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For this group observation paper, I decided to attend the Delight Bible Study here on
campus. I have been wanting to go since my freshman year but never got the chance till last
Monday September 2nd, 2024, at 7pm in Demoss 1286. This Delight group is an all-female bible
study that takes place on many different college campuses including Liberty with the common
goal of building fellowship and community amongst female college students. This is a place
where you find a place to grow your faith, your community, and a place to find yourself and your
relationship with the Lord.
The first characteristic found in chapter one of Forsyth in Delight would be goals. The
leaders described their common goal like stated above for all the girls to fell welcomed, feel
loved and be able to grow as a person and in their relationship with the Lord. From observing the
group and sitting in and experiencing it I would say they made anyone who went to this group
would feel welcomed and loved and would definitely help your relationship with Lord. Starting
off with the goal definitely allowed the girls to share one common goal and be more open with
one another in discussion. Since we were all sharing one common goal it showed we were all
considered insiders and made the girls feel more comfortable with opening up in the breakout
groups they did throughout the Bible Study.
The second characteristic found in chapter one of Forsyth in Delight would be
interaction. Specifically, as the book describes it relationship interaction in this specific group.
The leaders would talk on a passage of scripture ask some questions on how it related to the girls
than the leaders would separate them into small groups. The first time they all broke up into
groups they were a little shy but once they got all their names and got to know each other they
were more comfortable sharing with one another. The girls by the end of the night were sharing
deep personal aspects about themselves that some of them said they have never shared with
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anyone before but something about the things the other girls were sharing made them want to be
more open with the rest of the group. The girls that I had the opportunity to interact with in my
group really opened up about each of their testimonies and made us connected on a more
emotional than physical level that changed our relationship in this group more intentional.
The third characteristic found in chapter one of Forsyth in Delight would be size. This
Delight Bible study is huge there were probably around 30-40 girls at least. Which is why I was
so hesitant on going because of the size being so large making no room for intentional
relationships. Being in a bigger group it is harder to meet new people and form those intentional
bonds with one another. However, it was not like this at all with the Delight group all the girls
wanted to get to know everyone on the same level. What helped with getting know everyone is at
the beginning they did this thing where you got to go around the room and mingle with the girls
so you could get to know fellow Christians and build those relationships. Yes it was only for 5
mins however the girls you did talk to actually seemed like they wanted to get to know you
instead of going through the motions which is what is expected in larger groups. Another thing
this group did is when breaking into small groups which we did about 5 different times with at
least 8 girls in a group is they had you go with different people. Just so you could open up with
different girls and get to know different people in the Bible study.
Therefore, in this group observation experience it really changed my outlook on groups
and how not all of them are the same. I really enjoyed getting to observe and see the way people
act based on different aspects. Such as the way other people are answering questions more
emotionally than surface level. I also really enjoyed seeing how one common goal can bring 30-
40 people together and can get them to be more open with one another. Finally, I was very
