Neighboring Sunday

Use this curriculum to help you further engage with the sermon, the scriptures, and each other. Allow the Holy Spirit to bring things up to encourage and guide you so that you are always growing in your faith. If the Spirit leads you away from these questions and into conversation and prayer that encourages and points you to Jesus, go for it.

scripture

Read the following scriptures together: Matthew 28:16-20.

overview

On Sunday, we joined with other Serve City churches for our second annual Neighboring Sunday. Last year, Andrew took us through the BLESS model: Begin with prayer, Listen, Eat, Serve and Share your story. This year, we unpacked the first point: Begin with prayer. The belief driving this approach to evangelism is that as witnesses to Jesus, it is not our job to do the converting – that’s a work only God can do by his Spirit. In the passage you just read, Jesus commissions his disciples (including us today) to go out into the world. We are not all called to go far, but for some walking across your street might feel as intimidating as going to another country. 

question 1

What are some of the obstacles that keep us from initiating a friendship with our neighbors?   

discussion

Read Genesis 18:16-33. A recent survey revealed that 1 in 4 non-Christians is interested in Christianity and 79% responded that they don’t mind talking to a friend about faith if their friend really values it. Therefore, going to God and asking him to remove our own obstacles and to open the hearts of our neighbors is the best starting point. In the Genesis passage, we see God’s mercy, the power of intercessory prayer, and God’s willingness to listen to those who pray. When we ask God to show us who and what to pray for, we are coming into alignment with him and allowing him to adjust our vision. When we shift our thoughts from “I have to go meet my neighbors” to “I get to partake in God’s Kingdom work”, our purposes and desires will be more defined. It’s exciting to partner with God and watch what he does – remembering that he does the converting, not us.

question 2

Beginning with prayer might look like starting off praying for our own hearts, asking God to take away any fears. What might some other initial prayers be?

Our Titus series on Doing Good was good preparation for us to go out and share the love and kindness of God. We will need to rely on the power and discernment of the Holy Spirit – inviting him to lead us and fill us with the desire, courage, and words to speak. Prayer and scripture reading will keep us connected to Jesus and keep our focus and purposes aligned with his. We will face resistance, rejection, and fatigue and we may not see every one of our neighbors say yes to Jesus in a month or ever; however, we are called to go, to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:31), and to make disciples. Remember: we are not any different than Jesus’ original 12 disciples – he came along and called each of us just as he did them and he promises to be with us in this work. 

question 3

How have you handled resistance or rejection in the past when sharing your faith? Do you have encouragement for one another as you continue to form relationships with your neighbors?

Prayer Practice

As our community prepares for our upcoming move at the end of March, we are joining together in 8 weeks of prayer.

Week 3 – Unity Across Our Church Family

Focus: Unity among all ages and backgrounds.

Scripture: Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3).

Prayer Prompt: Lord, protect the unity of Branches Church. Bind us together across generations, cultures, and seasons of life. Guard us from division, misunderstanding, or discouragement, and help us walk together with humility, grace, and love.

Daily Prayer Practice

As families, friends, roommates, and individuals, we commit to pray every day at dinner for our community of Branches.

Pray simply and faithfully: Lord, please bless your church, Branches. Lead us, protect us, unite us, and guide us into the future you have prepared for us.