The Dinner Table

 “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching. 
Acts 2:42a (NIV)

Can you grow spiritually without ever being in a small group?

The answer is in Acts 2:42, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching..." The people of the early church didn't just hear the Word preached and walk away. They came together to discuss it, dissect it, and wrestle with it. They weren't just living together—they were learning together.

Yes, you can grow spiritually on your own. The question is, how much? It's impossible to really know how fast you're growing or how well you're growing if you're not in a small group. 

Other believers expose your blind spots and force you to grow. That friction you feel is the sharpening process. As Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

Think of it this way. When you come together for worship on Sunday, it's like attending a banquet. It's big and celebratory. You listen and learn together. But there's very little personal interaction. 

The small group is like the family dinner table. It's not just informative, it's intimate, interactive, and relational. Where you're going to have real connection and real life change happen is at the dinner table.

There's something challenging about being in a small group where you see others growing spiritually. And there's something encouraging when you're growing with them. Studying the Bible on your own will never give you the mutual encouragement, the mutual teaching, the mutual learning you get in community.

This week, commit to joining a small group. If your church offers them, sign up. If not, gather three friends and say, "Let's study God's Word together every Tuesday morning for six weeks."

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You never intended for me to grow alone. Show me where You want me to connect deeply with other believers. Help me take that next step toward community. In Jesus’ mighty Name, Amen.