Why Church Bible Study Groups

Indeed there are a few churches who don't program small group Bible studies.  Some I know choose to have one, led by a pastor or elder.  Some churches historically have viewed these groups as the solution of all that ails the Body.  That is not true either.  I do have a specific philosophy and purpose in mind for the small group Bible studies in my Church.  So when asked recently why we have such groups, this is my response:

Small group Bible Studies exist, in Elk Point Baptist Church, to enable Christians to fulfill the many "one anothers" in the New Testament.  We find that exemplified in the early Church when we read “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers  . . . And all who believed were together and had all things in common.” (Acts 2:42,44, ESV).  The writer to the Hebrews exhorted the Church similarly in Hebrews 10:24–25 (ESV),

²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

The Bible Study ministry is a great asset to the ongoing pastoral care within our congregation for we read: “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:12–13, ESV).

The Bible studies are intended to provide fellowship, spiritual and temporal care; and all this surrounding the inductive and interactive study of God's Word.  These groups will meet under approved leadership and may be composed of gender specific, age specific or mixed participants.  Whereas some will meet in the church facility, others will meet in homes. We also purpose to locate these studies in communities where our congregation resides.

Over the years I have witnessed the raising up of leaders, the celebration of marker events in people's lives, the ongoing physical care for participants, the love and prayerful affection for one another and the increase in the knowledge of Christian truth. There has also been a degree of accountability built into some curriculum and group interaction.  All of which, we can abound more and more.