I’ve laughed, prayed, wrestled with questions, celebrated milestones, and walked through more than a few tough moments with my Dinner Groups over the past 17 years.

I’ve met in living rooms, conference rooms, steakhouses, bars, and around more dinner tables than I can count. The setting changes, but what happens in those spaces has stayed the same. Every week, people show up, bring what they have, and share life together.

And I’m more convinced than ever that this is one of the most important things we do as a church.

Over the years, I’ve walked through a lot of different seasons. I was single. Then dating. Then married. Then navigating infertility. Then figuring out what it means to be a parent. Then raising students. At every point, I had someone in group who had already been there. Someone who understood. When I talked about what I was walking through, I didn’t get quick answers or clichés. I got people who listened. Who reminded me I wasn’t alone. Who encouraged me and kept pointing me to Jesus. And sometimes, who made me laugh when I needed that most.

Yes, we talk about faith. Yes, we pray together. But there’s a lot of laughter too. Sometimes it’s something someone says. Sometimes it’s something that happened during the week. Sometimes it’s just the way the conversation goes. That kind of laughter has a way of grounding you. It reminds you that this is more than just a group of people meeting once a week. It’s a group that enjoys being together. And honestly, those shared moments of joy have carried me through just as much as the serious ones.

One of my favorite parts of group is seeing new people get connected. I get why it feels intimidating at first. You walk into a room and it looks like everyone’s already friends, but most of the time, that kind of closeness doesn’t come from years of friendship. It comes from people choosing to be present. From the kinds of conversations we have. From showing up for each other. That depth builds faster than you'd think.

I think that depth happens fast because we don’t experience it much anywhere else. It’s just not that common to sit down with people and actually talk about things that matter.

It’s not just small talk or debating opinions. We talk about real life, with people who genuinely care about each other.

It’s a space where you can be honest about what you're walking through, or how God’s stretching you, and know you won’t be met with judgment—but with support and encouragement.

Even after all this time, I still find myself surprised by what happens in group. Someone new finds their voice. Someone asks a question I haven’t thought about in years. There’s always someone who reminds me why this still matters.

I’ve had so many conversations with people who weren’t sure about group. They didn’t know what to expect, or thought they wouldn’t have much to offer, but over and over again, I’ve seen the same thing. People show up a little unsure, take a seat, and something starts to shift. Not all at once, but little by little. They find people who care. They start having conversations they didn’t know they needed. And eventually, they begin to realize they have something to contribute too.

That’s what’s normal in group. Everyone brings something. We just don’t always know when. It might be a story. It might be a question. Sometimes, it’s just showing up and listening, but it matters and it makes a difference.

God works through relationships. God works through his people. Through questions. Through quiet weeks and breakthrough weeks. Group has shown me that again and again.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You don’t have to be at your best.

Just show up, join in, and be real.

You’ll be surprised what God can do with it.