9/10-9/16 Overview

Through ongoing interactions with neighbors over extended periods of time, we will eventually experience and enter into the messiness of the lives of others as we develop relationships with them. In The Art of Neighboring book, Jay and Dave remind us that often Jesus “didn’t help people in the way they wanted to be helped.” Loving our neighbor includes setting clear boundaries, and sometimes we have to say “no.” During this fifth week of The Art of Neighboring all-church journey we are focusing on our motives and setting boundaries with our neighbors. Thankfully, the authors ensure us that, “if neighboring is done with the right posture, then people who don’t know God will most certainly come to know him.”

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online for free.

9/3-9/9 Overview

This week is somewhat of a pause in regards to The Art of Neighboring series. Because of Labor Day, we will focus on “work” and “working for Christ” today through Saturday the 9th. What comes to mind when you think of work? Why does work matter to God? How should our faith influence and guide how we work?

 

As you read and study the daily Bible verses as part of this devotional, you are invited to seek to understand what they reveal about work and working for Christ.

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online for free.

8/27-9/2 Overview

In their book The Art of Neighboring the authors share that, “the first step to taking the Great Commandment literally is to move from stranger to acquaintance in your relationships…Learning a person’s name is the first and easiest step you can take to become a better neighbor.” The Block Map is a helpful tool for remembering the names of those you meet, as well as writing down things you learn about them. It is important to remember that progressing beyond acquaintances into a growing relationship with neighbors is a gradual process of relatively small, consistent, interactions that accumulate over an extended period of time. During this fourth week of The Art of Neighboring all-church journey we are focusing on our relationships with our neighbors.

8/20-8/26 Overview

According to the authors of The Art of Neighboring: Building Genuine Relationships Right Outside Your Door, “the number-one obstacle to neighboring well is time.” Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon also write that another “obstacle to neighboring in our culture today” is “fear.” Thankfully, we can overcome these barriers through intentionality and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. During this third week of The Art of Neighboring all-church series, we are invited to utilize time and overcome fear to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Galatians 5:14).

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online for free.

• ATTEND Sunday morning worship services
• READ portions of the The Art of Neighboring book by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon each week

• USE this Living Faith Devotional daily
• TAKE practical steps to put love of neighbor into action during the coming weeks
• PARTICIPATE in weekly group sessions or discuss the series with a family member or friend

8/6-8/12 Overview

Welcome to the beginning of The Art of Neighboring all-church worship and small group series! During the months of August and September our church will focus on living the second part of the greatest commandment taught by Jesus, which is “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39 NIV). To get the most out of this journey as a congregation, you are invited to:

• ATTEND Sunday morning worship services
• READ portions of the The Art of Neighboring book by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon each week

• USE this Living Faith Devotional daily
• TAKE practical steps to put love of neighbor into action during the coming weeks

• PARTICIPATE in weekly group sessions or discuss the series with a family member or friend

 

The Neighboring series will continue through the week of September 17th. We hope you will join us throughout the journey! Worship services this weekend are focused on “loving God and loving our neighbors.”

7/30-8/5 Overview

This week we will briefly return to the book of Acts to read more of the account of Paul’s third missionary journey when he left Ephesus to continue towards Jerusalem. Some scholars believe that during this time of Paul’s third missionary journey he wrote additional letters to the Christians in Corinth. After writing his first letter to the Christians in Corinth, Paul went there for a “painful visit” to confront them in person (2 Corinthians 2:1 NIV). As a follow up to the “painful visit” Paul wrote a letter that “caused the Corinthians sorrow” (2 Corinthians 7:8 NIV). After writing and sending the letter that caused them sorrow, Paul wrote the document in the Bible known as 2 Corinthians in pursuit of reconciliation with them, to encourage the Corinthian believers to collect an offering for the Christians in need in Jerusalem, as well as challenging those within the church who rejected Paul’s authority as an apostle. This week we will read Acts 20 and portions of 2 Corinthians. The following week we will transition to devotionals that are part of The Art of Neighboring all-church series during August and September. Reading through the book of Acts and portions of Paul’s letters will continue after the neighboring series.

7/23-7/29 Overview

The apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Christians in Corinth to address their problems, including division among the believers. We began reading the letter last week. This week we will finish reading Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. Next week we will briefly return to the account of Paul’s third missionary journey in the book of Acts before reading portions of another letter.

7/16-7/22 Overview

During the Apostle Paul’s third missionary journey, he spent years in the city of Ephesus (Acts 19). Some biblical scholars believe that Paul may have written the letter to the Christians in Corinth in addition to the letter to the Galatians during that time. This week we will finish reading Paul’s letter to the Galatians, then begin reading portions of 1 Corinthians.

7/9-7/15 Overview

At the beginning of the apostle Paul’s third missionary journey, he “traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples” (Acts 18:23 NIV). His journey continued westward until he arrived in the city of Ephesus. Some biblical scholars believe that Paul may have written his letter to the Christians in the region of Galatia during the three years he was in Ephesus. This week we will read more of the account in Acts when Paul was in Ephesus, as well as begin reading his letter to the Galatians.