"Remain in me and I will remain in you. A branch can't produce fruit by itself, but must remain in the vine. Likewise, you can't produce fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can't do anything" (John 5:4-5).
There were six or eight of us - teenage girls - and each week we met in the home of our adult leader. The first part of our time was spent doing a Bible or book study that would help us grow in our faith. After that, we would each have focused time to share about our lives and our week. It was the first time that I had been in a small group and it was one of the single most formative experiences for me as a teenager growing up in Trinity. It had a lasting impact of my understanding of God, my understanding of myself and my commitment to being a follower of Christ.
Still today for each of us, no matter what our age, small groups continue to be a vital part of helping us get connected to Christ and to one another. If you've been in a small group for many years, I hope you'll continue. And, if you've never been in a small group before, I hope you'll give it a try. It will have more of an impact on you than you could imagine.
If you missed the Trinity Community Conversation on Monday evening, you didn't get to hear about the many small group opportunities that we will be offering this fall. Kim Lewerenz, the Director of Adult Ministries and her team have been putting together a diverse slate of small groups, and I encourage you to find one that will be right for you. Click here to see what's coming. This week you'll find tables out front where you can take a closer look at what's being offered. I also invite you to make participation in a small group a priority this fall, to be in prayer and to ask God what's next for you. Once you commit, you won't be disappointed!
I'll also look forward to seeing you Sunday as we conclude the Unexpected Journey through Genesis. What does happen to Joseph after he's sold into slavery? How will he respond to his brothers when he sees them again? Could he ever forgive them? We'll all find out!
