On Saturday evening at around 6:30 pm Jerry Shaw went to be with the Lord. In that moment a wife lost her husband she'd been married to for fifteen years and an eleven year old boy lost his father. There is no doubt that Jerry immediately entered into heaven having trusted Christ with his life at the age of twenty-two, but the loss was a big one to the many people who knew him, loved him, and called him friend.
Heaven was just moments away, but before he died he had two faint tear drops come down his face. It wasn't the disease ravaging his body that caused them. It was the thought of leaving his wife and child.
Fortunately, they will be cared for. They are followers of Christ and the Lord will be with them, but so will a band of believers they have invested their lives in.
The Shaws were in a small group. These people they have shared meals with, prayed with, and studied the Bible with are now caring for them in their time of need.
Long before I got to the Shaw's house, other people had been ministering to them and long after I left, there were people still there. Days and even years from now there are going to be people in their lives to care for them and in time they will return the favor.
Heaven was just moments away, but before he died he had two faint tear drops come down his face. It wasn't the disease ravaging his body that caused them. It was the thought of leaving his wife and child.
Fortunately, they will be cared for. They are followers of Christ and the Lord will be with them, but so will a band of believers they have invested their lives in.
The Shaws were in a small group. These people they have shared meals with, prayed with, and studied the Bible with are now caring for them in their time of need.
Long before I got to the Shaw's house, other people had been ministering to them and long after I left, there were people still there. Days and even years from now there are going to be people in their lives to care for them and in time they will return the favor.
Unfortunately, I've also seen the other side of the coin recently.
I visited a woman and she was thankful for my visit and the one she received earlier by one of our deacons, but while I was with her she began to cry. When I asked her why she was crying she said it was because she did not have anyone in her life to help her through this tough time. She was a member of the church and had been for over twenty years, but she was not in a small group and now she was alone.
As the minister on call, I would soon be going to visit with other people just as the deacon who had visited her before me had. There was no one for her to rely on for the long recovery she faced. Of course other ministers and deacons will look in on her, but they will not be able to bear her burden with her for hours on end each day nor is that their role in the church’s life. That is the responsibility of a small group.
This good woman grieved the lack of a small group in her life. She has missed out on hours, weeks and years of laughter, tears, spiritual growth, and friendship. Now, when she needs it most, she does not have people to rely on because she has not developed supportive relationships with other believers.
What about you? Do you have a small group that you are caring for, growing in Christ with, and doing life with?
If you do, you are blessed.
What have been your experiences in small groups?
If you are not involved in one, why aren't you?
2 comments:
Last night I had dinner with one of my "ladies" in my class. She has had major surgery in the past few weeks and her friend who was caring for her has gone home so she is alone. It was so good to sit down with her at her home and then we went out to dinner. It truly made me realize that being a part of "small group" and this one in particular is simply our ABF class, is a great calling. I know that when we needed support during times of death, our ABF classes were there as much as they could be. People sometimes do not realize that the "pastors" of the church, no matter how many we have, cannot support every family in this large church community. WE are the ministers and supporters. WE are the ones who will take care of each other. It's nice to have a pastor visit or be there but it's the regular folk who bear the burdens of the masses.
Two weeks ago my 97-year-old grandmother went home to be with her beloved Jesus. Our ABF class and small group showered us with cards, words of encouragement and prayers. One of our small group couples even drove over to Monroe County (no small trek from BG) to be with us during the wake. I am so thankful for my brothers and sisters in Christ. I am no longer an "only child".
Being plugged into a small group and an ABF class is such an integral part of our community of faith and it saddens me that there are many who are not taking advantage of these awesome fellowship and support opportunities.
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