You Are Not Alone With Debbie & Greg Gold
As a mother and son team, Debbie and Greg come together to talk about the realities and struggles we all face in today’s world. They cover a wide array of topics from mental health to current events to teaching on topics that will help you do life. As Christians, they know there is one thing that brings peace, hope, and encouragement to anything life throws our way, and that is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. You don't know what you don't know, so come along on the ride. Your life and heart will be changed forever!
You Are Not Alone With Debbie & Greg Gold
Building Meaningful Connections: The Power of Small Groups and Service
Struggling to find genuine connection in your church community? You're not the only one feeling like a puzzle piece that doesn't quite fit. This heartfelt episode unpacks the transformative power of small groups and service opportunities that can turn Sunday strangers into spiritual family.
Debbie and Greg share candid insights about overcoming the initial awkwardness of joining a Bible study or small group. "It takes courage, faith, and trust," Debbie admits, while Greg recalls his own hesitation before discovering the authentic relationships that developed over time. They thoughtfully distinguish between Bible studies (more structured, education-focused) and small groups (conversation-driven, relationship-centered), helping you determine which might better suit your personality and spiritual needs.
From mountain biking crews to moms' tennis gatherings, couples' game nights to coffee meetups, the hosts showcase the creative ways churches are building community beyond traditional formats. Their enthusiasm is contagious as they describe how these spaces create safe environments where members can "share joys and struggles without fear of judgment."
The conversation shifts to service opportunities as another pathway to meaningful connection. Drawing from Philippians 2:3-4, they illuminate how serving others—whether directing traffic in the parking lot, welcoming newcomers, or resetting rooms between services—cultivates relationships that extend far beyond Sunday mornings. As Debbie poignantly notes, "Serving is not about completing tasks; it's about building relationships where lives are transformed and hope is restored."
Ready to find your place? Visit your church website, speak with leaders about available groups, or simply show up at a ministry that interests you. The community you've been longing for is waiting, and as Debbie and Greg remind us, "Jesus designed us to grow together, not alone."
Subscribe to You Are Not Alone and join us in exploring how faith can transform your everyday life. Your spiritual journey matters, and we're here to walk alongside you every step of the way.
Hello, this is Debbie and Greg Gold, and welcome to the you Are Not Alone podcast, where we cover topics that will help you navigate life, and, as Christians, we know that we can't do it alone. We need Jesus. We encourage you to join us on the journey that will help you begin or deepen your walk with Christ, no matter where you are.
Speaker 2:Welcome back to another uplifting episode of you Are Not Alone with Debbie and Greg. This week we're going to be exploring heartfelt ways to connect, grow and thrive in your spiritual journey through building your community at church. But first it is time for highlights of the week.
Speaker 1:All right, I love this part. Well, I love it all, but okay, so what do you got?
Speaker 2:What do you got?
Speaker 1:Okay, so we are excited about our new phase of podcasting and that's interviewing and having guests on our show, and so we're working behind the scenes and we have already arranged for our first guest. We will be setting up that interview and then we've got another person lined up at our church. She's one of the pastors there and we're super excited to have Mama T on the show as a guest. So that's really exciting for us. Like I said, we're moving up another stage, stage, another level, yeah, so that's my highlight all right.
Speaker 2:And then I'd say for mine um, today is the 15th. Yeah, we got back three days ago from wisconsin uh, beaver dam and green lake. Me and you took a trip up there for 12 days 12 days of 12 days of relaxing relaxing and getting to see family. Yeah, um exploring different parts of wisconsin. Yeah, um eating a lot of food cheese shopping so much cheese? Oh my gosh. Um, it was just a fun time. What do you got to say about it?
Speaker 1:I you know, I was trying to think about the highlight of the trip.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I, that's a.
Speaker 2:that's a tough one Um yeah, Cause there were so many. I'm looking back.
Speaker 1:Um, okay, I think the highlight. Well, I'm going to say it, I'm going to speak for you right now.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:The cornfields, oh my gosh. Yeah, everywhere we drove, drove, it was a cornfield.
Speaker 2:On the right, a cornfield on the left, a cornfield in front of us, soybean fields too. So and barns and silos, and you know, it's the farm equipment and tractors everywhere.
Speaker 2:Yeah real, real farmland real, raw wisconsin then we had a uh, a trip on a jet ski for one hour. That was super fun that was on green lake. That was on green lake. That was nice, that was a lot of fun. And then we saw, uh, fireworks in the park for fourth of july too. A lot of fun, a lot of live music too. So, yeah, really good.
Speaker 1:So um family time together a lot of family time had a group of family come together on saturday after the fourth of july and a lot of cards new baby um lots of babies like I'm a great, great aunt that's crazy, yeah, that's crazy. Like that is crazy. So, um, so, my great nieces are having babies. Um yeah, Uh.
Speaker 2:I still can't wrap my head around that point yet, but lots of family, lots of card playing catching up catching up laughing, uh, telling stories reminiscing and um it was just, we play a lot of cards.
Speaker 1:Euchre is a big game there um. We played some left right center we played um. They call it quarters or polish polish poker we know it as um shit on your neighbor. So a lot of different names, but, um, you'll probably have heard of one of those and have probably played it, so fun game but yeah, trip was just so fun. I want to go back, so yeah and friday night we're going, we're with the family and playing cards and they were talking about what's coming I want to stay two more days.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because they were talking about like steaks and like they were doing a bunch of stuff that I loved. Yeah, and I was like man, just stay for two more days, It'd be perfect.
Speaker 1:Stay for two more days. Two more days, Anyway. It was a great time.
Speaker 2:That was my highlight of the week.
Speaker 1:Yeah, if you get a chance. I mean Wisconsin. There really is a lot to do, I feel like there never used to be, and we've just discovered a whole new world up there. I grew up there and so, yeah, it's really beautiful and the weather was perfect.
Speaker 2:It really was, yeah. Well, let's get to the show.
Speaker 1:I guess the topic, the topic All right Today we're going to look at two opportunities that we can build our community through our church participation, and the first one is going to be joining a Bible study or a small group, and the second one is serving in your church. And so let's go ahead and talk about the first way, which is plugging yourself into a Bible study or a small group. So what's the difference between—well, let's talk about kind of what that means and what kind of the benefits are of that, and then we can talk about what's the difference between a Bible study and a small group. Okay, so I think joining the group for I just want to kind of this is my experience, joining a group for the first time can feel like stepping into a whole new chapter of your faith or a chapter of even bravity. Just, you know it's kind of scary, but you know it takes courage, it takes faith, it takes trust to do it, and just know that it doesn't always feel easy.
Speaker 2:Easy, yeah.
Speaker 1:It's a bit of a challenge if you've done it for the first time.
Speaker 2:It's a little leap.
Speaker 1:Is that how you felt, maybe, when you did your first?
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely. I kind of had second thoughts. I was like, do I really want to do this, do I really want to commit to this? But then you get in there, you get to meet the guys. You're like, oh, this is really not bad, it's really cool yeah, so it's not what I thought yeah, each session you get to know them more and more and more and connect more so it's it's a growing process once at a time.
Speaker 1:I see it yeah so it can be scary, but I think you're saying take that first step forward and then hopefully you won't take two steps back.
Speaker 2:Yeah, just meet a couple people and then you'll see them again next week and then meet some more people. And then by the end, you'll have a full circle.
Speaker 1:Yeah, cool, and I think also each provides its own path to like spiritual, your spiritual discovery, spiritual growth. So they'll each do that and then each provide an opportunity to keep your focus on God throughout the week, which I think is really important, because we go to church on Sunday and we leave being all happy and energized about God and we're going to live our life differently and you know kind of you know being on a high from the message that the pastor gives. So just having you know this kind of gives you another opportunity to stay grounded.
Speaker 2:It keeps you in the loop. Yeah, when I was doing my first small group, we had, you know, we had a booklet and then each session we'd have to do chapters, you know, chapter one, chapter two, chapter three, and there'd be little meetings or homework in there, versus you got to fill out reflections and stuff like that and you just kept you in the circle. So, yeah, kind of like homework, like you said.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so all right. So let's take a look at Bible studies. What kind of what are Bible studies versus small groups?
Speaker 2:And I think you're more familiar with this because you've led Bible studies. You've been in multiple Bible studies, so you have a lot more experience in this field.
Speaker 1:I'd say yeah, so I think Bible studies are more structured. It's like a teacher-student kind of thing, where when we had Bible studies or I would do Bible studies in my home I'd sort of be in front of the group and I'd be teaching and then we would have some conversation and prayer time and things like that too.
Speaker 2:But yeah, how would you structure them? Would it be like through word of mouth, or would it be through the church, or would it just be through friend groups?
Speaker 1:Just friend groups, social media. Also various In home I wouldn't have probably more than 12 because the seating availability yeah right, but I was in a Bible study in the area and she had like probably 30 people that showed up. Yeah, it was a big Bible study, but again, I think that feels like can you really share? Do you feel comfortable?
Speaker 2:Was that through word of mouth? Was that through a church, or was that?
Speaker 1:how do you find that? How did I find out? Or how did she?
Speaker 2:Yeah, did she reach out to you or did you reach out to her?
Speaker 1:It was just people that she had done them over and over you know every couple of years and it was just people inviting me in, and then I would invite friends in.
Speaker 2:Because, yeah, I'm curious like how do you know, how do people find Bible studies, how do people get connected in that?
Speaker 1:Yeah, mind bible studies. How do people get connected?
Speaker 2:in that. So yeah, so it's you know through church or it's you know like the friend neighbor neighbors are.
Speaker 1:You know, everyone's always looking for a bible study or telling about a bible study. You know that kind of thing, okay, yeah, interesting, um, so that's kind of that, what that's, that's that point. So, um, I think, with a Bible study too, we we dive deeply into topics like, for example, you know um the Bible, books of the Bible certain books.
Speaker 1:Genesis, whatever. Matthew, mark, luke, john, um, their Bible studies strictly on prayer. I've done those, I love those. Um, you can Bible studies on being a disciple or growing deeper in your faith. My study Crossing Over Choosing a Relationship with Jesus is an example of an independent study. So there's just a study you can do on your own, which is nice to fill in the times where you don't have a Bible study to go to. You can just study at home and I'm sort of doing one right now on praising God. I don't remember the whole. It's 31 days of praising God and it's been amazing. So, yeah, so anyway, if you're interested in a relationship with Jesus, go to our website and check out the Bible study that I wrote. It's an independent study and it's there for you to download and yeah, so anyway, Again more lecture-oriented and with homework in between each meeting typically, so that's Bible study.
Speaker 1:Small groups, on the other hand, are more like a facilitator or facilitators.
Speaker 2:Yes, I had two in mind. Yes, we had.
Speaker 1:We had two or three, three oh really yeah, and group members, so you get facilitator group members um. It's a blend of, like spiritual growth and community basically different backgrounds and stuff like that different experiences oh yeah, for sure yeah um
Speaker 2:yeah, and it allows individuals to journey together while exploring their faith, engaging in deep discussions and cultivating meaningful relationships. It's so true because I'd walk. I walked in there for the first time and I didn't know any of the guys. I didn't know their backgrounds, I didn't know their. Of the guys, I didn't know their backgrounds, I didn't know their history, I didn't know their pros, their cons, their vices, what they're struggling with, what they believe in, how deep in the faith they are. I knew nothing about them and, as time went on, got to know a lot more.
Speaker 2:So, you got to hear the good, the bad, the ugly, and it was just really interesting to, I don't know, learn a lot about a bunch of people I never met before so and now we stay in touch constantly.
Speaker 1:So yeah, and and through that, you're just, you know, walking your journey together in your faith, and I love that yes, and, like you said, you know engaging in deep or, like I said, engaging in deep discussions.
Speaker 2:Sometimes it can be really light and sometimes it can be really heavy topics you know, so yeah, and you know so.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you know, gosh, I don't. We did the freedom group together but separate. You know I'm in the women's, you're in the men, but yeah, tears, oh my gosh. Yeah, I think it was my second meeting and I just worked out in tears or something and so, yeah, it's just, you get really connected and close to people and feel comfortable with people.
Speaker 2:um, and then, as lessons are presented by the facilitator or facilitators, truths are revealed to members about their daily lives, providing clarity and direction so you get to know, like I just said so, much more about people. You know what they're going through right, who they are, what they're dealing with, what they could be working on, what they need prayer for.
Speaker 2:So but yeah, and not only that, but yourself yeah you know you get to really spill it out and let them know, get some clarity and direction on what's going on, you know, in your heart and your world and then this yeah, it's open discussions too, which allows members to share experiences, different perspectives, um making a sense of belonging and support to each other. So I mean it. There'd be times where you know half the uh, half the group would be, you know, a discussion like pre-oriented, and then half of it would just be free time, open discussion yeah so, and it would just be on and on and on.
Speaker 1:Sometimes we go over so yeah, that's, that was ours too.
Speaker 2:That was our format and um yeah, you get to share your joys, your struggles in a safe, supportive environment, removing all the fear of judgment.
Speaker 1:So yeah, and you do feel that because everyone I what I got out of that particular group, because we're talking about it everyone's in the same mindset everyone has probably gone through what you've gone through. Nobody's judging and no judgment. Mm-hmm, it's the best place to be Everyone's listening.
Speaker 2:They're not judging.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So, and there's typically homework in these groups, which there should be. That's what keeps you connected, you know, in the Word and with God during the week, in the word and with God during the week. But it also provides, like an opportunity to like serve others, you know, through just listening and giving prayer to people. And just I remember just sitting with people praying and people praying with me. Sometimes it's just get to serve and love and give out acts of kindness. I mean it's just there, serve and love and and give out acts of kindness. I mean it's just there's so much beauty there you're just serving and and living by the word, just by being in a group, like that it's just. I mean god made him for that reason, right, yeah, um, so I think we wanted to talk a little bit about Greg giving some sample groups that were going on this past summer at our church, at City Reach.
Speaker 1:So just to give you some, I guess, some examples, I remember there was a sport one about mountain biking, so that would be kind of their activity they would do and they would throw in some Jesus and some gospel and along the way somehow that would fit into that.
Speaker 2:I thought I saw one with a moms and tennis one where it was like moms all meet up, play tennis for like 30 minutes and then take a break and open the word.
Speaker 1:Yeah, or I saw one with moms being um, like, go to the swim pad with your kids, and the moms you know kids were swimming.
Speaker 2:Oh really, yeah, something of that nature.
Speaker 1:There was one for young adults where meet up for coffee you know once a week and there's a men's group too.
Speaker 2:There's a men's group too. There's a couples game night I saw too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so those are just examples, right.
Speaker 2:Mm-hmm.
Speaker 1:There's many more that they do in the summer and the fall is coming up and I'm super excited about that. They're getting ready to launch that in September.
Speaker 2:That's a lot.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we're just trying to give you examples of different opportunities that could be out there at your church. You know, wherever you are there's so many choices, all right, so that's it, I think. With groups, the other way is to serve at your church. You know that's another way to build community. In Philippians 2, verses 3 through 4, it says to verses three through four it says do nothing out of a selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourself, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interest of others. I love that. I need to memorize that verse so good.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, we are called to serve, not out of obligation but as an expression of love and gratitude toward god. You know, we want that to come from our heart, not like I have to go do this because it will make god happy. It's more like you'll get. You know, if that's where you are in the start of your faith, maybe that's where you are, but you will get to the point where I I want to go serve because I'm doing this for the Lord, I'm doing it for the community, his purpose, all of that.
Speaker 2:You just feel connected.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so serving at church, it's really an opportunity to contribute to the spiritual growth of others, which is what I've discovered while deepening my own connection with God, and so part of why we're doing this podcast, too, is that I write scripts, you give feedback. I mean that is growing our faith. We are learning every time we put a script together and I love that, and for me, that is what I feel like I've been called to do. But, yeah, when we serve others, we contribute to our own spiritual growth as well as helping other people.
Speaker 1:And some opportunities in serving, I know, at our church, like Greg, you're in the parking lot and you're pointing cars in the direction they need to go and you're probably jumping up and down out there because that's what they do.
Speaker 2:Getting the first-timers to where they need to be handicapped people too, yeah all that good stuff. Yeah.
Speaker 1:And I serve in the Welcome or Connect Center. So when we have new people that are the first time there, they're encouraged to come see us by the parking lot volunteers or by the announcements in the service Come see us. We have a gift for them just for coming to visit us. But then we chat with them and we find out how did they feel and what was it like for them. And, you know, do they want, did they feel and what was it like for them? And you know, did they want to get connected with some small groups? And we just, you know, answer questions and it's like a really cool place to be for me. Um, I mean, gosh, there's maintenance, there's childcare, we've got, you know, the worship team, we've got media, I don't know what else people that usher, um, and then there's really a place for everyone. And I'm sure I'm not.
Speaker 1:I'm just hitting the highlights of reset team as well oh yeah, we do reset yeah that means we go in and replace all the information that's in the back seat, backs of the the chairs, um. So yeah, get, get it ready and everything filled up for the next service that's going to come on yeah, so there's a place for everyone.
Speaker 2:And serving is just not about completing tasks. It's also about building a relationship. It fosters unity between you and those you serve, alongside with those you serve. It's how we meet the people, that we're starting to work on the interview process with them, and we're so excited to look forward to that.
Speaker 1:Right, well, that's how we met John, who's going to be our first guest, and he's interviewed people so he's teaching us how to do it, but we hadn't been. I mean, I guess I met him in the Connect Center because I serve alongside his mom, and then she introduced, and then you guys got introduced but he's like, yeah, you can interview me and I can teach you. And he does NFL stuff, he's got his podcast on that, and so had we not met John, had we not been at church?
Speaker 2:That's just an example of how serving at church is another way to build community.
Speaker 1:Exactly.
Speaker 2:Just like I said, it creates a sense of belonging and people joining together to accomplish God's work, where lives are transformed and hope is restored.
Speaker 1:Right. So, wow, it's just so wonderful.
Speaker 2:All right.
Speaker 1:I just hope this has been helpful or has helped to inspire you to get connected at church, because I'm just getting excited. You know we've come off a 12-day vacation but we haven't really been in church for about two weeks and serving and doing all the things we do besides just going to church. So I'm super excited to get back in on Sunday, or maybe even Thursday. We might do reset, I'm not sure. But yeah, I'm just really excited after doing this podcast that you know.
Speaker 2:Gotta get back there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah. So we're done with vacation for a while.
Speaker 1:It's back to the back to the norm what we love to do other than vacation in Wisconsin. And so, anyway, um calls to action. I guess email us at. You are not alone at Debbiegreggoldcom. Tell us what you want to hear about or how you might be struggling right now. We'd be happy to consider it for an episode and try to help in. However, we can Tell your community about us, right, we all have communities, so tell them about us and point them in the direction of our podcast. And also, we are looking to bring our message to more and more people. So we've added a listener support option at the bottom of the show notes where, with one click, you can donate to support us. And by supporting us, you are being the hands, feet of Jesus, and we would really appreciate that, and I know Jesus would too. And your generosity is helping us help others come to and continue to grow in relationship with Christ. And you know this Christ thing it's not about religion, it's really about a relationship. So God bless you for considering All right.
Speaker 2:That is our show for considering. All right, that is our show for today. If you haven't have you, if you haven't already done so, please visit our website, nebiaandgreggoldcom. Subscribe and we'll see you back here soon, thank God. Thank you, god for this episode. Remember Jesus is always with you. You are not alone. We love you and make it a great day.
Speaker 1:Yes.