A ‘God thing,’ and a community best

Published 8:53 am Thursday, April 20, 2017

In September, I decided to commit to a community Bible study held every Friday morning from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m.

This particular Bible study program was held at Central Baptist Church. It is a non-denominational Bible study. I had been told the book of Romans would be studied during the year.

I also realized I knew nearly everyone in the Bible study group who had been going, and they all told me I would just love it.

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I almost looked at it as another way of getting to see a lot of friends all in the same day, and these were all ladies I loved and admired.

Feeling pretty confident and thinking I knew about the book of Romans since I have been a Bible reader all my life, I decided to sign up. It did not take long to learn how absolutely wrong I was in my confidence.

I have to tell you, though, I was a little apprehensive after that first week when I learned each week involved homework. I wondered what I had gotten myself into. Why did I need to add something else to my plate?

To make matters worse, since I had not pre-registered I was put into a class with a group of women and I only recognized three of them.

All of the ladies who were begging me to try to get into their group did not work out. I did not even know the lady who would be the leader of our group, Susan Adams.

Finally, I just sighed and said evidently, the Lord knew what group to put me in. Wow, did He ever!

I have been blessed beyond words this year in that Bible study group. I learned how much I loved and respected Susan Adams.

I learned that she had really just wanted to be in a Bible class herself this year. However, because my group had signed up, another leader was needed. She was asked to please be a leader again and she agreed to do so. She got several more added to the group through the year.

Everyone in our group decided it was a God thing we all were placed together. We have gleaned from one another as we have all given our input into how we interpreted the same scripture passages.

I for one, have found out how little I knew about the book of Romans, and we have all learned so much. As for the homework, I now thank God for it. I have learned how to study the Bible so much more and not just read it aimlessly. I am now wanting to dig into the scriptures and I read the Bible differently now.

In just a few weeks this year’s Bible study will be coming to an end. I would like to invite all of you to sign up for another year.

It is with joy that I see young people learning about Christ from the little children’s classes so their moms can enjoy learning also and become better mothers.

I have met and become friends with everyone who was in my group. We have developed a lifelong bond.

We all know we truly love one another and care about each other’s welfare.

Susan Adams was called to take our class, and somewhere within herself she must have felt it. Thank you to all who are involved in this community Bible study and the hard work it takes to get it all together for another year to honor God.

I guarantee you all these people have a full plate but they know what to put first in their lives.

Sue Staton is a Clark County native who grew up in the Kiddville area. She is a wife, mother and grandmother who is active in her church, First United Methodist Church, and her homemakers group, Towne and Country Homemakers.