The congregation at five filled the House almost as well as it was filled in the evening. Finding a remarkable deadness, I inquired what were the reasons of it; and found, 1. There had been, for several months, a deep misunderstanding between the Preachers and the chief of the society. Hence on the one hand, the Preachers had little life or spirit to preach; and, on the other, the congregation dwindled away. 2. Many had left off meeting their bands [small groups], and many others seldom met their classes [another kind of small group]. 3. Prayer-meetings were entirely given up. What wonder if all the people were grown dead as stones?

—John Wesley, Journal, 4.375

Here in Wesley’s account we some some of the essential elements of a vibrant Christian faith: good biblical preaching that submits to God’s word rather than try to put ourselves above it, prayer, and mutual Christian accountability in the form of small group fellowship. This demonstrates again that we are expected to put our faith in action. It is no good for us to profess to have faith and then sit by idly and wait for the Spirit to work in us. It does not work that way.

This Lenten season as you struggle with the disciplines that will help you abandon those things that prevent you from forming or growing in your relationship with Christ, consider practicing your Lenten disciplines in the context of a small group. After all, the Lord has promised that where two or three gather together in his name, there he will be among them (Matthew 18:20).