“Where everybody knows your name…”

 

In the refrain of one song captured what we all want to see at church.

 

“Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got

Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot

Wouldn't you like to get away
Sometimes you want to go

Refrain:
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”

This is the theme song from Cheers. Yup, it’s that old TV sitcom that starred the likes of Ted Danson, Frasier, and Woody. There was also a character by the name of Norm, this big guy that would come into cheers and everyone knew him. I think they even had an unofficial seat reserved just for him. It’s a place where everyone knows your name and they are glad you came. Such scenes are what we all want to experience at church, isn’t it? To be part of a community that genuinely loves and cares about each other. It brings back the images of the early church when phenomenal things were occurring in and outside the walls of churches. People were coming to Christ by the thousands and the churches exemplified genuine communities that put Cheers to shame.

I wanted to share with you one simple step that you and I could take, to live to see our communities blessed by God. Commitment! We are a family in Christ. Remember back when you were just a kid… you and your sibling would fight one moment and make up the next? Or the next morning you woke up and played with your brother, having totally forgotten the worst insult your brother has ever hurled at you. It’s your sibling that brings out the worst in you! They know how to press your buttons.

We’ve all experienced that love/hate at home. Yet what keeps us as a family? It’s commitment to one another. We’ve lived some 20 years together and we’ve learned to stick together through thick and thin, through fights and shuffles. Fights, disappointments, and hurts are to be expected in any family. So we keep on going! Jesus Christ calls his church, a family. Whether you like it or not, we are spiritually born into this family! We are bound to go through disappointments or hurts within church, but don’t get jaded, instead we need to commit ourselves to our community: UpperRoom or small groups. Learning to forgive and sharing life is what we were meant to be. Commit to those who keep you accountable. Still learning to commit to my community.

Pastor David Cho
Associate Pastor
Sa-Rang Community Church