My daughters love the park. The open, green spaces, the playground equipment, the swirl of exuberant children—they love it all. There’s nothing quite like snagging a colorful, squeak-free swing on a sunny day.

Since my family loves good parks, we know lousy ones when we see them. The equipment is rusty, the grass is too long, the seesaws are catawampus. In these situations, we don’t need a traffic cop to tell us to move along.

Jacqueline Schmid (2015), Public Domain

Knowing when to leave your small group Bible study can be a lot harder. You probably started in your group with high hopes—you were eager to form strong relationships built on studying the Bible. But a trusted recipe doesn’t guarantee perfect brownies. Even well-intentioned Bible studies can disappoint you.

Should you stay or should you go? How do you know when it’s a good time to look for another Bible study group?

Remember the Purpose

By attending a small group Bible study, you should have the chance to serve others and be blessed yourself. You can grow in your understanding of the Bible and your love for God, and you can point your friends in the same direction. In an ideal group, you’ll leave each week strengthened, refreshed, and full of gospel-fueled hope about the future.

When your experience in a small group doesn’t match your expectations, it’s good to remember why the group gathers. What’s the purpose of this Bible study anyway?

I’ve written before about the benefits of attending a small group. But for the purposes of this article, we need to revisit the three questions to ask when joining a small group: Where can I study the Bible? Where can I serve? Where can I learn? Returning to these questions can help you decide whether to keep fishing or pack up your tackle.

Ask the Three Questions

Joining a Bible study group involves a level of commitment; you’re not signing papers at the bank, but you also don’t want to flit from group to group like an over-caffeinated hummingbird. Leaving a Bible study is a big step, so you should weigh your reasons carefully.

Where can I study the Bible? If your group has deserted the Bible, it’s time to rethink your participation. Book groups and reading groups have their place and can be valuable, but a Christian’s life needs a large dose of the Bible.

Where can I serve? Can you contribute to the Bible study discussion? Can you talk with others privately and draw them into deeper conversation? Can you help some group members learn how to study the Bible through your example or encouragement? Do you have any opportunity to challenge, cheer, or bear the burdens of friends in your group? Do you see avenues for service opening up?

Where can I learn? Do you engage with the Bible? Does your leader ask questions and encourage the group to interact? Are you spurred on to seek the Lord through his Word? Or do you sense that a barrier was placed between you and the Bible?

A Sobering Decision

No small group is perfect. Be sure to set a reasonable standard for your Bible study and be as patient with your friends as you’d like them to be with you. Try to work for the good of the group, praying and making suggestions as you find opportunity. But when it looks like the door to serving others and growing yourself is closed, it might be time to find a new group.