I was a late bloomer to Jesus ( My Journey with Jesus Pt 1 https://sacredramblings.com/2013/01/01/my-journey-with-jesus-part-one/  My Journey with Jesus Pt 2  https://sacredramblings.com/2013/02/01/my-journey-with-jesus-part-two/ )   When I finally boarded the Jesus train, I asked The Conductor to punch my ticket to an all-in adventure with the Godhead. This was the spring of 1997 where I was immediately baptized in an elder’s backyard pool then soon following began working fulltime for a fast-growing suburban Atlanta church. This was the Express train – fast moving, and making up for lost time. Choo-choo!

I will never forget my first small group bible teacher, Karon (pronounce KAY-run). Karon was an active member in my new suburban Atlanta church. Her group was working through Beth Moore’s The Tabernacle. I was drinking from a firehose of biblical literacy. Despite most of my life attending church every Sunday, my bible knowledge meter registered somewhere between absolutely nothing and just a smidge. It was in my thirties that I began to understand that the bible was truly relevant to my own life, while allowing it to shine a light into my deep cave of confusion and questions. I had LOTS of questions. It was freeing and fascinating to watch the bats of confusion fly for the opening when the light of truth shone squarely inside the cave.

During the years of my short yet transformative church staff tenure, I began leading a few bible studies. Over the following 25 years, I have taught on a range of topics, the past 4 years devoted exclusively to expository verse by verse bible studies. I believe I have found my sweet spot. Teachers are vortexes of information and thinkers and readers. For entertainment, bible teachers simply live to watch other pastors, teachers, evangelists give their messages, which has been my daily practice since 2005. Teachers love to learn and enjoy being in studies and small groups with other learners, consequently, I have participated in many over the years.

Teachers are by nature noticers even examiners. We will lift up the hood and ask about the why of just about anything – even a bible study. Recently, my examiner instincts were heightened as I noticed a few patterns swirling around my own experiences. I hold the “nothing is perfect” mindset while always embracing the “we can do better” – in fact we can do much better.  Oxford defines the word examine as to inspect in detail, to determine nature or condition, to investigate thoroughly. There is one prevalent model of bible study in particular that I wish to address here –

The Jesus Club


The Jesus Club’s distinguishing feature is that its members are women from the same affluent, socio-economic background. (I may now have all member privileges revoked.).  Educated and accomplished women that come together to hear a solid Spirit-led word, they seek to gather with women they would see across their own fence line. The Club Member departs the meeting distracted by charity fundraisers with no understanding of Spirit led endeavors customized to ignite their God given gifts and desires for which they are uniquely faceted by the Spirit of God.

This pattern is repeated for years:  Feel Good Jesus Club -> United Way – > City Ballet – > Symphony Guild ->Garden Club – > Feel Good Jesus Club. This member is gratefully called upon at family dinners to recite meaningful prayers, or they may venture out and hold a few conversations about Jesus with the grandchildren – but overall, the fruit on their vine remains in the bud stage, never growing into vibrant fruit on FULL display, achieved through authenticity and sacrifice. There is no call to action by the leader, nor any avenue for action since the Club merely serves as a 1-2 hour Feel Good charging station that has no roots.

Early on in my Atlanta years, I was a member of a nationwide Jesus Club that met in the chapel of a prominent Buckhead Presbyterian church. Weekly, I slipped into the chapel among 200 impeccably dressed Worth wearers to listen to a teacher release a testimony or scriptural teaching. I was 37, and this was my first Jesus Club. I was still new to Jesus and had little understanding of the depth of His love.

One week, a woman named Judy Reamer gave her powerful and engaging testimony about being led to Christ by Pat Boone in Las Vegas. (God Wins in Las Vegas). Another week a person gave a testimony involving a tornado – or some type of natural disaster. To this day, I cannot recall what triggered me except I was dealing with a great deal of bottled-up emotional turmoil surrounding my marriage the details of which I had not discussed with anyone. I began to weep, then loudly and uncontrollably sob …. wailing…. among the well-coifed Worth wearers.  It was horrible!  I could not stop. If I had been paid to stop – it would not have been enough. Not one Worth woman knew what to do – they glanced around embarrassed, or looked straight ahead embarrassed, pretending not to notice my big heave-fest. No leader came over to wrap a loving arm around my heaving shoulders or lead me out of the crowded room or even offer a Kleenex. That day I decided to find a group that was authentic, full of grace and mercy – women that looked more like Jesus. I left the Buckhead Jesus Club, never to return and found a solid group of mature women that loved me through the pain – loved me like Jesus.

As an Examiner, it is my hope to prompt awareness among bible study leaders to become careful fruit inspectors. We are hopefully not seeing this:  https://youtu.be/VsfDngFIe_8?si=Vg6FGLVk-DKyImFg  Are your women growing and displaying more than a blossom ?  Are new people in your group embraced and encouraged to participate and easily integrated into your group? Does your group look like Jesus? But more importantly, do you?

Tracy Gatewood
Sacred Ramblings
All Rights Reserved  2024

The Jesus Club
Link: https://wp.me/p1zoxs-33j