“The Local Community”, Heinrich and Bianca Koorts

We all have neighbours. Do we know them? 

 

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34–35 NIV11

 

This is the strategy for letting our neighbours know we are Christ-followers. Nothing more complex than this.

How can we expose our neighbours to the love we have for one another?

 

Ideas they have tried:

• Saturday morning breakfasts together at a local cafe
• • From there, having met some neighbours and built a friendship they moved the breakfasts into one another’s homes
  • Both couples saw it as an answer to prayer
• Another couple moved in recently
• • Went round with a bottle of wine to congratulate them on the birth of their baby
  • Now spent many times together and enjoying a good friendship 

Becoming friends with neighbours has brought spiritual blessings to the Koorts. 

Develop openness with local neighbours starting with hospitality.

 

“What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labour. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Cor. 3:5–9 NIV11

 

The pressure is off us because we are called to simply plant and water the seeds. God is the one who makes things grow. God does it through the love we have for one another.

Can reach out in freedom. Have fun with neighbours. Don’t worry about the impression we’re making. Just show them love. 

 

Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.tvcoc.org. 

 

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

 

Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: tvcochrist@gmail.com.

 

Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.

 

God bless,

 

Malcolm

 

Reading, tvcoc, Thames Valley churches of Christ, ICOC, Tim Dannatt, Malcolm Cox, ICCM, Lower Earley, Wokingham, Southampton, Beaconsfield, Oxford, Banbury, Deepcut, Frimley, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, Bracknell, Shevvy Dannatt, Churches of Christ, Christian churches near me, International church, churches close to me, Thames Valley, Thames Valley location, Thames Valley church of Christ, the Thames Valley,