The Art of Neighbouring Building genuine relationships

Art of Neighbouring Who is our neighbour? Overcoming barriers: time The Art of Neighbouring Who is our neighbour? Overcoming barriers: time Checking our motives Overcoming barriers: fear Looking for open doors Building genuine relationships

How to please God…

Luke 10: 25 - 37 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ 26 ‘What is written in the Law?’ he replied. ‘How do you read it?’

27 He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”; and, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” 28 ‘You have answered correctly,’ Jesus replied. ‘Do this and you will live.’

Could it be this simple? The way to influence the world with the powerful message of Jesus is as simple as loving God and loving our neighbour. The solution to society’s ills - be good neighbours. Care for those around us and let them care for us.

Do this and you will live v28 When we put this commandment at the centre of everything life changes. It’s who we’re supposed to be and what we’re supposed to be doing!

When we don’t love well Isolation Fear Misunderstanding Jesus challenges us to love how he loved.

The man gave the right answer: You have answered correctly…v28 Lived well, worked hard, loved God, knew his Bible. But Jesus also show us his motives: He wanted to justify himself v29 Who is my neighbour?

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’ 30 In reply Jesus said: ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half-dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when

he saw the man, he passed by on the other side he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.

Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said, “and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.”

36 ‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’ 37 The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’

He wanted to define neighbour in such a way that he came out ok. Jesus raises the stakes! The shock of contrasts. The implications… This takes conscious effort. Why? Our tendency is to be selfish We get set in our ways We are challenged by time pressures We get fearful But what if we took Jesus at his word. What is we took steps to be flexible…

Go and do likewise… v37 So who is our neighbour?

From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. Acts 17: 26

What if Jesus meant our actual neighbour?

We can easily fall into the same trap as the man We can easily fall into the same trap as the man. We see “everyone” as our neighbour but miss loving those under our nose. This numbs the parable’s power: Our neighbour becomes faceless and nameless. We aim for everything but hit nothing!

1. 2. 3. Your house

aka: the grid of shame! About 10% can fill out the names of all their neighbours (no. 1) About 3% can fill out some relevant information not known by looking at their house (no. 2) About 1% can fill in the whole grid.

What did the Samaritan do? He saw who was under his nose! Compassion that made him stop Pity that turned into action A willingness to change his plans Sacrificial generosity Good boundaries Authentic follow up

What might we do? Fill in the grid Learn our neighbour’s names Do random acts of service Look for ways to be generous Be the one to go first Open up our homes Be a listener Allow ourselves to be cared for in return.

The Art of Neighbouring Building genuine relationships

Art of Neighbouring Who is our neighbour? Overcoming barriers: time The Art of Neighbouring Who is our neighbour? Overcoming barriers: time Checking our motives Overcoming barriers: fear Looking for open doors Building genuine relationships