A couple of hundred St John’s Church members meet on Tuesday nights at Housegroups. These meetings - of eight or ten people each - are hosted at the homes of group-members and vary greatly in style, but tend to have a general characteristic that friendships are formed between members.

The common interest of those meeting is a desire to study and discuss the Bible. The groups are best enjoyed by those who have already gained an introductory knowledge of the basics of Christianity - perhaps at Christianity Explored or an Alpha Course. Throughout, the discussions are based on the question as to what the Bible has to say to us on any particular subject. Discussions in many groups can be very lively, and an agreed view is not always reached by the end of the evening on some topics. Mostly, however, there is agreement about what the Bible has to say.

There is no obligation to participate actively in the discussions – some prefer just to sit and listen. Hosting of groups tends to be at the homes of the group leaders, and again there is no requirement on participants to host meetings at their own homes. The atmosphere tends to be very relaxed.

Generally, St John’s provides the material for kicking off the discussions – usually in the form of notes with suggested sequences of readings from the Bible together with questions about that reading. No special knowledge of the Bible is needed to be able to take part in these. In all cases the questions and discussions lead strongly to practical questions about everyday life and how we live it, based on the group’s enquiry into what the Bible has to say to us.

Tuesdays this term:

If you are interested in trying it out, talk to Matthew Mason or Keith Wynne, or simply ask an existing group member. Everybody is welcome.