February 5, 2023

Other Scripture References:

Luke 10:38-42 - Mary and Martha are in Bethany. Martha busies herself doing good things for Jesus. Mary sets aside the good things Martha is doing in order to do a great thing: sit at the feet of Jesus and learn
John 12:1-8: Mary anoints Jesus in Bethany. Mary is still focused on worshipping Jesus while the disciples are distracted by good things that are not great.
2 Timothy 1:7 - (Paul recognizes that it’s so easy to succumb to fear. But God gives us the power and ability to overcome those fears)
1 Peter 3:13-16 (don’t fear what they fear)
Isaiah 8:12

Recap Series: Connecting our neighbors with the hope of the gospel. Love our actual neighbors
There are plenty of reasons not to do the whole neighboring thing: I don’t have time lies. Things will settle down someday. More will be enough. Everybody lives like this. You will have to make a choice to follow Jesus by creating time. The ‘full life’ that Jesus promised in John 10:10 wasn’t a full schedule! You will have to say no to the good, in order to make space for the great.
"We can only do a few things really well in life; probably a good idea to make certain that one of those things is what Jesus says is most important" - Brian Mavis
"Love and hurry are fundamentally incompatible. Love always takes time, and time is the one thing hurried people don’t have." -john ortberg
Truths:

Make the main thing, the main thing- it may be time to reconsider what’s actually important to you
Eliminate time-stealers- it’s ok to say ‘no’ to some things that are good, but not great
Be interruptible - Allow change; allow flexibility.
Neighboring is messy and uncomfortable in part because it forces us to confront our fears.
Fear distorts our perception. But in the absence of information, we typically supply negative information.

1 Peter 3:13-16- peter is quoting Isaiah 8:12 and the instruction is clear: do not fear, don’t be frightened. Don’t abandon discernment, but live out of hope rather than fear. In truth, most of our fear is actually us being timid anyways, and once we recognize that, it’s much easier to overcome.
Don’t just look through the lens of convenience . This lens just might not be the most appropriate way we decide how to use your time.
You never know how you might be used as an instrument in saving your neighbors’ life or even more, their eternity.

What are some obstacles we face when trying to be a good neighborhood?
Is it true your life is just overly busy and there is just no way around it?
Your time belongs to you, and no one else’s. Are you using your time wisely?
If you can make time for what you want to do, what do you actually want to do with your time?
Are you a “Martha” or a “Mary”?
Are we willing to set aside new things for great things?
Is Jesus your Savior & Lord? If he’s your Lord, then He guides your life and leads you. So if Jesus says that the main thing is to love God AND your neighbor and you say no, I don’t want to, are you really following Christ? What degree are you following Christ today?

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