Did you know that you can join a group of fun-loving (and God-loving) people to read and discuss the Bible here at Hoboken Grace?  It’s called Equip and a small group of people from Hoboken Grace did just that, studying the book of Romans this past Spring!

You may be asking: “Why do an Equip study when I already attend a dinner group?”  Great question!  While dinner groups do offer the opportunity to read scripture, the Romans study allowed us to dig deeper into the Word of God for several weeks and to wrestle together with difficult theological concepts such as sin and grace.  What we discovered throughout the Spring is that studying scripture together brought us closer and spoke to many of us personally.

Romans was written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Rome to present the gospel, describing God’s plan of salvation for all people.  The book can read like a theological essay, so it was not the easiest to understand at times!  That is why doing a Bible study within a group is so helpful.  Here is what Alyssa had to say: “Reading the Bible can be intimidating and daunting if you're a beginner, and having your community by your side as you read through is encouraging and hopeful as you seek to understand.  Dissecting God's word with other people is the best way to learn about His character and His will for us.”

Julie found that she loved meeting and learning from those in her group:  “I enjoyed being part of the Romans study as it brought people at our church together to dig deeper into God’s word.  I also loved that we got a chance to get to know people at our church on a deeper level as we spent intentional time together week after week.”

Hebrews speaks of the power of the Bible, saying in 4:12: “For the word of God is alive and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”(NIV).  For Steve, the study was very personal for him and convicted him of the safety he has in God, and because of this safety, his love for God grows: “It becomes more apparent that there is nothing we can do or say that will take away our salvation.  However, once we are saved, truly saved, I believe in our hearts we want to please God by trusting Him and obeying.  Not out of obligation, but having a relationship with God is what being a follower is all about.”

For those of us who are hurting and might be struggling to see beyond our circumstances, Julie offers her perspective: “We found that while we all struggled with the idea of the true freedom and grace that He has given us because of our sinful desires, we also have incredible hope and healing through the gospel.”

Do you want to know what God really has to say in the Bible, but are struggling to understand it on your own?  Do you want to meet other people at Hoboken Grace who desire to deepen their faith through the Word?  Do you want to come away convicted with transformational truths about God and about how God sees you?  Do you wish to see a brighter future grounded in God’s promises?  If any of these questions ring true (or if you have questions of your own), you can join us for an Equip Bible study this Fall.  As Steve shared: “We are all on a journey where we can learn from God and each other.  It is time well spent.”

To learn about our Bible Study: Sermon on the Mount, click here.

To learn about our Bible Study: Old Testament History, click here.