Neighborhood (Community)– Building Block no.15
"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31
The disciples of Jesus heard over and over again that they were to love God and love their neighbors. So how is it that, according to a recent Pew Research poll, only 31% of Americans say they know all or most of their neighbors? But hold on, we’re not called to simply know the names of our neighbors, or to say that we love them, but to actually show them love.
Task to Complete:
"Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." Rom. 15:2
First, to be a disciple of Jesus who really loves his or her neighbors, you’ll need to start by knowing the names of all your close neighbors. If you’re like 69% of Americans, that’s going to take a bit of effort.
Second, come up with a plan to love your neighbors. You can be creative, methodical, but most importantly, be you. Remember, as a disciple of Jesus, you’re called to love your neighbors, not just wave at them now and then.
Here are a few examples of loving your neighbors:
- Make a list of neighbors and pray for them by name.
- Bring over an apple pie when someone moves into your neighborhood- or even if they've been your neighbors for years.
- Invite a few neighbors over for a Saturday brunch.
- Invite your neighbors to church.
- Host (or coordinate) a neighborhood block party.
- When it snows, shovel a neighbors driveway.
- When you see a neighbor in their yard, literally walk over and...talk to them!
Once you’ve made a list of your neighbors and come up with some sort of plan to show love to your neighbors, you can fill out the following boxes and click Submit.
"Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor." 1 Cor. 10:24
