Over forty years ago, Rick and I were struggling in our marriage and close to divorce. We knew we needed to do something to change the road we were on. Moving and starting a business seemed to be a good idea. (Talk about stress!!) Only one house was up for rent in the small town of Sebastopol, and it just happened to be between two Christian families, both of whom invited us to a small, non-denominational Christ-and-Bible centered church. We had been to church in SoCal and been disillusioned. Rick wanted nothing to do with church. I was desperate enough to try again. This new church was different. I felt welcome. I felt loved. I heard the Word of God. I felt hope. When Rick refused to attend, I asked the pastor if he’d teach a small home group. He said yes, if Rick approved. And so we began…
A small group focused on Jesus and His Word can save a marriage. It can change the course of a life. People who gather in small groups have time to share their thoughts and questions, their struggles and experiences. A small group can deep-dive into God’s Word and talk about it. We pray for one another. We come alongside one another and walk together through tough times. We see miracles happen.
The size of our group has ebbed and flowed. We’ve had as few as six and as many as twenty-five. (Twelve to fifteen is best.) Some attended for years. Some moved away. Some graduated to heaven. When a seat opened, God brought another person or two or three. Some don’t have a church home. Others attend churches other than the one we attend. Some come from close by, others drive more than an hour to be part of the group. We start by hanging out in the kitchen for refreshments and catching up on what’s been happening in our lives over the past week. Then we head for the living room and spend an hour reading and discussing a section of the Bible. (This year we tackled Revelation.)
What has kept the group going all these years? We all want to draw closer to Jesus. We all want to read what God has to say, to learn the lessons He is teaching us. We all long for friendship. When Covid hit, and churches were shut down, we continued to meet – without masks or social distancing. Why? Because we trust God and we love one another. People were designed for relationship – with God first and with others. Where two or three are gathered, God is Present. We know He is present, speaking to us through His Word.
When we opened the front door of our small rental house that first night, we had no idea we would still be hosting a “life group” thirty-nine years later. Sunday is the sabbath, but Tuesday has been the second most important day of our week. Life is better when you do it together with God at the center.