TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR? 2 CHANGING page 12 THE NARRATIVE ???? page 24 3 BRINGING

...... THEM TO THE TABLE page 38

4 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? ......

TENACIOUS FRIENDSHIP 4 page 50 5 THROWING BETTER PARTIES page 62

6 CROSSING CULTURES 21 page 74 7 CONTROLLING THE CALENDAR page 88

LIVING DIFFERENTLY ...... page 100 ...... 8 ......

National Community Church / 5 PREFACE

This is a book about communitycommunity. created How within the context“neighbor” of community. is understood A group across comprised different of our missioncontexts team, and what small neighboring group directors, means and in campusyour neighborhood, in your marketplace and in social pastors contributed to the content that you hold in situations. How you have been a good neighbor yourand how hands. others We listenedhave been to aa broadgood neighborcross-section to of NCCers—suburban,you. How neighboring urban, is a reflectionBlack, White, of God Latino, and men, women,an expression young, of old, the single Gospel. professionals and young families—to hear what neighboring looked like in their variousAlthough contexts. we’re sure this book doesn’t cover all aspects of being a neighbor, it will certainly hit home in a lot of areas and contexts. And in a Howsociety “neighbor” where everyone is understood. struggles with being a Howgood neighboring neighbor at playedcertain outtimes, within we praydi­erent this contexts. Howstudy each will challenge was strategically you to a and new organically adventure being of neighborsloving and inserving their geographic, others, just asmarketplace Jesus and play environments.commanded. How others had been good neighbors to them. As we walk through this sermon series, we want Howto strive neighboring to be people is a reflectionwho look atof theand world expression like of theJesus Gospel. did and reflect him better. This curriculum will facilitate that process by asking questions, Wediving shared into scripturestories and and listened giving youto stories. ideas of Wehow threw to live ideas it out at practically. the whiteboard. We wrestled with scripture and with one another. We sat around a table, ate together, prayed together, laughed together, shared blank stares together, wrote

6 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? / 4 INTRODUCTION

Who is my neighbor? And how do I love them?

The focus of Jesus’ time, energy, and teaching seemed to revolve around answering those two questions.

He slowed down for children, went out of his way to touch lepers, engaged with those who were religiously and culturally dierent, elevated women, and showed honor to those who had been pushed to the margins. He ate with tax collectors and political rebels, religious people and prostitutes, sinners and saints, rich and poor.

People who looked nothing like Jesus, liked Jesus. Can the same be said of his followers?

The Church is meant to be the body of Christ; we are the hands and feet of Jesus to the world today. When people encounter us, do they encounter Jesus? When people think about us, what does it tell them about Jesus?

When you think about the neighbors in your circles, think of those you encounter in the following places:

8 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? / 5 • Geographical neighbors: where you live. • Marketplace neighbors: where you work. • Social neighbors: where you play - school, gym, coeehouse, etc.

How can you practically show them the love and life of Jesus?

As we walk through this sermon series, we want to strive to be people who look at the world like Jesus didit and reminds reflect us himthat webetter. are noThis better curriculum or worse Who Is My Neighbor? will facilitatethan that our process“neighbors.” by asking questions, diving 2.into We the choose scriptures, to listen and to andgiving learn you from ideas our of how to itneighborhoodlive reminds it out us practically. that history. we are This While no has better you included orcan worse use Who Is My Neighbor? this book thanlisteningon your our “neighbors.”toown, Chuck it is Brown, best engaged reading Chocolate within the context2. WeCity of choose and community. Washington to listen So, to at andjoin Home learn a small, and from listening group our and engageneighborhoodto the in storiesthis adventure and history. memories This of lovinghas of thoseincluded people in our like Jesus.listeningneighborhood. to Chuck Brown, reading Chocolate 3. CityWe choose and Washington to work, play, at Home go to, andschool, listening and tovolunteer the stories where and we memories live. of those in our 4. neighborhood.We choose to leave space in our daily lives

choose listen to 3. Weto be choose present to towork, those play, around go to us. school, That mayand volunteerbe as simple where as leaving we live. our front door open, 4. Weto accepting choose to invitations leave space to cook in our outs/parties/ daily lives

choose listen to tochurch be present events/etc, to those to smiling around and us. sayingThat may hello beto ALL as simple our neighbors. as leaving our front door open, to accepting invitations to cook outs/parties/ Sometimeschurch weevents/etc, are good to neighbors, smiling and and saying hello sometimesto ALL weour areneighbors. not. Thankfully his mercies are new every morning, especially for us! WON’TNational YOU Community BE MY NEIGHBOR? Church / 9 / 6 Sometimes we are good neighbors, and sometimes we are not. Thankfully his mercies are new every morning, especially for us! Resources

ResourcesWHO IS MY NEIGHBOR by Wayne Gordon

LEROYWHO IS BARBER MY NEIGHBOR ON “BELOVED COMMUNITY” http://qideas.org/videos/beloved-community/by Wayne Gordon

LEROYTHE NEW BARBER PARISH: ON HOW “BELOVED NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY” CHURCHES ARE http://qideas.org/videos/beloved-community/TRANSFORMING MISSION, DISCIPLESHIP AND COMMUNITY by Paul Sparks

THE NEW PARISH: HOW NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCHES ARE TRANSFORMING MISSION, DISCIPLESHIP AND COMMUNITY by Paul Sparks National Community Church / 19

National Community Church / 19 1 WHO IS MY ? NEIGHBOR

What speaks loudest in our lives? If it’s not love, it’s just noise. We have to become great at the Great Commandment. Our love for Jesus will be defined by and reflected by our love for others. ? ? ? ?

12 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?

Engage

Have we made God’s story boring? Jesus was a master storyteller. He was whimsical and profound, inviting and compelling, relevant and Changing The Narrative timeless. We often use the word “Gospel” to refer to his teaching, life, and death and resurrection. Although it is used primarily as a religious word in our context, it was once a word that simply meant “breaking news” or “good news.” It was the kind of story that grabbed the headline above the fold.

Today, we often communicate the Gospel like this: “Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. But if you don’t follow the plan, you will burn in hell forever.” It’s doubtful that any of us have used those specific words (at least in the second part) but it’s essentially what we have often communicated. That’s not likely to sound like “good” news to most people. We have reduced the Gospel to a story that is condemning, truncated, and anemic. We need to change the narrative.

The Gospel is not a set of statements that we give mental assent to. It is not an eternal fire insurance policy. It is not a means of forcing people into moral conformity through scare tactics.

At its core, the Gospel does not present a set of rules to live by but proposes a calling to live for.

Part of the problem with our stories is that we have reduced the story of God to something like this: Adam and Eve sinned. Jesus died to make it right. We acknowledge sin and point to redemption but it keeps the story centered around us. We forget what came before and what comes after.

God’s Story In the beginning, God. He references himself over 30 times in the opening chapter of Genesis alone as if to declare this is his story and it’s ultimately about him. Both author and protagonist. In the

National Community Church / 27

Read Who Is My Neighbor?

“‘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 neighbor as yourself.’” Luke 10:27

Read Luke 10:25-37 (Parable of the Good Samaritan) ......

NationalWON’T YOUCommunity BE MY ChurchNEIGHBOR? / 13 / 8 Engage Who Is My Neighbor?

The Parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the most well-known and loved stories of Jesus. But have we slowed down and considered the diculty of Jesus’ teaching and our obedience to his words? To fully understand how shocking and revolutionary Jesus was, we have to pull back the curtain of our own western filters and get into the world of first-century Judaism.

A lawyer approached Jesus to ask what he must do to inherit eternal life. In true Jewish teaching form, Jesus responded with a question. “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” Jesus asked. He was far more interested in asking the right question than in giving a quick answer. As we engage our faith with others, perhaps we should follow the way of Jesus by asking more compelling and inviting questions rather than giving quick and easy answers.

The lawyer quoted two passages from the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 6:5 (“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul”) and Leviticus 19:18 (“love your neighbor as yourself”).

The first thing that is important to note is the intent of the original language. We often interpret Leviticus 19:18 something like this: “I need to love other people as much as I love myself.” That leads to sermons about the importance of loving ourselves well and growing in our emotional health. However, the verse would more accurately be read as follows: “love your neighbor who is like you.”

Second, we must understand the Jewish way of interpreting scripture through scripture. The lawyer answers Jesus’ question by quoting two verses. Specifically, the lawyer is interpreting Deuteronomy 5 with Leviticus 19:18. We tend to stack those in a hierarchy of prioritization: first, love God. Then, love others. However, the lawyer essentially said “to inherit eternal life, I must love God. But the way I do that . . . love a God that I have never seen and do not have the capacity to see . . . is by loving the one I can see. I love God by loving my neighbor— the

NationalWON’T YOUCommunity BE MY ChurchNEIGHBOR? / 15 / 9 one who is made in his image but still like me. I love the unseen by loving the seen.

It’s not that we love God and love our neighbor. It’s that we love God by loving our neighbor.

We don’t separately maintain a vertical relationship with God and a horizontal relationship with others. Rather, we grow our vertical relationship with God by growing our horizontal relationship with others.

Jesus armed that the lawyer’s interpretation was correct. We only love God to the extent to which we love our neighbor.

Then the lawyer drops his follow-up question: “But who is my neighbor?” He was drawing a circle around who is “in” and who is out “out.” Who must I love? Who counts?

Jesus responded with a story. And the story drew the circle wider than anyone would have imagined possible. It was beyond stretching; it was scandalous.

Jesus turned the world upside down in a number of ways, but one of his most shocking commands was to love even our enemies.

To say that Samaritans and Jews were enemies is an understatement. There was a long and painful history of religious hostility, political betrayal, and cultural diˆerence. To get from Galilee to Jerusalem, most Jewish pilgrims would take a two-day detour simply to avoid going through Samaria.

Jesus made the Samaritan the hero of the story.

The man went the extra mile. The terrain of the Jericho road was not like driving on the interstate. It was eighteen miles of mostly barren and rocky desert terrain. In the time of Jesus, it was known as “The

16 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? / 10 Way of Blood” because of the frequent robberies that occurred on its path. Helping the injured man made the journey far more dicult for the Samaritan and it exposed him to even greater risk. Who Is My Neighbor?

Not only did the Samaritan treat the injured man with costly oil and wine, he also paid for the man’s stay and promised to reimburse any extra expenses. The Samaritan pulled the equivalent of two days pay out of his pocket to give to the innkeeper. This was not like handing o a couple of bucks to a friend; this was a major investment made on behalf of a total stranger.

When Jesus asked the lawyer, “Who was the neighbor?,” the lawyer simply said “the one who showed mercy.” He didn’t say “The Samaritan” but defined the man by his action. To be a neighbor is to show mercy even to your enemy.

Jesus responded: Go and do likewise.

When we encounter people, we are confronted with a choice: to walk away or to love.

Who is your neighbor? How have you defined it? How wide is your circle? How wide would Jesus draw your circle?

How have you loved them?

To whom have we shown mercy?

Over the next several weeks, we will continually come back to the choice: do we love or do we walk away. We will explore, experiment, and allow ourselves to be stretched. None of us has fully comprehended or perfected Jesus’ command, and we are all in di erent places. So let’s walk together in humility, with grace, and a healthy sense of adventure as we seek to follow the path of Jesus.

Go and do likewise.

NationalWON’T YOUCommunity BE MY ChurchNEIGHBOR? / 17 / 11 Activate fill out your map

+ Neighbor Map

Who is my neighbor? Pick a community you are part of and fill out the neighboring map. Start with writing everyone’s name down that you know. Ask yourself, do you know them? Then, do you know one thing about them? Some examples might be, my co-worker plays basketball after work, or my neighbor lives with her husband and three kids, ages 10, 12, and 15. Next, do you know one personal thing about each individual (such as, my co-worker lost their parent to cancer last year, or my neighbor is thinking of adopting). Write all of these in. The goal of this exercise is for you to get a sense of which neighbors you know, and which neighbors you may still need to get to know. This can become a tool you add to as you get a better sense of the of “neighborhoods” might include: Kids Class/Play, Home, Work, Gym,

Activate Challenge

Take a walk through your neighborhood and take note of who lives where. When you return home, use the space below to create a simple neighbor- hood map, labeling each home with family names and as much details as your want to include.

18 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? / 12 it reminds us that we are no better or worse Who Is My Neighbor? than our “neighbors.” 2. We choose to listen to and learn from our itneighborhood reminds us that history. we are This no has better included or worse Who Is My Neighbor? thanlistening our “neighbors.”to Chuck Brown, reading Chocolate 2. WeCity choose and Washington to listen to at and Home learn, and from listening our neighborhoodto the stories and history. memories This has of thoseincluded in our listeningneighborhood. to Chuck Brown, reading Chocolate 3. CityWe choose and Washington to work, play, at Home go to, andschool, listening and tovolunteer the stories where and we memories live. of those in our 4. neighborhood.We choose to leave space in our daily lives

choose listen to 3. Weto be choose present to towork, those play, around go to us. school, That mayand volunteerbe as simple where as leaving we live. our front door open, 4. Weto accepting choose to invitations leave space to cook in our outs/parties/ daily lives

choose listen to tochurch be present events/etc, to those to smiling around and us. sayingThat may hello beto ALL as simple our neighbors. as leaving our front door open, to accepting invitations to cook outs/parties/ Sometimeschurch weevents/etc, are good to neighbors, smiling and and saying hello sometimesto ALL weour areneighbors. not. Thankfully his mercies are new every morning, especially for us! Sometimes we are good neighbors, and sometimes we are not. Thankfully his mercies are new every morning, especially for us! Resources

ResourcesWHO IS MY NEIGHBOR by Wayne Gordon

LEROYWHO IS BARBER MY NEIGHBOR ON “BELOVED COMMUNITY” http://qideas.org/videos/beloved-community/by Wayne Gordon

LEROYTHE NEW BARBER PARISH: ON HOW “BELOVED NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY” CHURCHES ARE http://qideas.org/videos/beloved-community/TRANSFORMING MISSION, DISCIPLESHIP AND COMMUNITY by Paul Sparks

THE NEW PARISH: HOW NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCHES ARE TRANSFORMING MISSION, DISCIPLESHIP AND COMMUNITY by Paul Sparks National Community Church / 19

National Community Church / 19

profile

Listen + Learn Changing The Narrative isten + Learn is an opportunity to gather around a resettled refugee family as they share about their experiences and teach L us to make a delicious dish from their country. These are intimate gatherings designed for interactive learning, candid conversation and honest curiosity. A safe space is created to 18 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? / 13 hear their stories, to listen as they share their experiences, their hopes, and their dreams. In a noisy world, we rarely get space to know the stories of our neighbors, to learn from what they have walked through, to taste what has been meaningful in their lives. These opportunities to share our stories with one another—whether you are a chef from Syria, a family from DR Congo, or a 20-something on the Hill—are precious. Hearing someone else’s story allows us to see God at work in someone’s life, thereby showing us another dimension of his character.

Resources

LATASHA MORRISON ON “RACIAL TENSION, RECONCILIATION, AND THE CHURCH” https://youtu.be/tg8TuQNCIPc

NEIGHBORHOOD MAPPING by Dr. John Fuder and Ray Bakke

National Community Church / 33 2 ChangingCHANGING theTHE NarrativeNARRATIVE Jesus will build his church and the Holy Spirit empowers us to play a role. When we know the story of God and listen to the stories around us, it helps us understand better the part that God is inviting us to play.

24 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? Read Changing The Narrative “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Revelation 12:11a ......

NationalWON’T CommunityYOU BE MY ChurchNEIGHBOR? / 25 / 15 Engage

HaveEngage we made God’s story boring? Jesus was a master storyteller. He was whimsical and profound, inviting and compelling, relevant and Changing The Narrative timeless.Have we Wemade often God’s use story the wordboring? “Gospel” Jesus wasto refer a master to his storyteller.teaching, life, He was whimsical and profound, inviting and compelling, relevant and and death and resurrection. Although it is used primarily as a religious Changing The Narrative wordtimeless. in our We context, often use it was the onceword a“Gospel” word that to simplyrefer to meant his teaching, “breaking life, news”and death or “good and resurrection. news.” It was Although the kind itof is story used that primarily grabbed as athe religious headlineword in our above context, the fold. it was once a word that simply meant “breaking news” or “good news.” It was the kind of story that grabbed the At The Springs we often say, Christianity is not a religion, it’s a Today,headline we above often thecommunicate fold. the Gospel like this: “Jesus loves you relationship. Not only are we saying that following Jesus is signified and has a wonderful plan for your life. But if you don’t follow the plan, by a personal relationship with him, but we are also saying that when youToday, will we burn often in hell communicate forever.” It’s the doubtful Gospel that like any this: of “Jesus us have loves used you andwe basehas a our wonderful Christianity plan on for a your religion life. thatBut ifit youis often don’t lived follow out the by plan,the thoserules, specificit encourages words condemnation,(at least in the secondfailure and part) fear but of it’s hell. essentially In other you will burn in hell forever.” It’s doubtful that any of us have used whatwords, we when have our often Christianity communicated. is based That’s on religion, not likely then to soundit becomes like those specific words (at least in the second part) but it’s essentially “good”performance-based, news to most whichpeople. can We only have lead reduced to feelings the Gospel of failure to and story what we have often communicated. That’s not likely to sound like thatfalling is condemning,short. But do truncated,we ever project and anemic. that onto We others? need to change the narrative.“good” news to most people. We have reduced the Gospel to a story thatWhen is condemning,we project performance-based truncated, and anemic. living We(religion), need towe change reduce the the Thenarrative.Gospel Gospel to a isstory not thata set is of condemning statements andthat anemic.we give Wemental need assent to to. It is not an eternal fire insurance policy. ItThe is notGospel a means is not of a forcingset of statements people into that moral we conformitygive mental through assent to. scareIt is not tactics. an eternal fire insurance policy. It is not a means of forcing people into moral conformity through scare At its tactics. core, the Gospel does not present a set of rules to live by but proposes a calling to live for. At its core, the Gospel does not present a set of rules Part to oflive the by problem but proposes with our stories a calling is that to we live have for. reduced the story of God to something like this: Adam and Eve sinned. Jesus died to makePart of it the right. problem We acknowledge with our stories sin and is that point we to have redemption reduced but the it story keepsof God the to somethingstory centered like this:around Adam us. andWe forgetEve sinned. what cameJesus beforedied to and whatmake comes it right. after. We acknowledge sin and point to redemption but it keeps the story centered around us. We forget what came before and God’swhat comes Story after. In the beginning, God. He references himself over 30 times in the openingGod’s Storychapter of Genesis alone as if to declare this is his story andIn the it’s beginning, ultimately God.about He him. references Both author himself and overprotagonist. 30 times In in the the opening chapter of Genesis alone as if to declare this is his story and it’s ultimately about him. Both author andNational protagonist. Community In Church the / 27

NationalWON’T CommunityYOU BE MY ChurchNEIGHBOR? / 27 / 16 beginning, he created, and it was all good. And he made people in his image. The starting point for loving our neighbors is to remember that every person you meet is an image-bearer.

In the end, God will create a new heaven and new earth. Everything will be restored to its original goodness. We are invited to play a role in that restoration work.

The story begins with creation and ends with new creation. It begins with the image of God and ends with the revealed glory of God. It begins with us walking in perfect communion with him and ends with us ruling in eternity with him.

When we remember how the story begins and ends, we find connection points with our own individual stories. When we remember the author and the protagonist of the story, we better understand our place and role in it.

It’s a story of bondage to liberation. It’s a story of isolation to reconciliation. It’s a story of darkness to light and good defeating evil.

And the story was told over and over again. The entire book of Deuteronomy was a retelling of the story of bondage to liberation. Before Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land, he told them the story of deliverance again. When the priests rediscovered the book of the law in the temple, King Josiah had it read aloud to the entire nation of Judah. Ezra read the story out loud to the exiles returning from Babylon.

The story of God reminded people who they were, whose they were, where they were going, why they were going there, and how they were supposed to live once they arrived.

It reminded them they were no longer enslaved, but free. They were no longer isolated, but connected. They were no longer walking in darkness, but light. God was not far, but near.

28 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? / 17 In the New Testament, the early followers of Jesus pointed to the continuing story of God as evidence that Jesus was God in flesh and his message was worth repeating.

When Stephen, the first martyr, was questioned about why he Changing The Narrative followed Jesus, he didn’t respond with theology but with the story of God.

How well do we know the story of God? Are we able to tell the story of God?

Your Story In addition to the story that God is writing throughout human history on a global scale, what narrative is he writing in your life? When are the moments where he has shown up and showed o ? Where he has given you a glimpse of his character? When you have heard the inaudible but unmistakable voice of God? When you have been covered by his grace and shielded by his mercy? When has he invaded the reality of your existence? When has he invited you to partner with him in the work he is doing around the world?

John 9 tells the story of a man who was blind from birth. When Jesus healed him, the religious leaders demanded the healed man settle their theological questions about Jesus’ identity. Instead, he responded, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I do not know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see.”

When Paul was dragged before King Agrippa to defend his teachings, he didn’t give a sermon; he told his story of meeting Jesus on the Damascus road. When Paul explained his ministry to the church in the book of Galatians, he told the story of how he encountered Jesus. Like Stephen, he didn’t defend himself with theology but with testimony.

NationalWON’T Community YOU BE MY Church NEIGHBOR? / 29 / 18 We all have a story to tell about the work God has done in our lives.

A story of moving from bondage to liberation. From isolation to connection. From fear to faith. From darkness to light. From brokenness to restoration.

When we tell our stories, do we make them compelling, inviting, and relevant? Compelling stories cause people to lean in and listen more. Inviting stories give people a role to play. Relevant stories makes sense in the world we live in.

Our Prayers Changing the narrative begins with knowing the big story of God. It becomes personal when we know the chapters he is writing in our own lives, but it is fueled by prayer.

Walter Wink said, “History belongs to the intercessors.” Those who pray don’t simply sit by and watch history happen. They make history happen. When you consider the role that prayer plays in your life, have you recognized that it is the fuel that drives the plot forward?

As you engage the story of God within the world around you, pray the plot forward.

Pray with others. Pray through the scriptures. Keep a prayer journal.

And remember to give God thanks when the answers come.

profile 30 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? / 19 Thanksgiving Meals at NCC: DC Friendsgiving Meal, Alexandria’s Gratitude Table

very November NCCers and non NCCers Bringing Them To The Table alike gather around well laid tables Eand enjoy a homemade meal gifted by volunteers all over DC and Northern Virginia. Some of the men and women at these tables are housed, but a majority are experiencing homelessness. As each guest enters into the room, their name is announced to cheers and hugs as they are escorted to their seat. These Thanksgiving meals are a time to celebrate as a community, to enjoy good food and conversation, and to take some time to intentionally honor and encourage those in our community who may be experiencing homelessness. One such guest shared, “I love coming to the Alexandria’s Gratitude Table because it felt like being home on Thanksgiving.”

Resources

RECONCILE A BIGGER TABLE by John Paul Lederach by John Pavlovitz

National Community Church / 45 Intersecting the Stories of Others One final thought. Changing the narrative means we have to know, understand, and appreciate the stories around us so that we can contextualize the story of God within them. We cannot be relevant if we don’t understand the groundwork God has already done in Changing The Narrative our midst. We cannot be inviting if we don’t first demonstrate the humility of an insatiable curiosity. We can’t be compelling if we aren’t interested in the stories of others.

What is the history of our neighborhood? Of our neighbors? Of our workplaces?

Where has God already been at work? How can we make the story of God relevant to the stories of those around us? How does the story of God change our narrative and the narratives around us?

NationalWON’T YOUCommunity BE MY ChurchNEIGHBOR? / 31 / 20 Activate

+ Share your story in your group. How has God been working in your life? + Learn the story of your neighborhood. Who can you ask about the history of your community? Take time to listen to the context you live in. + Prayer walk your neighborhood. + Create a Neighborhood 101:

• Who has been in my community the longest?

• How was my community developed?

• What was on this land before my house or apartment?

• How has my community changed over the years?

• Why has it changed?

32 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? / 21 profile

Listen + Learn Changing The Narrative isten + Learn is an opportunity to gather around a resettled refugee family as they Lshare about their experiences and teach us to make a delicious dish from their country. These are intimate gatherings designed for interactive learning, candid conversation and honest curiosity. A safe space is created to hear their stories, to listen as they share their experiences, their hopes, and their dreams. In a noisy world, we rarely get space to know the stories of our neighbors, to learn from what they have walked through, to taste what has been meaningful in their lives. These opportunities to share our stories with one another—whether you Activateare Challenge a chef from Syria, a family from DR Congo, or a 20-something on the Hill—are precious. Start a conversationHearing with a someoneneighbor, else’s preferably story allows one youus to don’t see know very well. Spend twice as much time listening as you do talking. Learn God at work in someone’s life, thereby showing as much about them as you can. Don’t be weird, but be interested! Ask Changing The Narrative questions about theirus story,another how dimension they’ve of weathered his character. the pandemic or how you can pray for them moving forward.

Resources

LATASHA MORRISON ON “RACIAL TENSION, RECONCILIATION, AND THE CHURCH” https://youtu.be/tg8TuQNCIPc

NEIGHBORHOOD MAPPING by Dr. John Fuder and Ray Bakke

National Community Church / 33

NationalWON’T YOUCommunity BE MY ChurchNEIGHBOR? / 33 / 22 3 BRINGING THEM TO THE TABLE

We are moving towards a day when we will all sit around the great table of God. How do our tables compare? And how can our tables become an environment in which relationships can begin and conversations can start to move people from our table to His? ...... 38 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? ...... Read

“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come Bringing Them To The Table in, so that my house will be full.’” Luke 14:23

Read Luke 14:15-24 (The Parable of the Great Banquet) ......

NationalWON’T CommunityYOU BE MY ChurchNEIGHBOR? / 39 / 24 Engage

The feast, the party, the table—these were the settings for some of the most powerful and pivotal moments of the life of Jesus. He loved the table. It’s where he spent time with tax collectors and zealots, Pharisees and prostitutes, wealthy women and influential men. At the table with Jesus, the powerful were confronted, the oppressed were Bringing Them To The Table uplifted, the outcasts were invited, the self-righteous were ridiculed and the seekers were given a glimpse of the kingdom of God.

We can’t miss the significance of the table.

He performed his first miracle at a wedding. He called Matthew to be his disciple and then Matthew threw a party so all his friends could meet Jesus. He invited himself to lunch at Zacchaeus’ house, and it changed the trajectory of Zacchaeus’ life. He ate with sinners and saints and religious insiders and social outcasts. After the resurrection, he appeared to the disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Before the disciples could meet him there, Jesus was already cooking breakfast. On the road to Emmaus, he revealed himself, not in his exposition of the Old Testament prophecies about him, but at the table.

SomethingSomething uniqueunique andand significantsignificant happenshappens aroundaround thethe table.table. It’sIt there thatshouldn’t we see be glimpses surprising of thatJesus communion and experience – one transformationof the two sacram likeents in noJesus other commanded environment. us toIt shouldn’t observe (thebe surprising other is baptism), that communion—one which has ofbeen the observedtwo sacraments by the thechurch church for itshas entire observed history for – its takes entire plac history—e takesaround place the table.around the table.

In Luke 14, we see Jesus, once again, around the table—this time, not of a tax collector, but a Pharisee. The conversation turns to the future feast in the Kingdom of God, and Jesus tells a rather provocative story. A nobleman planned a party and sent invitations. People turned him down for a variety of excuses—needing to inspect some recently purchased property, needing to test-drive some new oxen, and needing to go on a honeymoon. The excuses do seem a bit ridiculous. Or at least they lack any creativity or imagination. You purchased a field before inspecting it? You bought oxen without test-driving them?

NationalWON’T YOUCommunity BE MY ChurchNEIGHBOR? / 41 / 25 But we have all turned down party invites for less compelling reasons, so it’s a little dicult to understand the anger of the host. Here’s where we need to once again remove our own cultural filters and enter the world of first-century Middle Eastern culture.

In Middle Eastern culture, there were always two invitations issued. The first was issued a number of days in advance so the host could get a headcount. But it was more than just a “save the date.” It was a commitment. These were extravagant events. The meats and the wines would have been carefully selected and matched. The amount of food would have been meticulously calculated to ensure there would be enough. An accurate headcount was important.

Once the party was ready, a second invitation would be sent. A servant would be sent to declare, “dinner is ready, the table is set, it’s time to eat.” The servant would then escort the guests to the banquet. Often, the process of guests to the dinner would feel like a parade, accompanied by drums or musicians.

The guests were giving their excuses in the midst of the grand escort.

Now, when we read this story in light of the cultural backdrop, these excuses go beyond just being ridiculous. They are insulting.

The people listening to Jesus’ story would have recognized that these three excuses did not represent legitimate distractions or inconveniences that got in the way of something better. They didn’t even represent lame and pathetic attempts to get out of something they didn’t want to do. They were intentionally aimed at bringing public disgrace, dishonor, and humiliation to the host.

When the servant returned with this news, the master boiled over in anger. If we don’t understand the cultural context and what’s really behind these excuses, we assume that the master is just having a super sensitive moment. But this isn’t a guy who has gotten his feelings hurt because his buddies found something better to do that night. He had been publicly humiliated, and his anger would have been culturally understood and justified. While contemporary readers

42 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? / 26 may be shocked by the extent of the master’s anger, that would not have been shocking at all to Jesus’ original audience. What shocked the original audience was the way the master channeled his anger: not in retaliation, but an explosion of hospitality.

The master is angry at the aront to his character. So his response is: “Go fill my house.” He tells his servants to go get the poor, crippled, blind, and lame. Bringing Them To The Table

This is di­cult for us to understand, but in that society, the new invite list would be considered unclean. These weren’t just people who were uncomfortable to be around. You were compromising your reputation and your spiritual purity by sharing a table with them. And remember the audience. The Pharisees. The ones concerned about ritual purity and working so hard to preserve the right worship for God.

Jesus expanded the scope of what it meant to be a part of the family of God. hope was a couple of women who wouldn’t give The master invitedup the on people me or let that me were give up typically on myself. rejected Friends to have the places of honor at whohis table.are housed bring dierent things when you are on the street. I see it as a tree. The branches That is the heart ofand the leaves master. that In are the beautiful face of topublic look athumiliation, are he retaliated—with grace.people When who hisare hospitalityreally nice but was you rejected, can’t lean he extended it further. When heon was them. dishonored, Like leaves, he there honored is no strengththe least there. respected members of society.Some people try to help, but they like to be really showy in how much they care for you, saying, God loves a full house“look andat all a the diverse things table. I am doing Do our to help tables you.” reflect the table of the KingdomThey of are God? the trunk. Then there are the people Tenacious Friendship who are always there without expectation and Who are you bringingthey tonever the leave.table? These people are the roots, these people are tenacious friends. The goal of mentoring for me is to draw in women on the street and make sure they know and understand their value and worth. You have tunnel vision when on the street because you are just trying to survive and often your integrity gets compromised. If you give up on yourself, that is when homelessness becomesNationalWON’T permanent. CommunityYOU BE IMY want ChurchNEIGHBOR? / 43 / 27 these women to know, ‘I won’t give up on you and I won’t let you give up on you.’ ”

Resources

BRENÉ BROWN ON “THE POWER OF VULNERABILITY” https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability

LOVE DOES by Bob Go

National Community Church / 57 profile

Thanksgiving Meals at NCC: DC Friendsgiving Meal, Alexandria’s Gratitude Table

very November NCCers and non NCCers Bringing Them To The Table Activate alike gather around well laid tables Eand enjoy a homemade meal gifted by volunteers all over DC and Northern Virginia. + Share a meal withSome a neighboof the menr. andSome women ideas at might these be:tables are housed, but a majority are experiencing • homelessness. As each guest enters into the • Invite a neighborroom, over their for name a meal is announced or to hang to on cheers your front porch. • After a kids sportingand hugs event, as they grab are lunchescorted with to teammates.their seat. • Sit around a tableThese and Thanksgiving get to know meals one are anothe a timer. to • Plan a progressivecelebrate dinner as a in community, your neighborhood. to enjoy good food and conversation, and to take some time to intentionally honor and encourage those in our community who may be experiencing Activate Challengehomelessness. One such guest shared, “I love coming to the Alexandria’s Gratitude Table Intentional Investment + because it felt like being home on Thanksgiving.” Send a meal to a neighbor! Consider using a meal delivery service like GrubHub, Door Dash or Bite Squad. You can also prepare their favorite meal and deliver it to their home as safely as possible.

..Resources...... RECONCILE...... A BIGGER... TABLE...... by .John. Paul. Lederach...... by John. ..Pavlovitz...... National Community... Church.. ./ 45 ...... 44 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? / 28 4

TENACIOUS FRIENDSHIP

In the story of the paralyzed man on the mat, four men went to extremes to get their friends to Jesus. Tenacity, vulnerability, and bearing the burdens of others are essential components of being a neighbor. And the ultimate goal is to get them to Jesus.

50 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? Read

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:4

Read Mark 2:1-12 Tenacious Friendship (The Healing of the Paralytic) ......

NationalWON’T YOUCommunity BE MY ChurchNEIGHBOR? / 51 / 30 Engage

In the beginning, God created man in his own image, and it was very good. But God quickly stated that it was not good for man to be alone. We were created for community—with the capacity to know and be known, to see and be seen, to love and be loved. Throughout the story of God, we see the remarkable transforming potential of life in community. Aaron and Hur physically hold Moses during the battle with the Amalekites. Jonathan faithfully protects David. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego navigate life in Babylon together. Tenacious Friendship In all of these stories, we find that God’s direction, encouragement, correction, and strength often come to us through other people. Ecclesiastes 4 says, “two are better than one” and “a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Our relationship with God may be personal, but it is never private.

We were invited to encounter God and be changed by him within the context of community.

Few stories illustrate the power of community as much as one found in Mark 2. Jesus was teaching to a packed out, standing- room-only crowdcrown in Capernaum. When four friends arrived, carrying their paralyzed friend on a mat, they weren’t deterred by the crowd but were determined to get their friend to Jesus. They were so determined that they didn’t do what normal, rational people would do. They refused to sit quietly, wait patiently, and civilly wait for an audience with Jesus. They carried their friend to the roof, dug a hole in the roof, and lowered their friend at the feet of Jesus.

Can we slow that down for a moment? They carried him to the roof. They dug a hole in the roof. Not just a hole that would be annoying on a rainy day. This was a hole big enough to lower an entire grown man through. It took time, intentionality, and intensity. They excavated someone’s roof.

NationalWON’T CommunityYOU BE MY ChurchNEIGHBOR? / 53 / 31 While Jesus was teaching. Then they devised some sort of pulley system to lower the man through the roof, into the living room, in front of Jesus.

All eyes look to Jesus . . . then to the man . . . then to the four friends peering through the hole from the roof. And perhaps there is a sideways glance or two to the owner of the house (what was he thinking?)

Jesus looked up at the friends, saw their faith, and told the man on the mat, “Your sins are forgiven.” That unsettled the religious crowd, who questioned the brazenness (and blasphemy) of Jesus to be so presumptuous as to declare what only God has the authority to declare.

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus decided to perform a second miracle: “Pick up your mat and walk.”

The man walked out with new faith and new legs because of the faith of his four friends.

Andy Stanley said: “Your friends will determine the quality and direction of your life.” The man walked out that day with new legs and a new identity because of the faith of his friends. Show me who is surrounding you, who has the loudest voice in your life, whose opinion matters most—and I can show you where you are heading. And thethat best best friends friends change change us us in in the the best best way way by by getting getting us us to to Jesus. Jesus.

The kind of friendship we see in this story changes, stretches, heals, and transforms. This story forces us to ask the questions:

Whose faith is changing your life? Whose life is being changed by your faith?

Someone else’s miracle may be on the other side of your faith. Someone else’s miracle may be on the other side of your prayers. On the other side of your risks, your encouragement, your checkbook, your inconvenience.

54 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? / 32 Finally, this story demonstrates that community can show the world a Finally,picture thisof Jesus. story demonstrates that community can show the world a picture of Jesus. We read in verse 12, “He got up, took his mat and walked out in full Weview read of them in verse all. This 12, “He amazed got up, everyone took his and mat they and praisedwalked God,out in saying, full view‘We have of them never all. seen This amazedanything everyone like this!’” and they praised God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’” The result of the friendship between these four men was The result of the friendship between these four men was Not just that they supported . . . Not just that they supportedtransformed ...... Tenacious Friendship Not just that they transformed . . . Tenacious Friendship But they set the stage for Jesus to show up and show o„ in a big way. ButTheir they friendship set the allowedstage for Jesus Jesus to to show show something up and show of his o„ character in a big way. Theirand his friendship power and allowed his compassion. Jesus to show Even something his humor. of his character and his power and his compassion. Even his humor. They unleashed a proclamation of the Gospel. They unleashed a proclamation of the Gospel. Author and theologian Francis Schae„er referred to community AuthorasIn Johnthe “final and 17:20-21, theologian apologetic.” Jesus’ Francis prayed Apologetics Schae„er not just is afor referredbranch his disciples of to theology community but for that every asisbeliever, concerned the “final including apologetic.” with defending you and Apologetics me, the and historicity, specifically, is a branch veracity, heof theologyprayed authority, that that and we isreliabilitywould concerned be ofone, scripture with just defending as andhe and our the thefaith. historicity,Father At the were end veracity, one.of every In authority, other logical words, andproof, he prayed we would have unity which we all know is best expressed in reliabilityhowever, ofSchae„er scripture contends and our thatfaith. the At theultimate end ofand every most logical compelling proof, friendship and community with others. When we have that type of proof of our faith is found in Jesus’ prayer in John 17:20-21, “My however,unity, then Schae„er the world contends can see thethat heart the ultimate of our Father and most God. compelling proofprayer of is our not faith for them is found alone. in Jesus’I pray alsoprayer for in those John who 17:20-21, will believe “My in prayerme“My through prayer is not istheir for not them message,for them alone. alone. that I pray all I pray alsoof them alsofor those may for those be who one, whowill Father, believe will believe just in measin meyou through through are in their me their andmessage, message, I am in that you. that all May all of of themthey them alsomay may bebe be inone, one,us soFather, Fath thater, thejust just asworld you may are believein me and that I am you in have you. sentMay me.they Ialso have be given in us them so that the the glory world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory worldthat you may gave believe me, thatthat theyyou havemay besent one me. as Iwe have are given one—I them in them the gloryand that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – I in them you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the thatand you gavein me me, – so that that they they may may be be one brought as we to are complete one—I in unity. them Then and youworldthe worldin willme—so knowwill know that that they thatyou may yousent sentbe me brought andme andhave to have completeloved loved them unity.them even Theneven as you asthe worldhaveyou have loved will lovedknow me.” me.”that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” It is an echo of John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one Itanother. is an echo As I ofhave John loved 13:34-35, you, so “A you new must command love one I give another. you: Love By this one another.everyone As will I have know loved that youyou, are so youmy disciples, must love if one you another.love one By another.” this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” What if people around us were compelled to follow Jesus because of What if people around us were compelled to follow Jesus because of National Community Church / 55

NationalWON’T CommunityYOU BE MY Church NEIGHBOR? / 55 / 33 the way we loved one another?

When it comes to our friendships, are we willing to move past convenience to commitment? Are we willing to measure the value of the friendship by what we bring to it and not what we get out of it? Are lives being transformed because the faith we live out together?

Friendship invites the awkward. But the awkward initiates miracles.

Friendship is hard work. But the hard work brings transformation.

Friendship reflects and refines our faith. And that faith changes the world around us. Activate

+ Who are you investing in and who is investing in you? + Reach out to a friend you haven’t met with in a while and reconnect. + Be intentional about asking your friends how you can be praying for them and sharing how they can be praying for you.

Activate Challenge

Invest in someone personally. Go above and beyond to bless them. During recent conversations with people in your neighborhood, you’ve probably discovered some things they’re passionate about. Find a way to fuel their passion! What would bring a smile to the faces of the people on your street? What is one small thing you could do that would make your neigh- borhood a better place?

56 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? / 34 hope was a couple of women who wouldn’t give up on me or let me give up on myself. Friends who are housed bring dierent things when you are on the street. I see it as a tree. The branches and leaves that are beautiful to look at are people who are really nice but you can’t lean on them. Like leaves, there is no strength there. Some people try to help, but they like to be really showy in how much they care for you, saying, “look at all the things I am doing to help you.” They are the trunk. Then there are the people Tenacious Friendship who are always there without expectation and they never leave. These people are the roots, these people are tenacious friends. The goal of mentoring for me is to draw in women on the street and make sure they know and understand their value and worth. You have tunnel vision when on the street because you are just trying to survive and often your integrity gets compromised. If you give up on yourself, that is when homelessness becomes permanent. I want these women to know, ‘I won’t give up on you and I won’t let you give up on you.’ ”

Resources

BRENÉ BROWN ON “THE POWER OF VULNERABILITY” https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability

LOVE DOES by Bob Go

National Community Church / 57

18 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? / 35 5 THROWING BETTER PARTIES

Jesus spent time with Pharisees and with tax collectors, and he o ended them both. Celebrations have always been a part of the story of God, and Jesus claimed to be the ultimate giver of abundant life. We need to develop a healthy theology of fun.

62 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? Read

“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.” Matthew 9:10

Read Matthew 9:9-13 (The Calling of Matthew) Throwing Better Parties ......

NationalWON’T CommunityYOU BE MY ChurchNEIGHBOR? / 63 / 37 Engage

The New Testament seems to indicate that Jesus enjoyed a good party and was fun to be around. In fact, Jesus went public with his ministry at a party when he decided to turn water into wine. Not just a glass of wine, but six jars worth. Each jar held 20 gallons, which means Jesus changed the molecular structure of 120 gallons of water to produce 120 gallons of wine. Jesus didn’t just attend the party, he breathed the life back into it. Throughout his ministry, Jesus and his disciples were accused of being gluttons and drunkards, and the Pharisees chided Jesus for associating with tax collectors and sinners. His approach seemed to stand in direct contrast with his cousin John the Baptist, who seemed to practice temperance and abstinence. Throwing Better Parties

Perhaps the most famous party Jesus attended was one at the house of Matthew. But to fully appreciate the story, we have to back up and try to enter the world of first-century Judaism.

Matthew was a tax collector. If there was anyone the Jewish people didn’t want to associate with, it was the tax collector. Not because they were nerdy accountant types. But because they were considered to be traitors to their own people. Standard taxes were set by the empire, and Rome hired locals to collect them. However, the standard rates were not published and known only to the collectors, so people like Matthew would overcharge and skim profits o† the top. The system was called “tax farming” and was riddled with bribery, corruption, and economic injustice. Tax collectors in the first century cheated their own people and profited from Roman occupation. The words “tax collector” and “sinner” were synonymous in the minds of Jewish people. They were “unclean.” They were unwanted, marginalized, and pushed out of view, but Jesus recognized they were created in the image of God. He obliterated the lines of divide and invited him to play a role in his mission.

When Jesus called Matthew to be his disciple, it was shocking. And Matthew threw a party to celebrate. Jesus ate and drank and laughed

NationalWON’T CommunityYOU BE MY Church NEIGHBOR? / 65 / 38 with all of Matthew’s unclean, tax-collecting, Roman-sympathizing, sinner friends.

And the religious crowd complained.

Jesus responded: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Essentially, Jesus told them to go take a close examination of their own teachings. What does mercy look like?

Jesus didn’t just hang out at the synagogue and invite people to come listen. He stepped right into their world, their workplaces, and their homes to do life with them.

When Matthew left his life of tax collecting, he didn’t leave his friends behind. He threw a big party so his friends could come face-to-face with Jesus, as well. Jesus doesn’t seem to hold his nose and endure it for the sake of an evangelistic opportunity. He genuinely enjoys being with people who are nothing like him.

Somewhere along the way, our contemporary Puritan-inspired western Christianity adopted a “no fun” policy. And yet throughout scripture, even in the Old Testament, God initiated and commanded celebration.

For example . . . • The Passover was their version of an Independence Day holiday. • The giving of the Ten Commandments was followed by the initiation of three annual festivals. • Leviticus 23 outlines seven di–erent holidays. • These celebrations were so important that they are described again in Numbers and Deuteronomy. • As the ancient Israelites entered one of the most di˜cult and trying seasons of their history in the wilderness wanderings, God gave them reason to celebrate and commanded that they celebrate.

66 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? / 39 Jesus’ particular devotion to Judaism is apparent in his regular observance of these festivals and holidays.

In Luke 15, Jesus mentions twice that a party breaks out in heaven when one person repents.

The gospels point to a Jesus who was magnetic and compelling. He liked people and wanted to be with them. And people who were nothing like Jesus liked Jesus, and they wanted to be with him.

Ironically, it seems that the very people who ran towards Jesus are the quickest to run away from his followers today.

Maybe it’s time for us to throw better parties. Throwing Better Parties

Who do we celebrate, what do we celebrate, when do we celebrate, and why do we celebrate? Are we inviting those closest to us to get a closer look at Jesus? Have we made the Gospel boring, irrelevant, or lifeless? Have we given people rules to live by instead of a calling to live for?

Throwing better parties isn’t about being reckless or pursuing empty and momentary pleasure. It’s about the joy, fulfillment, and gratification found in trusting the one who came to give us “life and life abundantly.”

In The Weight of Glory, C. S. Lewis said, “Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is o‰ered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the o‰er of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

When Jesus was confronted about going to a party with sinners, he responded, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” One dimension of showing mercy is to invite people in to environments and experiences where they can experience the life of Jesus.

NationalWON’T CommunityYOU BE MY ChurchNEIGHBOR? / 67 / 40 Activate

Throwing better parties starts with proximity. Spend some + Like any relationship, somebody has to risk time creating opportunities to meet new people and develop taking the first step. Here’s an idea—a pancake new relationships. breakfast. Invite one or more of your neighbors • Play in your frontover yard for pancakes (rather than and co
eeyour backyard) on a Saturday with your kids.morning. It’s cheap, easy, low commitment, • Walk to dinnerand or communicatesto do errands. your willingness to share • Take public transportationyour time, home, and and talk a mealto someone with people we along the wayguarantee. will be your new friends. • Organize a neighborhood event. • Join a communitySeveral garden. neighbors of ours, who were once • Sit on your frontstrangers, porch. continue to ask when the next breakfast is—years after they came to the first one. They can get pancakes anywhere, but a relationally Throwing Better Parties Activateconnected Challenge community can’t be bought. Invite a food truck or ice cream truck to your neighborhood” and pre-pay for everyone’s treats. Put an invite out to everyone in your neighborhood, asking them to gather within a 1-2 hour timeframe. Have some music playing and make a few new friends.

Resources

HAPPY HOUR: ETIQUETTE AND ADVICE ON HOLY MERRIMENT by Hugh Halter

BLOCK PARTY KIT: Restore Alexandria has put together a block party kit and an outdoor movie kit that you can use to host a neighborhood gathering. The block party kit comes with the basic things you might need to host a gathering, including chairs, tables, and coolers. The outdoor movie kit includes a 16-foot movie screen, projector, and sound Crossing cultures is never simple, but it’s easier equipment. There is also an option to add exciting things like popcorn,when we snow search cone, for or common cotton candy ground. machines. You might be Emailsurprised [email protected] by what God can fordo moreover information.a cup of tea. ” Find out how you can become involved at 68 / WON’T YOU BE MYthecrocuscollective.com. NEIGHBOR? WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? / 41 National Community Church / 69

Resources

The resources below come from a variety of sources and perspectives. They Crossing Cultures discuss the importance of crossing lines of division, but also are very open with the challenges we can face when we attempt to do so. You may agree with what’s shared, or you may not. Part of neighboring is being willing to listen to the perspectives and experiences of others who may not think like you. It may be worth taking time to ask yourself, what voices do you have in your life? Who wrote the last five books that you read? Or the last five podcasts you listened to? Or sat at your table? We hope the resources below challenge and help us continue to grow as a community.

“RACIAL JUSTICE PANEL DISCUSSION” AT THE JUSTICE CONFERENCE REV. OTIS MOSS, DR. SOONGCHAN RAH, REV. TRACI BLACKMON, DR. ARLOA SUTTER, PS MICHAEL MCBRIDE, GABRIEL SALGUERO­ https://vimeo.com/131112194

SHO BARAKA ON “THE GENTRIFCATION OF CHRISTIANITY” AT Q CONFERENCE http://qideas.org/videos/gentrification-of-christianity/

MARK CHARLES AT THE JUSTICE CONFERENCE https://vimeo.com/171579183

National Community Church / 83 6 CROSSING CULTURES

Crossing cultures can happen in the time it takes to cross a street, peer over to another cubicle, or glance over to the treadmill next to us. How do we close the gap? Neighboring well begins with facing our fears, leveling the walls of division, and suspending assumptions in favor of listening, understanding, and moving towards others.

74 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? Read

“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” Acts 15:19

Read Acts 15:1-35 (The Jerusalem Council) Crossing Cultures ......

NationalWON’T CommunityYOU BE MY ChurchNEIGHBOR? / 75 / 43 Engage

The events in Acts 15 were a turning point for the church. The earliest followers of Jesus were Jewish, so the early church was originally a sect of Judaism. They still circumcised, followed a strict diet, and celebrated Jewish holidays. Before long, the message of Jesus went beyond the circles of Judaism and the church leaders had to respond to the “Gentile question.” They needed to figure out how to “deal” with non-Jewish people who wanted to follow Jesus.

One faction, known as the Judaizers, couldn’t understand how you could follow a Jewish rabbi without becoming Jewish. They insisted that one must convert to Judaism and follow Jewish law in order to be a follower of Jesus.

Others, including Peter and Paul, attested to the work of God they Crossing Cultures had observed in many Gentile communities. Peter recounted the story of Cornelius and his entire family being filled with the Holy Spirit and baptized. Paul told of the churches that were springing up around Asia Minor.

The Holy Spirit was moving on uncircumcised, non-law-abiding, “unclean” Gentiles in unmistakable and significant ways.

When the Council of Jerusalem gathered in Acts 15 to seek a solution to the debate, they faced a number of questions:

Must you become culturally Jewish to be a follower of Jesus, or did Jesus’ message transcend culture? Did Church have to look like the natural gathering places of thethe Jews—like the Temple and the synagogue—or could it look like the Jews—like the Temple and the synagogue—or could it also look like natural gathering places of the Greeks, like their well-know themarketplaces? natural gathering places of the Greeks—like the marketplace of thePerhaps agora? Church could look different than anything they had Perhapsexperienced Church before. could look diŒerent than anything they had experienced before.

NationalWON’T YOUCommunity BE MY ChurchNEIGHBOR? / 77 / 44 The Jerusalem Council armed that God was clearly at work among non-Jewish people and concluded that the message of Jesus transcended culture. It seemed good to them and to the Holy Spirit that the good news of Jesus was for all people and all were welcome into the family of God—whether Jew or Greek, male or female, slave or free. Gentiles did not have to be circumcised in order to be followers of Jesus. The Council simply instructed them to avoid certain pagan rituals.

While the Jerusalem Council was a pivotal moment for the church and the message of Jesus, it was not the first time the Gospel had crossed cultures.

Jesus turned a Samaritan woman into the first evangelist, thereby crossing cultures of race, religion, and gender.

Jesus also engaged in theological debate and eventually healed the daughter of a Canaanite woman, once again blatantly crossing cultures.

Jesus declared that the faith of a Roman centurion was greater than anything he had observed in Israel. Those words would have provoked anger in his audience.

All of these moments were foreshadowings of the great mission Jesus would leave his followers in Acts 1:8, “be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” To make disciples of all nations.

We are commanded to take the timeless and transcendent message of Jesus across cultures; but we have to be careful that we ask people to embrace Jesus and not our culture.

Too often, we confuse the two. In 2000 years of church history, there have been many instances of failed stewardship in crossing cultures. Professed Christians have attempted to export culture over Gospel and to dominate rather than serve.

78 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? / 45 Walter Brueggemman challenged, “I believe the crisis in the U.S. church has almost nothing to do with being liberal or conservative; it has everything to do with giving up on the faith and discipline of our Christian baptism and settling for a common, generic, U.S. identity that is part patriotism, part consumerism, part violence, and part auence.”1

A few hundred years ago, crossing cultures often meant crossing oceans and geographic borders.

Today, crossing to a dierent culture can be as quick as crossing the street or popping into the adjacent cubicle. The physical journey is often much quicker than the emotional, spiritual, or intellectual journey. Here are a few thoughts to reflect on as you engage in cross cultures:

1. How do you fill the gaps? David Anderson said, “Distance Crossing Cultures demonizes.” The further away you stand from another ethnicity, religion, race, etc., the more likely you are to see that person as an enemy. Our dierences eclipse our similarities. When there are gaps in understanding, we are inclined to fill them with the worst possible explanations and scenarios. Instead, we should seek to fill them with grace. Be mindful of the assumptions you make and the conclusions you draw.

2. Recognize the range of diversity you encounter—political, socio- economic, ethnic, age, gender, religion. Be aware of what culture is the most oensive to you personally. The most di“cult for you to understand or empathize with. The most stretching to you. For some, having tea with a newly resettled refugee would be the most stretching. For others, having coee with a Trump voter in a collapsing, rural midwest town would be the most stretching. Are we willing to face our own fears and take a step toward someone we don’t understand?

3. Listen to understand, not to respond. Crossing cultures begins with listening. It’s about seeking to understand (not necessarily

1Brueggemann, Walter. A Way Other Than Our Own. John Knox Press, 2016. P. 3

NationalWON’T CommunityYOU BE MY ChurchNEIGHBOR? / 79 / 46 to agree) and to view the world from a dierent perspective. Ask good questions and lean in order to listen better and not to make your voice louder. It’s doubtful that many people (if any) made a decision to follow Jesus because they lost an argument. Rather, they were drawn into the compelling, inviting, intriguing message of the Gospel. Jesus spent more time asking questions than giving answers; perhaps we should do more of that, as well.

4. Act in humility, react in humility. Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself; rather, it means thinking of yourself less. It’s about making someone else’s highest good your highest priority. It’s about posturing ourselves as students and not saviors. Humility recognizes that there is something to be learned from everyone and something to celebrate about everyone. Perhaps most important, humility attracts the presence of God. Again, following Jesus isn’t about winning an argument; rather, it’s about inviting people to experience the presence of God......

80 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? / 47 Activate

+ Read by David Livermore and take the included free Cultural Q self-assessment. + Read Be the Bridge: Pursuing God's Heart for Racial Reconciliation by Latasha Morrison and take time to ask yourself di cult questions. Pause. Listen and process the current events surrounding our country. Instead of acting quickly, lets take time to slow down and challenge our thinking.

+ Take some time to intentionally engage with another culture. Some ideas could include: • Attend a cross-cultural event. • Ask a friend to share a meal from their culture and if they’d be willing to tell you some stories from their heritage. Then be willing to share your own stories and experiences as well. • learn and build relational bridges. Process this experience with Crossing Cultures your small group.

Activate Challenge

+ Bridge Building - Questions to Think About What is your first memory of becoming aware of race, thinking about race, or talking about race? What does that fact that you remember this experi- ence say about how racialized our society is?

Have you ever been in a room where you were the racial minority? For those of you who have, how did that make you feel? For those of you who haven’t, how do you feel about that, and what does that mean to you?

Be the Bridge: Pursuing God's Heart for Racial Reconciliation by Latasha Morrison ...... NationalWON’T YOUCommunity BE MY ChurchNEIGHBOR? / 81 / 48 Crossing cultures is never simple, but it’s easier when we search for common ground. You might be surprised by what God can do over a cup of tea. ” Find out how you can become involved at thecrocuscollective.com.

Resources

The resources below come from a variety of sources and perspectives. They Crossing Cultures discuss the importance of crossing lines of division, but also are very open with the challenges we can face when we attempt to do so. You may agree with what’s shared, or you may not. Part of neighboring is being willing to listen to the perspectives and experiences of others who may not think like you. It may be worth taking time to ask yourself, what voices do you have in your life? Who wrote the last five books that you read? Or the last five podcasts you listened to? Or sat at your table? We hope the resources below challenge and help us continue to grow as a community.

“RACIAL JUSTICE PANEL DISCUSSION” AT THE JUSTICE CONFERENCE REV. OTIS MOSS, DR. SOONGCHAN RAH, REV. TRACI BLACKMON, DR. ARLOA SUTTER, PS MICHAEL MCBRIDE, GABRIEL SALGUERO­ https://vimeo.com/131112194

SHO BARAKA ON “THE GENTRIFCATION OF CHRISTIANITY” AT Q CONFERENCE http://qideas.org/videos/gentrification-of-christianity/

MARK CHARLES AT THE JUSTICE CONFERENCE https://vimeo.com/171579183

National Community Church / 83

WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? / 49 21 7 CONTROLLING22 THE 23 CALENDAR 24 Jesus oriented his life around his priorities and he submitted his priorities to his mission. We have to make room for life with others to happen. Implementing rhythms that prioritize others, ruthlessly eliminate hurry, and empower presence will free us to engage intentionally and organically.

88 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? Read

“Jesus gave them this answer: ‘Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.’” John 5:19 ......

...... Controlling The Calendar ......

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God loves you and everyone else has a wonderful plan for your life. We have more time-saving technological conveniences today than ever before in the history of the world and yet we feel like we never have time for anything. We have machines that wash our clothes and our dishes, vehicles that transport us from place to place, computers to auto-schedule our bill payments, and groceries that will deliver on demand. And yet with all of that time saved, we seem to have less and less of it to invest elsewhere.

Jesus turned the world upside down in only three years. He moved from place to place at the speed of foot. Nothing was available on- demand.

Jesus was busy. But he was never in a hurry. He operated out of a sense of urgency but never seemed rushed. He had a task to accomplish but always seemed to put others first. He was very present and available but never out of unhealthy obligation. Controlling The Calendar

The key to Jesus’ ability to do all he did is found in John 5: “The Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.” (John 5:19b-20a)

Jesus only did what his Father asked him to do. He organized his priorities around obedience to the Father’s commands. He sought to fulfill the Father’s purposes and not the crowd’s expectations.

That means there were times when he withdrew from the crowds. There were times he didn’t heal everyone. There were moments he focused on the few while ignoring the fans.

He was able to be singularly focused on his purpose without hurry,

NationalWON’T YOUCommunity BE MY ChurchNEIGHBOR? / 91 / 52 rush, or burn-out because he submitted his priorities to the mission of the Father.

Titus 3:14 says, “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.”

Loving our neighbors well will not happen by accident. We must learn to devote ourselves to it.

It requires intentionality, planning, scheduling, and a commitment to boundaries. It means we have to ruthlessly eliminate hurry from our lives, orient our priorities around obedience to God, prioritize people, and create margin.

While Jesus lived in a diƒerent time and a diƒerent culture, there are principles from his life that are transferable and will help us create the margin we need to be present and life-giving neighbors.

First, he prayed. He would rise early in the morning to pray. He prayed all night before choosing his disciples. He was able to be about the Father’s business and focus his time on what the Father was telling him to do because he spent time listening to the Father. Prayer puts our time in perspective and orients our hearts and minds around the priorities of the Father. When we pray through our calendar, it shifts our mindsets and makes us more aware of what God might want to do throughout the course of our day. It helps us recognize the diƒerence between a distraction and a divine interruption.

We often think that we need to put Jesus at the top of an ever increasing and changing list of priorities. But that’s not exactly what Jesus asks or expects. Rather, he wants to be central to every priority in our lives.

Prayer invites him into that space.

Secondly, he didn’t just spend his time. He invested it. In Mark 1:36, Jesus’ disciples told him “everyone is looking for you.” Instead of

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He fled home after the death of his brother by local law enforcement. After encountering the life of Jesus, Dr. Perkins returned to his hometown with a message of reconciliation. He has spent his life writing, teaching and living this message, creating the John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation, which focuses on the holistic transformation of communities. Through his life and work, entire communities have been transformed spiritually and physically into places of hope. This August, NCC Youth will travel to Jackson, Mississippi, to learn from Dr. Perkins and to put some of his practices into action.

Living Dierently Resources

COMMUNITY RENEWAL bittersweetmonthly.com/stories/community-renewal

FOLLOW ME TO FREEDOM by John Perkins and Shane Claiborne

National Community Church / 107 being distracted by the urgent request in front of him, he chose beingto move distracted on to the by next the cityurgent in keeping request with in front his mission.of him, he Jesus chose tounderstood move on tothat the saying next city“no” in to keeping good things with hisfrees mission. us to sayJesus “yes” to understoodgreater things. that It’s saying about “no” choosing to good to thingscheat. freesThere us will to always say “yes” be tomore are the available for they shall receive divine greaterdemands things. on your It’s timeabout than choosing you have to cheat. the capacity There willto meet. always be more appointments.” I still regularly need that reminder demands on your time than you have the capacity to meet. as the hustle and bustle of DC life swirls around Someone or something will get cheated. me, tempting me to go o course. Programs Someone orin yoursomething life is not will going get cheated. to get all of the time with you that don’t transform communities, Christ-centered Someonethey want. in your life is not going to get all of the time with you that relationships do. Programs are simply access theySomeone want. in your life is not going to get your full attention. points for the building of mutually beneficial Someone isin notyour going life is to not get going the best to get of youryou. full attention. relationships. Someone is not going to get the best of you. Who is that going to be? ” Dawnielle and her friends moved into the Who is that going to be? Chirilagua neighborhood, with no agenda On the surface it sounds terrible. And maybe even unbiblical. beyond listening to the stories and wisdom of OnBut thecheating surface the it rightsounds people terrible. in the And right maybe way evenmight unbiblical. be the most their Latino neighbors. After two years of life in ButChrist-like cheating think the you right do people as a leader. in the Becauseright way Jesus might was be the a cheater. most He the neighborhood, they decided to respond to Christ-likewas not equally thingthink youavailable do as or a leader.accessible Because to everyone. Jesus was a cheater. He neighbors’ concerns about their kids’ academic was not equally available or accessible to everyone. progress, eventually establishing Casa Make sure you cheat wisely. Don’t cheat those closest to you because

Controlling The Calendar Chirilagua as a community of parents, sta
, Makethey are sure always you cheat there wisely.and most Don’t willingly cheat forgiving.those closest And todon’t you cheat because

Controlling The Calendar kids, and volunteers working together to see the theyyour areneighbor always because there and they most are willingly the ones forgiving. you can Andmost don’t quickly cheat forget. Kingdom of God established in their community. yourCheat neighbor wisely so because you have they the are margin the ones to see, you hear, can love,most andquickly be withforget.

Cheatthose aroundwisely soyou. you have the margin to see, hear, love, and be with Controlling The Calendar Find out how you can become involved at those around you. casachirilagua.org. Finally, Jesus observed life rhythms. He withdrew to spend time Finally,alone. He Jesus prioritized observed time life with rhythms. his closest He withdrew friends. Heto spend celebrated time the alone.weekly He Sabbath. prioritized Either time you with will his control closest your friends. calendar He celebratedor your calendar the weeklywill control Sabbath. you. Make Either sure you towill be control intentional your aboutcalendar times or yourfor rest calendar and willtime control for play; you. times Make for sureyour toclosest be intentional friends and about time times to make for rest new and timeones; for times play; for times you forand your times closest for others. friends and time to make new ones; times for you and times for others. Jesus also incorporated neighboring into his everyday life. How can Jesusyou include also incorporated someone in neighboringyour normal lifeinto rhythms? his everyday Inviting life. them How tocan Resources youdo life include with you someone as you in live your it? normalSometimes life rhythms? we need Inviting be intentional them to doabout life creatingwith you margin as you tolive neighbor it? Sometimes well. Other we need times, be we intentional just need aboutto recognize creating that margin bringing to neighbor someone well. along Other is a times,more naturalwe just and need REST OF GOD MAKING ROOM FOR LIFE by Mark Buchanan by Randy Frazee toorganic recognize way tothat be bringing a good neighbor.someone Askalong a neighboris a more ifnatural they want and to do organic way to be a good neighbor. Ask a neighbor if they want to do National Community Church / 93 NationalWON’T CommunityYOU BE MY ChurchNEIGHBOR? / 93 / 54

National Community Church / 95 GoGo Andand Dodo Likewiselikewise a grocery run with you (or if you can just pick something up for them). Invite someone to a movie night with your kids at your house. Take your late night conversations to the front porch. are the available for they shall receive divine appointments.” I still regularly need that reminder If we want to create space for community, we have to control our as the hustle and bustle of DC life swirls around calendars. Where do you need to take back your calendar? me, tempting me to go o course. Programs don’t transform communities, Christ-centered Activaterelationships do. Programs are simply access points for the building of mutually beneficial relationships. + Identify your calendar priorities: • Are they people or things?” Dawnielle and her friends moved into the • Reflect on whether or not you control your calendar or your Chirilagua neighborhood, with no agenda calendar controls you. beyond listening to the stories and wisdom of Create space on your schedule to just be in your community: + their Latino neighbors. After two years of life in • Hang out at work. the neighborhood, they decided to respond to • Spend time on your front porch. neighbors’ concerns about their kids’ academic • progress, eventually establishing Casa Celebrate the Sabbath with your neighbors: + Chirilagua as a community of parents, sta
, • Plan a potluck picnic with your neighbors. kids, and volunteers working together to see the • Invite your neighbors on a hike. Kingdom of God established in their community. • Plan a movie night.

Find out how you can become involved at Controlling The Calendar Activatecasachirilagua.org. Challenge

Identify your calendar priorities. Work them in first, then create space to simply be in your community with no real obligations. The more space you can create to dwell among the people around you, the more God will teach you to know and love them.

Resources

REST OF GOD MAKING ROOM FOR LIFE by Mark Buchanan by Randy Frazee

94 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? / 55

National Community Church / 95 8

LIVING DifferentlyDIFFERENTLY The early church garnered the attention of the ancient world because of the way they cared for people with grace and dignity. They cared for the sick, provided burial for the dead, fed the hungry, and clothed the naked. The church has the ability to influence the way the rest of the world cares for their neighbors.

100 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? Read

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:40

Read Matthew 25:31-46 (The Sheep and the Goats) ...... Living Dierently ......

NationalWON’T Community YOU BE MY Church NEIGHBOR? / 101 / 57 Engage

The first-century church caught the attention of the Roman Empire. But the recognition had very little to do with what the church believed. In fact, the pantheistic citizens of Rome often referred to the followers of Jesus as “godless” or “atheists” because believing in only one god seemed like a weak and anemic faith against the backdrop of the panoply of the gods of the Acropolis. Contrary to our contemporary notions of our distinctiveness being found in a set of belief statements we embrace, the attention paid to the early church had everything to do with what they did. They achieved a level of fame in the Roman Empire for the manner in which they extended mercy and care to one another and to their neighbors. Emperor Julian lamented, “It is a scandal . . . that the godless Galileans care not only for their own poor but for ours as well; while those who belong to us look in vain for the help that we should render them.”

Aristides, a second-century Athenian philosopher, noted how Christians were diƒerent from the rest of the population: they modeled fidelity, truthfulness, contentment, respect for parents, love for neighbors, purity, patience in the face of persecution, and kindness to strangers. They cared for widows and orphans and Living Dierently showed unusual kindness to slaves. They served the poor to the point of personal sacrifice. He concluded “ . . . because of them, good flows on in the world.”1

AtIn Lukethe beginning 4:18-21 and of atJesus’ the beginning ministry, he of stoodHis ministry, up in the Jesus synagogue read the and readprophecy from ofthe Isaiah Isaiah in scroll: Isaiah 61:1-2, as he stood up in the synagogue and read from the scroll:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

1Sittser, Gerald. Water From a Deep Well. Downers Grover: Intervarsity Press, 2007. p.54.

NationalWON’T Community YOU BE MY Church NEIGHBOR? / 103 / 58 He then sat down and said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled.”

When Jesus gave his very first mission statement, it didn’t focus on

Changing our beliefs Instituting a new covenant Dying on a cross Solving a sin problem

Rather, it focused on bringing freedom, giving sight, proclaiming good news.

Did he shake up belief systems, usher in a new covenant and turn the world upside down with his extraordinary sacrifice and unexpected, unprecedented resurrection? Absolutely. But it was about much more than fixing a personal sin problem; it was about restoring the world to its original goodness. It was about initiating a Kingdom.

When Jesus explained how he would reward the faithful in Matthew 25, he didn’t define faithfulness in terms of orthodoxy (how rightly someone believed) but in terms of orthopraxy (how rightly they lived).

What matters most is how you care for the least.

He even went so far as to teach that our eternal destination would be decided by the way we interact with others: “For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me; I was in prison and you visited Me.”

Jesus so deeply identified with the hungry, the thirsty, the sick, the naked, the prisoner, and the stranger that to love and serve them was synonymous with loving and serving Jesus himself.

We have to see Jesus’ face in the complicated, the needy, the hurting. That’s what it’s like to be in sync with his mission. When we see a friend experiencing homelessness, we can’t see a project, we have

104 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? / 59 to see Jesus. When we see a child who has been orphaned, we can’t tosee see someone Jesus. Whenwho is we unwanted, see a child we who have has to seebeen Jesus. orphaned, When we we can’t see seea someone someone seeking who is refuge, unwanted, we can’t we have see ato foreigner, see Jesus. we When have weto seesee aJesus. someone seeking refuge, we can’t see a foreigner, we have to see Jesus. Once again, Jesus teaches that our love for him is directly measured Oncein how again, we love Jesus others. teaches that our love for him is directly measured in how we love others. Jesus came not only to identify with people but to change their Jesusstories. came To bring not onlyfreedom to identify to the withprisoner, people sight but to to the change blind, theirand hope stories.to the oppressed. To bring freedom Following to theJesus prisoner, requires sight that to we the put blind, the andneeds hope of toothers the oppressed.ahead of our Following own; that Jesus we suspend requires our that doubts we put and the grab needs onto of othersfaith; that ahead we tradeof our fear own; of that the weunknown suspend for ourtrust doubts in the andunseen. grab onto faith; that we trade fear of the unknown for trust in the unseen. TheIn Isaiah cries 58:6-7, of the prophetthe cries Isaiah of the echo prophet across Isaiah history: echo “Isn’t across the h istory:fast I Thechoose:“No, cries this To isof thebreak the kind prophet the of chains fasting Isaiah of I want:echowickedness, acrossFree those history:to untie who “Isn’t the are ropes wrothe nglyfast of the I choose:yoke,imprisoned; to Toset break thelighten oppressed the the chains burden free, of wickedness,of and those to tear who oto work untieevery for the yoke? you. ropes Let Is it oft henot the to yoke,shareoppressed toyour set breadgo the free, oppressed with and the remove hungry, free, andthe to chainstobring tear the thato poor every bind and people.yoke? homeless Is Shar it note into to shareyour house,food your with bread to clothethe with hungry, the the naked hungry, and give when to shelterbring you thesee to thepoor him, homeless. and homelessto not Gi ignoreve into yourclothes house,own to flesh those to clotheand who blood?” needthe naked them,(Isaiah when and 58:6-7) doyou not see hide him, from and relatives to not ignore yourwho ownneed flesh your andhelp.” blood?” (Isaiah 58:6-7) St. Basil the Great established hostels, hotels, and soup kitchens in the fourth century. Catherine of Genoa gave her life to serving the

St. Basil the Great established hostels, hotels, and soup kitchens in Living Dierently thesick. fourth William century. Wilberforce Catherine shut ofdown Genoa the gave slave her trade. life Motherto serving Teresa the Living Dierently sick.launched William 610 Wilberforce ministries to shut the down poor inthe 123 slave countries. trade. Mother A small Teresa group at launchedThe District 610 Church ministries committed to the poorto reversing in 123 countries. the foster A care small waitlist group in at TheDC and District launched Church DC127 committed to create to reversing a system thewhere foster families care waitlistare waiting in DCfor childrenand launched rather DC127than children to create waiting a system for families. where families are waiting for children rather than children waiting for families. All of these people followed the way of Jesus by showing mercy. All of these people followed the way of Jesus by showing mercy. Go and do likewise. Go and do likewise.

NationalWON’T Community YOU BE MY Church NEIGHBOR? / 105 / 60

National Community Church / 105 He fled home after the death of his brother by local law enforcement. After encountering the life of Jesus, Dr. Perkins returned to his hometown with a message of reconciliation. He has spent his life writing, teaching and living Activatethis message, creating the John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation, which focuses on the holistic + Dive deeper intotransformation discussion of in communities. community Through about how his neighboring becomeslife and work,a lifestyl entiree. communities have been transformed spiritually and physically into places Challenge yourself and/or your family to create regular space of hope. This August, NCC Youth will travel to in your calendar to meet and engage with others. Jackson, Mississippi, to learn from Dr. Perkins Challenge yourself and/or your family to be vulnerable with and to put some of his practices into action. others, to let yourself receive from them, not just give.

Activate Challenge

Keep a journal of stories you learned from the people you are meeting. With these stories in mind, write down 2-3 things you will commit to doing (or doing differently) as you seek to be a better neighbor. Living Dierently Resources

COMMUNITY RENEWAL bittersweetmonthly.com/stories/community-renewal

FOLLOW ME TO FREEDOM by John Perkins and Shane Claiborne

National Community Church / 107

106 / WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? / 61 are the available for they shall receive divine appointments.” I still regularly need that reminder as the hustle and bustle of DC life swirls around me, tempting me to go o course. Programs don’t transform communities, Christ-centered relationships do. Programs are simply access points for the building of mutually beneficial relationships. ” Dawnielle and her friends moved into the Chirilagua neighborhood, with no agenda beyond listening to the stories and wisdom of their Latino neighbors. After two years of life in the neighborhood, they decided to respond to neighbors’ concerns about their kids’ academic progress, eventually establishing Casa Chirilagua as a community of parents, sta
, kids, and volunteers working together to see the Kingdom of God established in their community.

Find out how you can become involved at Controlling The Calendar casachirilagua.org.

Resources

REST OF GOD MAKING ROOM FOR LIFE by Mark Buchanan by Randy Frazee

National Community Church / 95 GoGo Andand Dodo Likewiselikewise

Portions of this curriculum were authored by National Community Church and used with permission. It has been altered in places to meet the specific needs of our church during this season.