“Share the toy with your brother!”
When I hear the word sharing, my mind wanders back to a phrase I heard often as a boy, “Chris, share the toy with your brother.” Growing up with two brothers and not a lot of money, we boys quickly learned that sharing was the only way to get any playing time with our favorite toys or our fill of our favorite food at the dinner table.
Sharing is a word we also use a lot in the world of small groups. We talk about sharing our stories and our talents, sharing our space and our time, sharing with each other and with our neighbors. In fact, in our small group setting sharing is the key to just about everything we do.
My small group has begun sharing more lately. Not just about our personal lives and our prayer requests, but with God’s word and its impact in our lives. After Lent ended, we hit one of those spots that all small groups hit. It’s the “what will we study next?” spot. We decided our Bible study would be each member sharing passages that have been impactful in his life; in general or during this particular season. To my delightful surprise, this has turned out to be a remarkable way of learning and interacting with God’s Word.
Each week, one group member facilitates discussion about a personally impactful Bible passage. Several of the passages that have been shared are passages that I have read dozens of times and heard multiple sermons on; passages like Galatians 2:20, 1 Cor. 13:4-7, and 1 Thess. 5:16-18. But for some reason, as my friends have shared how these verses have shaped, changed, and convicted them, I have finally taken hold of them: literally and figuratively. I found myself literally turning to these passages again and again in the days that followed our small group meetings, re-visiting why these passages were so meaningful to the guys in our Small Group. And, the passages seemed to stick. Unlike they did with previous sermons and readings, these verses seemed to get lodged into my heart because of the personal sharing that was done by my small group. And having God’s word lodged in our heart, is a pretty good thing. (Psalm 119:11, 15-16)
When talking about God’s word in your group this week, freely share how it’s Power and Truth have impacted you. Share. Give something. Receive something. And like the three boys in my family, enjoy together the fun and fulfilling things God gives through His word.
Chris Greer
Coordinator of Small Groups
chris.greer@belairpres.org
