Ways to Engage Your World
How do I BLESS my community?
Jesus lived an intentional life of blessing the world by proclaiming the Kingdom of God and showing people the way into it. As disciples, we continue to bless by proclaiming the good news of what Jesus has done among us.
Your community is the people around you: friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. It's the people you regularly have contact with who have yet to respond to the truth and love of Jesus.
This isn't complex or hard. It means simply following Jesus' example of how to BLESS in the places God is placing you.
Begin with Prayer
Ask, "God, how do you want me to bless people? Who are you placing in my sphere of influence?"
Listen
Don't talk, but listen. Listen to their struggles and their pain. Seek to understand their life (also known as Being Neighborly).
Eat
Have a meal with people or a cup of coffee. It isn't quick, but this is where relationships are built (also known as Intentional Hospitality).
Serve
As you listen to people & eat with people, they will tell you how to love them, and you will know how to serve them.
Share your story
When the time is right, now we talk about and share the story of how Jesus changed our life.
It's the simple way to engage others as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Are you ready to bless your community with the good news of Jesus Christ?
Thanks to Dave Ferguson and the folks at Community Christian Church for developing and sharing this acronym.
Being Neighborly
Neighboring is loving your neighbors in tangible, practical ways. It is both Great Commission and Great Commandment living where we look outward to serve others by shining God’s love in the midst of darkness. Do you know the dozen houses/apartments around you and their story? The 3 to your right and left and 6 across the street?
The Art of Neighboring is a short RightNow Media series ( 34 min. total) to help you break down the barriers or overcome discomfort about approaching unfamiliar people as a biblical, loving, Spirit-filled neighbor. Access the series on RightNow Media here. You need a free RightNow Media account if you don’t already have one (start here and click Sign Up Now).
Prayer Walking is one way to be a neighborly disciple. As you walk, pray for the houses/apartments around you, especially the dozen closest to you. If you know who lives there and their story, pray specifically for them. If you don’t know them, pray for the Lord to create an opportunity to meet them. Pray that the Lord would bless and sustain your neighbors in these days and provide opportunities for you to reach out with the gospel in generosity.
Spiritual Conversations: Are you reaching out to engage with neighbors and others? As doors open or you begin spiritual conversations, let us know so we can be praying with you for the Holy Spirit’s work. Email or use the Contact Us form. Your request will be handled with discretion. If you are part of a Discipling Community, be sure to share what is happening with the group.
Intentional Hospitality
Intentional Hospitality is simply the act of inviting people on purpose to share food, conversation, and relationship to get to know one another better around a table. It can be to your home, a park, or a restaurant or coffee shop (Dutch treat). It doesn’t need to be fancy, just intentional. While not every time may involve a direct gospel conversation, every time is about expressing the love of Christ in relationship. Intentional Hospitality involves both people we know well and those we don’t, both brothers & sisters in Christ (#growwithothers) and those who don’t follow Jesus yet like neighbors, co-workers, etc. (#engagetheworld). We see hospitality as a core action and heart attitude of biblical, loving, Spirit-filled disciples in the pages of the New Testament. How can you be intentional in doing this?