Meeting with a Group

We have been so fortunate to be a part of an awesome small (or should I say large) group of people. This year it has been meeting at our house on Thursday nights, but it started for some of us a couple years ago as part of a college Word study at our friend Jim’s house. Many people have since moved away and new individuals have started coming. We usually have between 15-20 people, some being Clemson and SWU students and some other young adults. We pack in our apt and we bring over many of the chairs from our landlord’s office. For many of us it is the time of the week we really look forward to and it is truly a time when iron sharpens iron.

We pick a part of the Book and just read a chapter every week. Someone reads the chapter out loud first and then we take about 15 minutes to reflect on it silently. Then we open it up for discussion. Someone will bring up a question, or tell what really stood out to them. Studying together has challenged me and helped me grow in a desire to read throughout the week. It is so encouraging to hear from others and it gives me new questions to ask myself while reading. Last week we read about the good shepherd and discussed what it looks like to hear his voice. I am so thankful for how people share there personal experiences, and struggles.

We say our small group starts at 7:30, but a couple people start arriving a little before 7:00. We don’t actually start at 7:30 either. That is the time when everyone else arrives, starts hanging out and making coffee or hot chocolate. We really start the studying at 8:00 and it ends between 9:30-10:00. Last time it went to 11:30…sometimes it is just too good to cut off. I guess I should mention that no one in our group has children so that does allow for more flexibility as far as time. Our friends often joke about Ryan kicking them out at the end of the night. Ryan does drop some reminders that he still has to get up at 5:30 in the morning for work, but he also easily gets distracted talking to people after the study too.

We are so thankful for the community we are a part of here and excited about the community we will be joining in Cambodia.

-Melissa