PHOTO LET TO RIGHT GOING AROUND THE TABLE: Joyce, Beverly, Ron, Lorna, Jill, Dave, Jack, Velma, Deb (Hiding), Alice, Glenn and Denny. (Missing from the photo is Jim, Brenda, Wayne, Cindy and Laurie.)
I have been conducting a Bible study class for many years now. How this study came to be is an interesting story.
The pastor at the Free Methodist Church at the time brought up at a Sunday service of a desire to start small men and women groups. The groups were to be, in the original concept, a place where individuals could come and discuss anything and everything in confidentiality.
I am hesitant to state some of the following words because I am still to this day in awe as to what happened. When the pastor made this announcement, I felt a sensation! I immediately felt what I described as a palm of the hand between my shoulder blades with a nudge. However, I didn’t move along with the nudge. I said to my wife what had happened. I walked out that Sunday wondering but not dwelling on what had happened. I didn’t think a lot about it for a week until the following Sunday service.
The pastor, once again, brought up this idea of the small groups and the very same experience happened again. I told my wife again and we talked after the service just what this may be meaning.
I believed I was being nudged towards doing this small men’s group, but I did not want to do anything like this. With my anxiety issues, I have always been content to stay in the background, but something was about to change. I made contact with the pastor.
Eventually a meeting was planned with about seven people interested with this small group concept. I stated if I decided to proceed, I would like to incorporate the Book of Acts. I had been for years writing down notes on the Bible along with questions I had and so forth. It seemed I was about to utilize such notes in my group. (Many of these notes were typed into the computer.)
The group started off as with three men but would soon have another small men’s group join up. My plans quickly evolved into a Bible study beginning in Acts. This was not, and still is not, easy, at times, for me while dealing with anxiety issues.
A year or so later a women’s group joined the study and that is how it has been ever since.
Every study consists of reading a chapter or two along with the study sheets I have typed up. the group are very much part of the study with questions, discussions and laughter. We are not a politically correct group.
I have retyped the entire New Testament thus far. I have typed up about fourteen of the Old Testament into a study format. We have studied the entire New Testament and some parts twice before we moved into the Old Testament.
I have an average of twelve to fourteen people on any given Thursday evening. In the last year two had to leave due to changes in work schedules and two others have left because of the current high prices. All four still take the study guides via email.
We are currently on the Book of Judges as I type this.
Although I still have those nervous issues, I have become quite happy to be working with such a great group. I even look forward to each study and being with my friends. A have included a few studies on this site. Go to the right-hand column and search for “SPIRITUAL” and click on it. Some various additional studies are located here.
Larry A. Smail's Blog 