Overcoming Fear to Love Our Neighbors

Devotional

Day 1: Overcoming Fear to Love Our Neighbors

Fear can either motivate us to prepare or paralyze us from taking action. It distorts our perspective, making us believe that the effort to build relationships with our neighbors is not worth the potential output. However, Jesus' command to love our neighbors is inseparable from loving God, and overcoming this fear is crucial to fulfilling this commandment. Fear of rejection and safety concerns are common, but they should not deter us from reaching out. Jesus provides a strategy to overcome this fear, as seen in Luke 10, where He sends out 72 disciples to spread the message of the Kingdom of God. By following His example, we can find the courage to love our literal neighbors. [07:52]

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Reflection: Think of a specific fear that holds you back from reaching out to your neighbors. How can you ask God to help you overcome this fear today?

Day 2: Finding the Person of Peace

Jesus' strategy in Luke 10 involves finding a "person of peace"—someone who is influential and receptive. This person can help us build bridges and cross cultural boundaries. Just as Paul Revere was a connector who effectively warned colonials about the British, a person of peace can help spread the message of the Kingdom of God in our neighborhoods. Identifying and partnering with such individuals can significantly impact our efforts to love our neighbors and build a strong community. [13:32]

Acts 16:14-15 (ESV): "One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, 'If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.' And she prevailed upon us."

Reflection: Who in your neighborhood could be a "person of peace"? How can you begin to build a relationship with them this week?

Day 3: Embracing Rejection as Part of the Mission

Jesus prepares His disciples for both welcome and rejection. He instructs them not to take rejection personally and to move on to find those who are spiritually hungry. This teaches us that rejection is a part of the mission, and we must be willing to face it to find persons of peace. Understanding that rejection is not a reflection of our worth but a part of the process can help us persevere in our efforts to love our neighbors. [27:42]

Matthew 10:14 (ESV): "And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town."

Reflection: How do you typically respond to rejection? What steps can you take to not let fear of rejection hinder your mission to love your neighbors?

Day 4: Building Two-Way Relationships

Relationships with persons of peace are meant to be two-way. These individuals will help us by introducing us to others and giving us credibility, but we must also serve and encourage them. This mutual relationship is essential for building a strong community. By investing in these relationships, we can create a network of support and influence that extends the reach of the Kingdom of God in our neighborhoods. [24:52]

Romans 12:10 (ESV): "Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."

Reflection: Think of a person of peace in your life. How can you serve and encourage them this week to strengthen your mutual relationship?

Day 5: Using the BLESS Framework

The BLESS acronym—Begin with prayer, Listen, Eat a meal, Serve, and Share your story—provides a practical framework for building relationships with our neighbors. This approach helps us to bless our neighbors and overcome our fears, making it easier to initiate conversations and acts of kindness. By following this framework, we can create meaningful connections and demonstrate the love of Christ in tangible ways. [32:13]

Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV): "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."

Reflection: Which step of the BLESS framework can you focus on today? How can you practically implement it to bless one of your neighbors?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Building relationships with our literal next-door neighbors can be daunting, especially when they come from different backgrounds. The biggest barrier to loving our neighbors is fear. Jesus provides a strategy to overcome this fear, as seen in Luke 10, where He sends out 72 disciples to spread the message of the Kingdom of God. This series, "Love Thy Literal Neighbor," challenges us to love our actual physical neighbors, not just in a broad, abstract sense. Last week, we focused on overcoming the barrier of time, and this week, we tackle the barrier of fear.

Fear can be both a motivator and a paralyzer. It can prompt us to prepare or seek help, but it can also prevent us from building relationships. Women, in particular, may face safety concerns when reaching out to neighbors. Fear of rejection is universal, and it can distort our perspective, making us assume that the effort to neighbor is not worth the potential output. However, Jesus' command to love our neighbors is inseparable from the greatest commandment to love God.

Our church's vision is to impact our city for Christ, one neighborhood at a time. This involves understanding that the Kingdom of God extends one heart, one home, one block at a time. Jesus' strategy in Luke 10 involves finding a "person of peace"—someone who is influential and receptive. This person can help us build bridges and cross cultural boundaries. The story of Paul Revere, a connector who effectively warned colonials about the British, illustrates the power of such individuals.

Jesus' instructions to His disciples include both what to do when welcomed and when rejected. He emphasizes not taking rejection personally and moving on to find those who are spiritually hungry. The fear of rejection and being misunderstood is a risk we must take to fulfill our mission. Jesus Himself was accused of guilt by association, so we are in good company when we face similar accusations.

As we close, remember the BLESS acronym: Begin with prayer, Listen, Eat a meal, Serve, and Share your story. This practical framework can help us bless our neighbors and overcome our fears. Let's pray for the courage to initiate conversations and acts of kindness, and to find or become persons of peace in our neighborhoods.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Way Relationships**: Relationships with persons of peace are meant to be two-way. These individuals will help us by introducing us to others and giving us credibility, but we must also serve and encourage them. This mutual relationship is essential for building a strong community. [24:52]
5. Practical Framework for Neighboring: The BLESS acronym—Begin with prayer, Listen, Eat a meal, Serve, and Share your story—provides a practical framework for building relationships with our neighbors. This approach helps us to bless our neighbors and overcome our fears, making it easier to initiate conversations and acts of kindness.

### [24:52]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:08] - The Fear of Neighboring
[03:27] - Loving Our Literal Neighbors
[04:54] - Vision for Impacting Our City
[06:17] - Overcoming the Barrier of Fear
[07:52] - Fear of Rejection and Safety Concerns
[09:17] - Luke 10: The Playbook for Neighboring
[10:45] - Authority and Dependence
[12:05] - The Person of Peace Strategy
[13:32] - Connectors and Movement Building
[14:59] - Paul Revere: An Example of a Connector
[17:54] - The Backstory of Our Church
[20:43] - Qualities of a Person of Peace
[22:11] - Lydia: A Biblical Example
[23:33] - The Importance of Reaching Men
[24:52] - Becoming a Person of Peace
[26:22] - Building Two-Way Relationships
[27:42] - Dealing with Rejection
[29:18] - Risking Misunderstanding
[30:48] - Overcoming Fear of Association
[32:13] - The BLESS Acronym
[33:40] - Practical Steps to Bless Your Neighbor
[35:17] - Closing Prayer and Announcements

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What specific instructions did Jesus give to the 72 disciples when He sent them out in Luke 10? ([09:17])
According to the sermon, what are some fears that can prevent us from building relationships with our neighbors? ([07:52])
What is the "Person of Peace" strategy mentioned in the sermon, and how does it relate to Jesus' instructions in Luke 10? ([13:32])
How does the BLESS acronym provide a practical framework for neighboring? ([32:13])

Interpretation Questions

How does the fear of rejection distort our perspective on neighboring, and what does Jesus teach us about handling rejection? ([27:42])
What qualities make someone a "Person of Peace," and why are these individuals crucial for building community? ([20:43])
How can the story of Paul Revere as a connector help us understand the importance of finding and being a "Person of Peace"? ([14:59])
What does it mean to build two-way relationships with our neighbors, and why is this important for community building? ([24:52])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when fear prevented you from reaching out to a neighbor. What specific steps can you take to overcome this fear in the future? ([07:52])
Identify a potential "Person of Peace" in your neighborhood. How can you begin to build a relationship with them this week? ([20:43])
Think about a recent rejection you faced when trying to connect with a neighbor. How can Jesus' instructions in Luke 10 help you move forward and continue your mission? ([27:42])
Using the BLESS acronym, choose one neighbor and plan a specific action for each step (Begin with prayer, Listen, Eat a meal, Serve, Share your story) to bless them this month. ([32:13])
How can you ensure that your relationships with neighbors are two-way and mutually beneficial? What practical steps can you take to serve and encourage them? ([24:52])
Reflect on the idea of being a "Person of Peace" yourself. What qualities do you need to develop or actions do you need to take to become a connector in your community? ([24:52])
Consider the cultural and social barriers in your neighborhood. How can you intentionally cross these boundaries to build meaningful relationships with those who are different from you? ([30:48])

Sermon Clips

1. "You know, the temptation is to define neighbor in such broad terms that our actual next-door neighbor gets left out in us trying to love everyone equally. Listen to what Pastor Jay Pathak says in his book, Art of Neighboring. He says, The problem is, when we aim for everything, we hit nothing. So when we insist we're neighbors with everyone, we often end up being neighbors with nobody. So this series is encouraging us to love our actual physical neighbors." [02:08] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Fear is to expect or worry about something bad or unpleasant. You know, it can be a good thing when it prepares you to face something. Like if you're not a little bit fearful before a big presentation or a speech, it might mean that you're not doing the work you need to to prepare. This fear can sort of be a prompt to remind us to prepare or get ready for something. It can also be a prompt to get us to reach out and ask others for help, which can be a good thing. But fear can also paralyze us." [06:17] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Fear has a way of distorting our perspective. It can change the way that we see others. It can also affect what we assume our neighbors think of us. Our fear is something related to our time, like the fear of like, oh, if I answer the door to these solicitors, if I answer the phone, you know, it's going to take all my time. Like, I'm getting so many spam calls. I don't know if you guys are getting this, but I'm getting so many spam calls lately." [07:52] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "God has given you as a follower of Jesus, as a disciple of Jesus, the power to heal the sick. That's crazy to think about. Not only that, it says here that he's given you the power to drive out demons. And I think we have to think about that, not just in the context of a church gathering or a mission trip, but with your literal next door neighbors. Notice what he says after he says that he's giving you all this power. He says to you, take nothing with you." [10:45] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "What if these conveniences are not helping us grow? What if these conveniences are not helping us grow spiritually? Jesus tells his disciples here, which is very countercultural both then and today. He says, I want you to be dependent on other people because that is sometimes the only way I can get you outside of yourself to build a relationship." [12:05] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Jesus lays out a really important strategy that I want to unpack today. It's called person of peace. The person of peace strategy is really a movement building strategy. Jesus only had 12 disciples. And as you know, they were not that impressive. They didn't have the resume or the credentials to start a worldwide movement, but Jesus knew their hearts. And he knew that when he placed his power upon them, that they would be able to make an amazing change." [13:32] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Who you meet on your block can have a huge influence on who else you meet. It's really this principle that led me to meeting our neighbors and to the growth of our church in the early days, and I actually want to take a moment to take you to the backstory of our church from the very beginning." [14:59] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Jesus introduces this principle of the person of peace that helps us cross cultural boundaries similar to what Malcolm Gladwell calls a connector. A person of peace is a person who helps you cross cultural boundaries they're similar to the connector these are people who welcome the disciples that Jesus sent out they invited these strangers into their homes extended hospitality for the entirety of their stay in that town." [20:43] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "The strategy is that you meet a person of influence in the town and if they're open to friendship with you, then there's a good chance that they will be open to Jesus. And when they come to Christ, there's a good chance that the whole village will come to Christ. You know, this is one of the reasons that we as a church have got to be serious about reaching men because research shows that if you win a father to Christ, then the likelihood that his wife and children also come to Christ is exponentially higher than if it's the other way around." [23:33] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "The assumption of this passage is that when Jesus sends you out to love your neighbor a key part of the mission is to out yourself as a follower of Jesus and then see how people respond this gives us the preview some will welcome you and some will reject you and until we're ready to come face to face with that reality we are not likely to find a person of peace on our block we're likely to stay inside and keep scrolling which really comes back to this topic of fear." [30:48] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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