Lonley in a Close-Knit Church
April 1, 1995
Pastor Sam Johnson was elated. The young couples in his small congregation had asked him to start a Friday night Bible study. They said they had a real hunger to learn God's Word, and he was the one, they believed, to lead them into a deeper walk with the Lord. Sam threw himself into his preparations with enthusiasm. This was why he had entered the ministry--to equip the saints of God. And these couples were all bright; Sam was sure he would profit from the study, too, as he listened to their insights. The first few weeks went well. The discussions were lively and enlightening. After the study, refreshments were served, and the women stood in one corner of the basement/game room, swapping child-rearing stories, while the men challenged each other to Ping Pong, billiards, and Foosball. On the fourth week, Sam noticed that two of the couples hadn't done their homework assignment. One couple arrived twenty minutes late. As the weeks went on, more couples neglected their homework, and more came late--sometimes not until almost time for refreshments. Sam noticed with particular annoyance that one man kept glancing at the clock during the study, yet he and his wife always stayed for foosball and often were the last to leave. It slowly dawned on Sam that when the couples asked for a Friday night study, what they were asking for (perhaps unconsciously) was a weekly night out with their friends. "Bible study" sounded better than "party". Somewhere deep inside, the couples knew that busy people couldn't commit to a weekly party, but they would commit to a teaching time led by the pastor. Sam felt disappointed that Friday evenings were evolving into family "game nights," but he determined to make the best of them. Maybe this was his opportunity ...
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