Small group Bible study: a must for the growing Christian

By Lauren Mundy

The older we get the busier life gets and the faster our calendars fill up. We go from one event to another, one obligation to the next, trying to make it to the weekend.  

Oftentimes, the last thing on someone’s mind is to make a commitment to joining a weekly Bible study. It seems inconvenient. You could just simplify your life by reading your Bible at home alone. But can I argue that joining a Bible study is one of the most important things you could do to improve your week and quality of life? One of the biggest ways the enemy tries to get to people is to make them feel isolated. If he can make you feel like you are the only person going through something, then he can make you feel defeated.  

I believe that is one of the reasons God calls us to be in community.  

When you gather together with other believers in a weekly Bible study, you develop a relationship that doesn’t form by just saying “hello” on Sunday mornings. You have real conversations and start to see that there are other people, other Christians, struggling in the same way you do. Genuine friendships form out of transparency and intentional conversations. Then you are able to come alongside each other, hold each other accountable, and remind each other of the truths of God’s word. 

More than anything, when you commit to a weekly Bible study you are setting aside time to dive into God’s word with your peers and get applicable truths for your everyday life. There are two reasons I believe this is important.  

First, in this setting everyone is able to share their takeaway from the passage. You might see a verse in a way you never have before because of someone else’s perspective. Secondly, when you develop relationships and begin to share one another’s burdens, you get a real view into what is going on in their lives.  

When you see that same person declare the truths out of God’s word over their situation and speak life into their issue, it increases your faith. It stirs something in you to continue chasing after the things of God. I have seen these things to be true in my own life and for the people on my campus.  

Throughout my time leading a Bible study, the Lord has transformed hearts and minds during our time together. We had girls who had grown up in church their entire lives, girls who had not been to church in years, and girls who had come from different religious backgrounds altogether.  

As we studied the story of scripture, the Lord met each person exactly where they were. We got to see how the power of God was present in every story. He reminded us that He goes before us, fights on our behalf, and moves in the unseen to bring about His perfect will for our lives. We saw time and again that nothing is too big for Him and nothing comes as a surprise. He revealed His heart to us and gently reminded us that He is in control over all things.  

True life change can begin when you make the commitment to join with a community of believers in weekly Bible study. When you set aside time to intentionally study the Bible with people who are chasing after God, you grow in ways you never thought possible. You learn God’s heart for His people. You become surrounded with life-giving friends instead of life-draining friends because they have God as their source.  

I believe it is imperative to have daily time with the Lord by yourself. However, something special happens in your life when you also commit to studying scripture in the context of community.