PART II: Where Everybody Knows Your Name
It was a Bible study that my friend invited me to that led me to PVUMC’s campus. God used Beth Moore to give me the Scriptures I needed to read. He gave her the thought provoking questions I had to reflect on. Leaving my church was not in my comfort zone and I wrestled with God. It was one of the hardest things I have done and one of the best things I have ever done.
Matthew 28: 19, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Sometimes visiting a church is intimidating to people and a small group can feel less threatening. Invite someone to a small group. I was not ready to come for a Sunday morning worship.
I shared with you the theme song from “Cheers” earlier in the week: Sometimes you want to go, Where everybody knows your name, And they're always glad you came, You want to be where you can see, Our troubles are all the same, You want to be where everybody knows your name!
We all like for someone to know our name but we also like to know that we all have troubles. We are amazed at how God brings people together, going through the same things. When we deal with this cold, dark world, it can be easy to feel hopeless. We are always amazed at how God brought some of us together who are going through similar issues. That is comforting. When we spend time in fellowship, God makes us strong. Matthew 18: 20, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” When we are going through tough times, meeting together can help us heal and encourage us to move forward.
Meeting together reminds us we are not alone and can help us in our healing process and give us the encouragement to move forward. Hebrews 10: 24-25, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Our small group has been there for each other and we have seen God work in us. We have shared openly and honestly, we have laughed a lot but we have cried together too.
God made us for fellowship. He wants us to come together with other believers. 1 Corinthians 14: 26, “What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.” We need each other!