Living God's Love: Engaging Neighbors with Kindness

Devotional

Day 1: Responding to Hostility with Kindness

When faced with hostility, respond with love and grace.

In our daily lives, we often encounter situations where others may act out of anger or hostility towards us. It is natural to feel the urge to retaliate or defend ourselves. However, responding with kindness instead of retaliation can transform these interactions. By showing love and grace, we not only defuse potentially volatile situations but also open the door for positive relationships. This approach can have a profound impact on our community, as it reflects the love and grace that God extends to us. [22:28]

Romans 12:20-21 (ESV): "To the contrary, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where someone acted with hostility towards you. How can you respond with kindness and grace the next time you encounter this person?

Day 2: Empathy from Personal Experience

Use your own experiences of discomfort to empathize with others.

Empathy is a powerful tool in building connections with others, especially those who feel like outsiders. When we draw from our own experiences of feeling excluded or uncomfortable, we can better understand and reach out to those who are going through similar situations. This empathy allows us to make others feel welcome and understood, fostering a sense of community and belonging. By using our personal experiences to fuel our efforts, we can create a more inclusive and loving environment for everyone. [23:30]

Hebrews 13:2 (ESV): "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

Reflection: Recall a time when you felt like an outsider. How can you use that experience to empathize with and reach out to someone who may be feeling the same way today?

Day 3: Taking Risks in Relationships

Step out of your comfort zone to build meaningful connections.

Building meaningful relationships often requires taking risks, such as sharing personal needs or inviting someone into your life. These actions can be uncomfortable and may not always be reciprocated, but they have the potential to lead to deep and lasting connections. By stepping out of our comfort zones and being vulnerable, we open ourselves up to the possibility of forming genuine relationships that can enrich our lives and the lives of others. This willingness to take risks in our interactions is a testament to our commitment to living out God's love in a broken world. [25:15]

Proverbs 27:17 (ESV): "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."

Reflection: Identify one person in your life with whom you can take a relational risk. What specific step can you take to deepen your connection with them this week?

Day 4: Building Genuine Relationships

Share your life and build trust to naturally talk about Jesus.

Talking about Jesus should come naturally within the context of a genuine relationship. Building trust and showing consistent love and support makes people more open to hearing about our faith. This approach aligns with Jesus' method of forming deep, meaningful connections with those around Him. By sharing our lives and stories, we create opportunities to discuss our faith in a way that feels natural and authentic. This method not only respects the other person's journey but also reflects the relational nature of the gospel. [37:41]

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV): "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."

Reflection: Think of a friend or neighbor with whom you have a genuine relationship. How can you share more of your life and faith with them in a natural and respectful way?

Day 5: The BLESS Strategy

Intentionally bless others through prayer, listening, eating together, serving, and sharing stories.

The BLESS strategy provides a practical framework for living out God's love in our communities. By being intentional in our interactions, we can create opportunities to bless those around us. This strategy encourages us to begin with prayer, listen to others, eat together, serve one another, and share stories. Each of these actions helps to build deeper connections and opens the door for meaningful conversations about faith. By following this approach, we can make a significant impact on our communities and share the love of Jesus in a natural and impactful way. [48:11]

Galatians 6:2 (ESV): "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Reflection: Choose one aspect of the BLESS strategy (prayer, listening, eating together, serving, or sharing stories) to focus on this week. How can you intentionally incorporate this into your interactions with others?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we concluded our series on hospitality and began a new series focused on living out God's love in a broken world. We had a panel discussion with Vicki Grundler, Jenny Chow, and Carlos Da Silva, who shared their inspiring stories of how they engage with their neighbors and show them love. Each panelist provided unique insights into their motivations and methods for reaching out to those around them, whether through organizing community gatherings, responding with kindness to hostility, or simply being present and available.

Carlos shared a powerful story about responding to a neighbor's hostility with kindness, emphasizing the importance of not retaliating but instead showing love and grace. Jenny spoke about her experiences as a foreigner and how that has shaped her empathy and actions towards others who feel like outsiders. Vicki discussed the risks and rewards of reaching out to others, even in uncomfortable situations, and how those efforts can lead to meaningful relationships.

We also explored practical ways to talk about Jesus with our neighbors, emphasizing that building genuine relationships and earning trust is crucial. The approach should be natural and not forced, focusing on sharing our lives and stories rather than just delivering a message. This aligns with the biblical principle found in 1 Thessalonians 2:8, where Paul talks about sharing not only the gospel but also his life with others.

As we move forward, we will be focusing on the "BLESS" strategy: Begin with prayer, Listen to others, Eat together, Serve one another, and Share stories. This strategy encourages us to be intentional in our interactions and to look for ways to bless those around us.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Responding to Hostility with Kindness: Carlos shared a story about responding to a neighbor's hostile actions with kindness instead of retaliation. This approach not only defused the situation but also opened the door for a more positive relationship. It reminds us that showing grace and love, even when it's difficult, can have a profound impact on our relationships and community. [22:28]
2. Empathy from Personal Experience: Jenny's experience as a foreigner has given her a deep empathy for others who feel like outsiders. She uses this empathy to reach out and make others feel welcome and understood. This teaches us the importance of using our own experiences of discomfort or exclusion to fuel our efforts in making others feel included and loved. [23:30]
3. Taking Risks in Relationships: Vicki discussed the risks involved in reaching out to others, such as sharing personal needs or inviting someone into your life. While these actions can be uncomfortable and may not always be reciprocated, they can lead to meaningful and lasting relationships. This encourages us to step out of our comfort zones and take risks in our efforts to connect with others. [25:15]
4. Building Genuine Relationships: The panel emphasized that talking about Jesus should come naturally within the context of a genuine relationship. Building trust and showing consistent love and support makes people more open to hearing about our faith. This approach aligns with Jesus' method of forming deep, meaningful connections with those around Him. [37:41]
5. The BLESS Strategy: The BLESS strategy—Begin with prayer, Listen, Eat together, Serve, and Share stories—provides a practical framework for living out God's love in our communities. By being intentional in these areas, we can create opportunities to bless others and share the love of Jesus in a natural and impactful way. [48:11]
### [48:11]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:34] - Introduction of Panelists
[14:01] - Engaging with Neighbors
[22:28] - Responding to Hostility with Kindness
[23:30] - Empathy from Personal Experience
[25:15] - Taking Risks in Relationships
[29:52] - Talking About Jesus Naturally
[36:24] - Good News for Your Neighbor
[37:41] - Building Genuine Relationships
[42:52] - 1 Thessalonians 2:8 - Sharing Lives
[48:11] - The BLESS Strategy
[49:42] - Action Steps and Prayer
[50:35] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was Carlos' approach when he faced hostility from his neighbor? How did he respond, and what was the outcome? [22:28]
How did Jenny's experience as a foreigner influence her actions towards others who feel like outsiders? [23:30]
What risks did Vicki take in her efforts to reach out to others, and what were some of the results she experienced? [25:15]
What is the BLESS strategy, and what are its five components? [48:11]

Interpretation Questions

Why is it important to respond to hostility with kindness, as demonstrated by Carlos? How does this align with biblical teachings? [22:28]
How can personal experiences of feeling like an outsider, as shared by Jenny, be used to foster empathy and inclusion in our communities? [23:30]
What are the potential rewards and challenges of taking risks in relationships, as discussed by Vicki? How can these risks lead to meaningful connections? [25:15]
How does the BLESS strategy help in building genuine relationships and sharing the love of Jesus naturally? [48:11]

Application Questions

Think of a time when you faced hostility from someone. How did you respond, and how might you apply Carlos' approach of responding with kindness in the future? [22:28]
Reflect on a personal experience where you felt like an outsider. How can you use that experience to empathize with and reach out to others who might feel the same way? [23:30]
What are some risks you might need to take in your relationships to build deeper connections? How can you step out of your comfort zone this week to reach out to someone? [25:15]
How can you begin to implement the BLESS strategy in your daily life? Identify one person you can start praying for and one practical step you can take to bless them this week. [48:11]
In what ways can you build genuine relationships with your neighbors or coworkers? What are some specific actions you can take to show consistent love and support? [37:41]
How can you share your life and faith naturally with others, as Paul describes in 1 Thessalonians 2:8? What are some stories from your own life that you can share to illustrate God's love? [42:52]
Consider the people in your life who might need to hear about Jesus. How can you create opportunities to share your faith in a way that feels natural and not forced? [37:04]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "I think those three stories, even by themselves, are enough for us to go, ooh, can take that, because I, if, if we don't know our neighbors, if we don't know those around us, I'm hoping we're feeling a little bit of, oh, Jesus might have a bigger plan for my life. Maybe he wants me to be the tangible hands and feet and voice of Jesus in somebody's life." [25:15] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "I really appreciate this because it seems like your approach is actually a lot more like Jesus' approach, becoming friends, loving on people. I mean, like people need good news and the good news is not just spiritual good news. I mean, hungry people need to be fed. Refugees need to feel secure and have a home. Doctors need people who understand them, especially when they become the patient and neighbors who call the police on you." [36:24] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "I have found something that in the midst of the chaos of life and that I have found the reason I was created. I have found the person who loves me and died for me and who makes me right and whole, even though I am still a mess, but God is walking with me." [38:48] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Bless, B-L-E-S-S. Beginning in prayer. Praying for people and asking God to show you where he's working. So that you can join him rather than you trying to lead God saying, Lord, what are you doing in my neighbor's life so that I can participate in that? I can bless them in that way. And then you listen. Listening to their stories. Listening to their needs." [48:11] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Would you pray and say, Lord, is there a neighbor, co-worker, friend, family member, distant family member? Is there somebody, Lord, that you would like me to enter and be involved in their life? I want to just ask, would you pray, God, show me somebody in the next step I can take with them to begin to pray for them? In this journey of loving my neighbor." [49:42] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "So what I'm hearing from you, and this is something that I need to internalize even more, is that like for you, Carlos, you had somebody actually do something with intent to hurt you. And yet rather than retaliating like most of us do, rather than being a normal neighbor and beginning, you know, the Hatfield and the McCoy, you might not, that might be a really old American kind of thing. But like where you're fighting back and forth. And it gets worse and worse as it goes on. Rather than doing that, you stopped it immediately and you did something nice." [22:28] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "And then, you know, and then you, Jenny, to think of others the way they, you know, as I have been a foreigner, I have been a stranger, therefore I know that feeling. And when we were talking earlier, I thought about it, so does every single person in this room, because even if you grew up in Orlando and that's all you've ever known, you went to middle school. And you know what it's like to feel like a stranger, and like a foreigner, and like an alien." [23:30] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "I remember taking classes about how to bring Jesus up in every conversation. And you, and it was almost like we were taught that that's what you always did because you, you had one moment with somebody and so you always talked about Jesus. And it always felt very awkward to me. It always felt very forced. Like it did, I wasn't reading the room and like, you know, feeling my emotional connection and going, no, I have to do this because it's right. And it never worked out well for me." [37:04] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "I really feel like that's what being a neighbor is. That's what everything you've shared is, that we're not just sharing God's love for, like, the message of God's love. We are sharing that. We're doing it through our lives. We're doing it because we love them, and we want to share Jesus' love with them. And we just want people to know that they are loved." [42:52] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "And so we have just a couple of minutes left. I would love for you just to quickly share with us any suggestions that you would offer to us how to invite people into our homes or into our lives. Like, any suggestions that you've said, oh, that's what I've done. And I'm thinking of one that you said, like, when for holidays you put baskets out and just said things." [48:11] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?