Raise your hand if you have good intentions of going to home group.
Yep, so do I.
I actually do have good intentions. When I see that it's home group night in the bulletin I always think "Oh, that would be nice". Every time we go we end up having a good time. We enjoy the people, we have great conversation, great snacks and our kids even have fun playing with the other kids.
So, why don't we go?
Good question.
I think we've just gotten into a habit of not going. I know for myself, as well as many of you, life is busy. Between running our business and working and homeschooling, we hardly ever have down time. We've gotten into the habit of spending Sunday evenings at home as a family.
And that's not necessarily a bad thing.
I think what happens though, is in a bigger church it's easier to feel "unconnected". To just pass through the church nodding and waving hello, but not really connecting with anyone. It's easy to keep it on a superficial level. You know, the "I'm awesome, I've got it all together...see I even have on a dress and earrings today" kinda persona.
And that's not necessarily a good thing.
We need each other. We need to know that it's ok to actually know and care for each other on a personal level. It's not only ok, it's downright Biblical.
So do I end this post telling you I'm going to go to home group from now on, forever and ever amen?
Umm. No. I do try my best not to be an outright liar.
I'm going to try to take one Sunday a month. Just one. And on that one Sunday, I'm going to forgo putting on my jammies at 7pm and snuggling on the couch with my family and popcorn to watch America's Funniest Home Videos.
Instead, I'm going to to go home group.
I'm going to be positive and pleasant, even if the kids are fighting in the car about who gets to be Batman.
I'm going to go even if I'm nervous about meeting new people.
I'm going to go even if I don't have anything to wear.
I'm going to go even if I only have time to pick up a bag of chips and dip.
I'm going to go even if I spent all of service in the lobby with a kid who wouldn't go to class and I have no idea what Pastor spoke about.
You could say the point is, I'm going to go.
How about you?
I have never been to a home group. At first I didn't know what it was, but now...I am just awkwardly shy if I don't know someone and always feel out of place. So, I just never go. But you're right....it is easy to feel unconnected in a big church. I might rethink my decision.
ReplyDeleteI kind of "group hop", which may defeat the purpose. I've gone to both the Fanchers and the Campbells and now the Walkers are having one just over the hill. I'll probably check it out next time. It really is a nice time.
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