I teach two high school Bible classes at Cypress Grove Academy on Tuesday mornings. One of my students said something that really struck my heart this week. She said, “Sometimes going to church can feel more lonely than not going.”
That hit me like a ton of bricks! I found myself praying, “Oh, Lord, may this never be true of us at Harbor! May we never be a place where people come to feel alone; may we be a people where others come to experience the warm embrace of Jesus!”
1 John 1:3 says, “…that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
Here, we are reminded that the church is a city without walls, a temple with open doors, a house without a key. Simply put, we are an inviting people. The gospel we have encountered is the gospel we preach, and the gospel we preach is the gospel we live. Gospel fellowship is the fruit of gospel proclamation. We proclaim the gospel boldly so that others might fellowship with us as our fellowship is with God.
So, as we prepare to serve our neighbors this Thursday for our Valentine’s Day Dinner, please join me in praying that they will feel Jesus' warm embrace and that God will open up opportunities for us to share the hope of the gospel over dinner. May we serve with eager hearts longing for others to come to know Jesus so they can begin fellowshipping with us as we fellowship with our Savior!