192; How to Neighbor; Don't be Weird

Intro

Mark filled in last week as we got away for a bit.

We alway visit another church. It’s very intentional. I go places where I can worship but also learn. I tend to hyper-analyze other church.

You are sent. I’m convinced God is doing something to correct the church.

We started this series with a very simple thesis: we don’t need another program or gizmo. If we want to do our best to change the neighborhood and bring people to Christ, it starts with our neighbors and the people in our sphere of influence.

Small but mighty (Leaven and Mustard Seed)

Retraining our Minds ()

The great cost of neighboring (The Good Samaritan).

Don’t be weird

Christians sing songs about the majesty and sovereignty of God. We read the testimony of his Word that affirms what we sing. Then we act weird by living in ways that say; what we sing and read isn’t true.

Weird things Christians do:

Act like we know who can be saved. So we don’t talk to certain neighbors.

Act like our families don’t have problems. So we look down upon the messed up family at work or next door.

Act like we are without sin. So we sit in judgment over the people around us.

Act assume that people want us to provide trite answers to every scenario they might encounter. Whenever God shuts a door...

So often people just want to be heard.

Act like we understand the path our neighbors have walked.

“Don't judge a man by where he is, because you don't know how far he has come” C.S. Lewis

Don’t put yourself in God’s position. He’s the only one capable of filling that role!

This is aside from the other types of weird things that cause people to think we are weird:

Overemphasis on eschatology

Blood moons

Assume that we have to provide all the answers.

Social media

whatever is true, whatever is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.

It’s crucial to realize that our unconverted neighbors think they need to be saved from us more than they need to be save from sin.

Paul rightly stated:

Galatians 5:14 NIV

14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Love is a choice that starts with compassion and leads to action.

Topical rather than expositional. It’s important to realize the idea of neighboring flows from cover to cover.

It’s crucial to realize that our unconverted neighbors think they need to be saved from us more than they need to be save from sin.

Something I really love: often this idea of neighboring or hospitality involves food.

I’m not going to talk about going door to door, I’m going to talk about us opening our doors.

Three Practical Ways to be a Neighbor that God uses:

#1 Open Your Bibles

Read you Bible and notice how being a good neighbor and practicing hospitality is a consistent theme.

Old Testament examples

Leviticus 19:33–34 NIV

33 “ ‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. 34 The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

This is a heart issue. Why should we be good neighbors? Because God did the same thing for us.

The great example () - Mephibosheth

New Testament examples

1 Timothy 3:2 NIV

2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Notice the amount of ministry that happens in Luke around meals (chapters 5; 7; 9; 14; 22; 24).

If we take this seriously; our homes, our bbq grills, and our back porches are something to be stewarded.

Jesus’ offer to follow him isn’t an offer to start a class or a program, it is an offer to make his ways our ways. Which leads to second

#2 Open Your Hearts

Jesus said, “As often as you...”

“In the poor man who knocks at my door, in my ailing mother, in the young man who seeks my advice, the Lord Himself is present: therefore let us wash His feet.” C. S. Lewis

Christians above all people, should be people with tender hearts. We should be people of compassion.

Recite your own story.

Realize our neighbors and co-workers are image bearers as well. Gen 1:27

#3 Open your Doors

Jesus says volumes in this classic passage on neighboring:

Luke 14:12–14 NIV

12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Thoughts on opening your homes from Jesus:

Set aside pride and paybacks. We don’t invite others for how they might benefit us. Our task it to demonstrate the love of Jesus. Often, it’s a matter of the heart.

What’s in it for them? You may be best picture of a redeemed life that they see!

Set aside paybacks. We tend to think; what’s in it for me? It’s a matter of the heart. What’s in it for them? You may be best picture of a redeemed life that they see!

Set aside the grandiose. We tend to gravitate towards the spectacular. Sometimes the greatest thing we can do is the simplest. Most will never know. Jesus says, “Your reward will be from me.”

Set aside partiality -

We should be good neighbors in good times so we can love people in difficult times. Difficulties provide a landing pad for the Gospel.

When the flesh is strong, the spirit is minimized. When the flesh is weak, eternity is prioritized.

Only Christianity offers true and lasting hope because we serve a risen savior who reigns today and forever. Love your neighbors.

Set aside self-indulgence. This one is hard for me because I’m an introvert.

Our homes aren’r our refuge. Jesus is our refuge. Our homes are to be stewarded for the Kingdom.

We tend to think:

We tend to think:

How much should I give

How much should I serve

That should be replaced with; how can my life be useful to the Kingdom

Close

Hebrews 13:2 NIV

2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Shawn

Being hospitable to those around us is reflecting his nature.

lt' a matter of being intentional and willing.

Mexico

We’ll wait and reflect him as we prepare for the greatest display of hospitality in history.

What about our role?

Close

Present the Gospel

Isaiah 25:6–8 NIV

6 On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines. 7 On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.

What more could I add to that?