Those Nights-Skillet

Small group-people who get together to study the Bible and live life in community.

I grew up going to a traditional Baptist church with Sunday School and worship service. It was good but it never went deep; it never felt like community. I first became introduced to the idea of small groups in college through the BCM. We met on a particular day and studied the Bible. We also hung out, played intramural sports, and simply lived life together. (It was easy due to living on a small campus but that's besides the point.)  Being in that small group and in the BCM taught me what community from a Biblical perspective looked like. I have been in several small groups since college but the one that has meant the most is the one we just ended. My small group members lived out humble regard for each other like I have never seen before. Acts 2:42 describes this group perfectly:
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. This particular small group was born out of the darkest days of my life. Though they did not completely understand what I was going through, they climbed into my pit and literally became the arms of Christ holding me and letting me cry. We went through so many changes and life events together over the five years as a group. People got married, moved away, had children, lost loved ones, lost their way, found their way, and most of us went through healing of some sort.

The song that comes to mind with this group is Those nights by Skillet:

I remember when We used to laugh About nothing at all It was better than going mad From trying to solve all the problems we’re going through Forget ‘em all Cause on those nights we would stand and never fall Together we faced it all Remember when we’d Stay up late and we’d talk all night In a dark room lit by the tv light Through all the hard times in my life Those nights kept me alive We’d listen to the radio play all night Didn’t want to go home to another fight Through all the hard times in my life Those nights kept me alive This group of amazing, godly, inspiring ladies will hold a huge part of my heart. God worked in and through our group in miraculous ways. God created us for community-to have nights of laughing, crying, sharing, and loving the life HE gave us. I urge all followers of Christ to find other believers to share life with and lean on them when life isn't what its expected to be.