“Encourage one another and help one another.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (GNT)
God wants you to build up, motivate, and inspire other people. The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:11,
“Encourage one another and help one another” (GNT).
How do you do that? When you share your experiences and about how God worked in your life, it gives people hope. When you’ve gone through the same situation someone else is facing, you can reassure them that God will get them through it too. You’re able to help them overcome their fears and break down barriers.
When you share your experiences with other people, you help take away their fears. It’s kind of like riding a roller coaster. When you go to an amusement park and stand in line for one of those huge roller coasters for the first time, you’re thinking, “Is this a smart decision?” Then the person in front of you turns around and says, “This is a great ride. I’ve been on it five times.” So then you’re thinking, “Okay, I’m going to live. He’s done it five times. It’s got to be okay.”
Hearing from someone who’s already gone through what you’re facing is an inspiration. It’s motivational.
How many first-time parents feel scared to death, unprepared, and inadequate? All of them! They’re grateful when somebody comes along and says, “Babies cry. It’s okay. This is normal.” Their fears don’t seem so daunting when others share how they came through similar experiences. It gives them hope!
You also help people break through barriers when you motivate them with your own experience. On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister became the first man to run a sub-four-minute mile. Before he did it, everybody said it was impossible. Yet, the very next month, another man joined him under four minutes. And the following year, three men achieved the same feat during one race. Because people realized it wasn’t impossible, and it gave them hope that they could do it too.
You have experiences in your life that could be barrier-busting, inspirational, and motivational to other people—but only if you’re willing to share them.
Don’t waste any of your experiences. Use them to encourage others and give them hope
Talk It Over
- What scary thing have you been able to try because someone else shared their experience with you? How did their story give you courage and hope?
- What painful or difficult experiences from your past could help others and give them hope?
- Do you want God to use your experiences to give other people hope? If you do, take some time to ask him to give you opportunities to share your experiences with the people who need to hear them.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ZONE MISSION RALLY: There will be a Zone Mission Rally on Sunday, June 13 at 6:00pm. Rob and Cindy North, Directors of University Advancement at Africa Nazarene University, will be our special speakers.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL! Vacation Bible School will be June 27 through June 30 (6:30-8:00pm). Our friends from Penny Road Church of the Nazarene in North Carolina will be here to help us with VBS and several service projects around the building.
CRISIS CARE KITS are needed for churches to distribute to people after storms and disasters. Directions on how you can help are here.
WORKERS ARE NEEDED. Please let us know if you can help in the following areas...
- the Children's Department.
- to serve as ushers and greeters.
CHURCH CENTER: You are invited to join us on the Church Center app! Church Center is a place to connect with small groups and church events, send messages to your group, update your profile, and more! Download from the App Store and connect today. If you have trouble with setting up or updating your profile to keep your contact information up to date, see Jenn Houchin or Terri Ray.
LIFE LINE SCREENING, the nation’s leading provider of preventive health screenings, will offer affordable, non-invasive and painless health screenings at Old Hickory Church of the Nazarene on Monday, June 21, 2021. More details including how to register is here.
FOOD PANTRY: The pantry is open on Wednesday from 5:00-7:00pm and Thursday from 10:00am-12:00pm and volunteers and donations are needed.
COFFEE SHOP: Uncommon Grounds is open every Monday-Saturday from 7:00am-2:00pm. Invite a friend and use this great outreach to introduce the church to your friends.
CAMP AT THE CREEK ‘21: High School is June 7-11; Middle School is June 14-18. See Brice for registration and scholarship information!
CLASSES & STUDIES
SUNDAYS
Debbie Woodard leads the Young Adult class in person and via ZOOM for anyone who would like to join. They meet Sunday mornings at 9am in the classroom beside the new office.
Meeting ID: 868 1977 8952
Password: Bible101
Kenneth Ray & Gracie Smith lead the Friendship Class in person and via ZOOM for anyone who would like to join. They meet Sunday mornings at 9am. Please note that this class will not meet this Sunday, May 30.
Meeting ID: 846 6822 8046
Password: Bible101
Brice Rupert leads the teens class (6-12), Maddie Malone leads the kids class (k-5), both in person at 9:00am. We have kids classes for all ages.
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP begins at 10:00am in the sanctuary. The services will continue to be live streamed on Facebook and our website home page for those unable to be with us in the church building.
OH|KIDS CHURCH for K-5th grade meets during the worship hour at 10:00am with Pastor Maddie! They have moved to a new classroom, so Pastor Maddie will be waiting in the main lobby before service to take kids downstairs.
TUESDAYS
Coffee & Community Bible Study every other Tuesday at 9:30am in the Coffee Shop. Next meeting is on June 8.
WEDNESDAYS
Wednesday Night Bible Study with Debbie Woodard is on Facebook Live (from Debbie's page) at 6:30pm.
THURSDAYS
Richard leads prayer and devotional on Thursdays at 7:00 PM via ZOOM for anyone who would like to join.
Meeting ID: 894 2501 3143
Password: Prayer605
