The Art of Neighboring – Week 3 (11-21-21)
The Art of Neighboring
November 21, 2021
Agenda – Go next door
Block Map
People who make the greatest impact on our faith:
- Notice us
- Get to know us
Whether you have grown up in church, recently come back, or are just starting out, thank God for the people who NOTICED you, and got to KNOW you.
Zacchaeus – in the town of Jericho
- Chief Tax Collector
- Wanted to See Jesus
- Short & couldn’t see over the crowds
- Ran ahead & climbed into a sycamore fig tree
READ Luke 19:5-6
“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.”
5 years ago, Eric Pickersgill, used photoshop to edit out people’s phones from the picture he had taken. It’s easy to get focused on other things, and never look up.
Not just from our Cell Phones:
- Work
- Chores
- School
- Hobbies
READ Luke 19:7
“All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
Zacchaeus Responds
“I give back half of everything I have to the poor…”
“‘IF’ I have cheated anybody out of anything…”
“I will pay it back four times over…”
What might the crowd be thinking now?
READ Luke 19:9
“Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Salvation didn’t come to the house of Zacchaeus because he offered to try and make-up for what he had done. Salvation came in Jesus. Who noticed him for who he truly was as a son of Abraham.
Who is your neighbor?
God’s plan, to seek and save the lost, is realized when His people choose to notice & know their neighbor.
Jesus & Peter
Jesus: “Peter, do you love me?”
Peter: “Yes, of course Lord!”
Jesus: “Feed My Sheep”
Out of your Love for God, Serve Others.
In Serving Others, learn to Love Them.
“Do for 1 what you wish you could do for everyone.”
-Andy Stanley
Imagine if each one of us chose to notice and know one of our neighbors?
Challenge for this week:
Choose one of your neighbors to serve continually.