As we see in the Gospels, Jesus taught his disciples in small groups. Although he could have preached to millions at a time, he chose a small group to teach, prepare, and empower his closest followers for ministry. He calls us all to discipleship in the same way.
With The Great Adventure Bible studies, we use Jesus’ model for learning, by gathering people into small groups. The lectures beautifully lay out content and teaching, but it is in the small group that participants make it part of their lives by engaging in a discussion of pertinent questions and learning from one another.
Fellowship with one another is paramount in The Great Adventure studies. Here are the top ten reasons shared by participants like you, demonstrating the value of small group Bible study:
- It builds community and belonging in our parish.
- Small group Bible study develops real friendships in Christ.
- It is a community of love in my church that can overcome any challenge.
- Bible study creates fellowship with other people who have similar beliefs.
- It gives us a safe place to work out our personal faith/life issues.
- Now we have a structured, scheduled time to refocus our lives on the Lord.
- Participants discover other people in the community who can help them on their journey.
- Small group Bible study shows how God reacts to our human ways and fosters personal self-reflection.
- It helps us to accept others and ourselves as flawed human beings striving toward God.
- The example of others in the group inspires us to do better.
Often, this small group dynamic proves to be one of the greatest added benefits of the study. This type of faith sharing in the Body of Christ helps build community and strong relationships, and it strengthens each person on many levels, so much so that many people couldn’t imagine the study without it!
You May Also Like:
Small Groups: An Ancient Idea for a Digital Age
5 Ways Catholics Ruin Small Groups (podcast)
Can Youth Group Small Groups Actually Work? (podcast)
This blog post was first published on the Ascension Blog’s former home, The Great Adventure Blog (biblestudyforcatholics.com), on January 8, 2014. It was modified on September 6, 2019. For more information on The Great Adventure Bible studies, click the banner below:
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