to | | | | making yourself accountable for doing your |
| study God's Word. You automatically have | | | | homework which is going to involve, if it's a good |
| something in common with everyone in the group | | | | study, opening the Word and really learning what |
| even if you've never really had a chance to talk | | | | God has to say about what He wants for your |
| to them before or you didn't think you had much | | | | life. As you do the homework each week and |
| in common with them. You're all there with one | | | | return to discuss what you've learned, you'll not |
| goal; to learn more about the God you love and | | | | only take with you what you've learned on your |
| serve and learn what His Word says about how | | | | own, you'll get to hear other believers' insights and |
| you should live. Who knows, you may even make | | | | revelations about what they learned as God |
| a new friend or two by the time the study is | | | | spoke to them through the lesson. |
| over. | | | | What It All Means |
| A Closer Walk with the Lord | | | | God wants to meet with us every day, but |
| Another benefit of becoming part of a small | | | | sometimes we just simply don't find the time to |
| group Bible study is that your walk with the Lord | | | | do our quiet time every day because we've got |
| will be strengthened. As you meet with your | | | | so much going on. When we come together with |
| group each week and as you do your | | | | other believers who have the same daily struggles |
| "homework" you'll begin to sense God's presence | | | | and the same desire to grow their spiritual lives |
| in your life more and more. There's nothing the | | | | and have a closer relationship with God, it inspires |
| Father likes more than to spend time with His | | | | all of everyone in the group to find the time to |
| children and the more time you spend with Him, | | | | study the Word. There's almost no better way to |
| the closer you'll become and the more likely you | | | | combine fellowship with other believers and |
| are to be obedient to Him. | | | | growing in God than to join a small group Bible |
| In some ways, our relationship with the Father is | | | | study. |
| like the relationships we have with people here on | | | | |