PART I: Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Remember the “Cheers” theme song? 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!  

That is our small group!  Small groups are a tight community where people know your name, care about you and you are noticed!

In my small group we were discussing why we want to continue meeting.  Most feel it is a safe place to share with feelings of loyalty, closeness and openness.  Since none of us are perfect, we each show God's graces, we each have a purpose and we each have been given specific spiritual gifts. This fellowship helps us grow in our faith, encourages and strengthens us.  Hebrews 3: 13-14, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.”

One lady came to class as soon as she came to PVUMC and although she was new, she never felt like she was new.  The good thing about starting a class when a new series starts is that everyone is “new” together.  Another lady shared that Pastor Barry told her we don’t want you to join just to pad our numbers - we want you to get involved.  She said you hear what a church says their beliefs are but it is another thing to get involved and see their beliefs in action.

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.”  There are many benefits of small groups not just for the members but for our church, our community and the world. Do you want to be where everybody knows your name?  Where we are always glad you came?