Won’t you be my Neighbour? (2)

by Marquis Murray | Jun 19, 2018 | Sunday Conversations

Spider Man (1970’s old school video)

Any Spider Man fans around? He has a multi-generational group of fans. What is your favourite of his super powers? Web, strength, agility, stick-i-ness, spidey sense? As cool and effective as his powers might be, I think his most powerful attribute is his title that reflects his character:
Friendly Neighbourhood Spider Man.

When his uncle found out about his powers he told him a very well known statement: With great power comes great responsibility. 

The reality is that no matter how much skill, talent, power or money we may have, if we’re not neighbourly or friendly, it will never leave an impact.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13…you can have everything, but without love, you have nothing and you offer nothing.

– – – – – – – – –

Last week we started a conversation that is depicted by one question:

WON’T you be my NEIGHBOUR?

Neighbouring is the most common and everyday activity we engage in. Yet so many of us have a hard time being neighbours to one another.

As we make this invite and ask this question, the truth is this, weather we accept or decline, the reality stays the same, WE ARE NEIGHBOURS.

The real question is, what kind of neighbour will you be?

Next week we’ll dive into the issue of diversity and neighbouring: acknowledging that we are all the same, and yet all different, and of course, how do we move on from there.

We’re going to close it up on Canada day with a ‘Neighbourly Challenge’.

Today, let’s remember why we’re discussing this – we get to this conversation because Jesus is asked a question. The question isn’t about a neighbourly dispute, rather, it’s about faith and spirituality. Jesus connects our faith to our neighbourliness – he connects our love of him to our love of neighbour.

Love God…how? (heart, soul, mind, strength)

Love your neighbour…how? (as yourself)

The second most important question in this story comes in Luke 10:29…

 ²⁷ He answered, “‘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.’”
²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Who is my neighbour?

Why this question? Because the expert in religious law wanted to know exactly ‘WHO’ he should be loving as himself. Fair question. Which we’ll answer more in depth next week 😉

Jesus responds with a story.

³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Three words helps us describe the Samaritan’s actions:

Opportunity / Proximity / Practicality

As he travelled… (opportunity)
– The Samaritan wasn’t intentionally going anywhere, he was simply travelling and came across this opportunity.

Came where the man was… (proximity)
– The Samaritan walked across the road to get close to get close enough to serve his neighbour. 

Saw him…took pity…bandaged him up…gave him a lift…paid for his hotel fee… (practicality)
– He did what he could with what he had. Simple. Practical.

The Samaritan is the unlikely hero in this story. He is aware enough to see the need that faces him. He is close enough to do something. He does what he can with that he has.

He has no super powers. No extra-ordinary ability. No cape, no x-ray vision, no super suit, no webs, no team of avengers to help him. He does what he can with what he has.

Well…he does exhibit some kind of power:

• COMPASSION
• PRESSENCE

 If we want to become the kind of neighbour Jesus is inviting us to be, we don’t need any powers, we don’t need more money, we don’t need more time, we don’t need a fancy suit. All we need is what we already have…coupled with compassion & presence.

– – – – – – –

Back to Spider Man. I know he has a cool suit, and some interesting and useful powers, but the what makes him stand out is simply found in his title: Friendly Neighbourhood Spider Man.

Fathers & Men. Listen UP: (this talk was shared on Father’s Day)
We’re fooled to think that we need more of anything to make a difference. You have all the gifts and tools you need to make a difference. As long as you are a man who is able to be Present & Compassionate, you will influence and encourage your kids and/or anybody God puts in your path.

Won’t you be my Neighbour?

by Marquis Murray | Jun 12, 2018 | Sunday Conversations

Who remembers the children’s show, Mr. Rogers? Boy does that show take you back. A simple show that kids all over North America watched growing up. This year they’re releasing a documentary of the Mr. Rogers. (Check it out HERE)

Rogers took risks, pushed the envelope, was super creative with very simple tools, and taught a generation of kids how to be neighbours. He knew that living with humans is harder than it looks, and rather than taking it for granted, he wanted to help people get along.

This week we begin a new series…about humans…and other humans…and how those two sets of humans get along. We hope that this series comes out exactly how it reads: but more than just a question, it’s an invitation…

WON’T you be my NEIGHBOUR?

Neighbouring is the most common and everyday activity we engage in. Yet so many of us have trouble being neighbours to one another. Every time you’re with another human being, you are practicing the art of neighbouring – you’re either doing it well…or not so well.

As we make this invite and ask this question, the truth is this, weather we accept or decline, the reality stays the same, WE ARE ALL NEIGHBOURS. I guess the question is, what kind of neighbour will you be?

The Bible (NIV) has 144 references to the word Neighbour.

Jesus attaches the word neighbour to the conversation about greatest commandment. (Mark 12)

Proverbs and other OT books give us wisdom and practical advice on how to navigate relationships with our neighbours.

With that in mind, let’s dive in…

Mark 12 & Luke 10

When we think of neighbour and the scripture, the first place we might go to is Mark 12 or Luke 10.

Mark tells us that Jesus is asked this questions, “what is the greatest commandment?”

Luke tells us Jesus is asked this questions, “what must one do to experience eternal life?”

The response by Jesus is the same in both gospels:

Love God – Love Others.

To be clear, Jesus is more specific…

Love God with…all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

Love your neighbour…as yourself.

He could’ve stopped at LOVE GOD and we would’ve got it. We might even have liked that response better. Sometimes it’s easier to love God than to love people…actually…most of the time. But he doesn’t.

Jesus never stops where we think he should. He always goes further – always goes deeper.

The two best words in the Bible might be BUT & AND. Because when they show up, you know the next thing coming is important.

Love God…AND…Love your neighbour as yourself.

Notice that the example we’re given on how to love others, is how we love ourselves. That’s profoundly interesting, don’t you think? All the good things you want for yourself…all the hopes you dreams you have…all the love you long for in your own life…

Jesus says…this is how to love your neighbour.

Interesting that in other places in scripture we’re told to put others before ourselves or put others interests above ours. But here, Jesus says, the way you love yourself, you must love others.

#1. Love yourself. See yourself in God’s image of you…see yourself the way God sees you.
#2. Love your neighbour in the exact same way.

(For those of you who have a hard time loving yourself, this might be a moment to ask God to help you get over that, and see yourself the way he sees you)

Why do you think we have all the conflict and unrest we see in the world? Why war? Why violence? Why hate? Why unrest? Why walls?

Because we always (or often) only see our neighbours as ‘other’ and not ‘us’.

The word ‘Yourself’ in this scripture is really important!!! It changes everything.

Leviticus & Neighbouring?

We often hear the challenge to be a better neighbour and go right to Jesus and the gospels. Like we just did. Rightfully so, Jesus made that audacious claim about loving God & Others.

However, Jesus takes both the first part of his statement (Love God) and the second part (Love your neighbour) from the OT.

First one is from Deuteronomy 6.

The second? Leviticus. Of all the places to narrow down your most important commandment? Leviticus? Other than numbers, it might be the toughest (and most boring) book to read in the bible.

But…this is in fact where Jesus draws his words:

We read lots about neighbouring in the Leviticus:

• 18:20 No sex with your neighbours spouse (not PG, sorry, but still in the Scriptures)
• 19:13 don’t fraud your neighbour
• 19:15 judge your neighbour fairly
• 19:16 don’t endanger your neighbour
• 19:17 be honest with your neiughbour
• 19:18 Love your neighbour as yourself

It’s important to note the context of Leviticus: this neighbouring is about those who are close by (Israel as a nation and community). There are many scriptures about the foreigner and the alien and the refugee (more on that in the coming weeks), but here, it’s about the people who live close to you.

This begs the questions…
Who are the closest to you?
Who is it that you do life with most?
Who are the ones most effected by your decisions, your actions, your behaviour?

Start there! No really, start becoming a better neighbour with the people who are closest to you.

Be a neighbour first to the people who are the closest.

Here’s the thing, if you can’t be a neighbour to them, how can you be a neighbour to those who are different than you? Who are far from you?

Other interesting instructions

Exodus 12:4 – share what you have with your neighbour if what you have is too much for you
Exodus 20:17 – don’t say false things about your neighbour
Exodus 22:26-37 – return what you borrow from your neighbour
Proverbs 25:17 – Don’t be in your neighbours home too much. Too much of a good thing is a bad thing
Proverbs 27:14 – Even nice and lovely things, said too early in the morning, becomes a curse to your neighbour
Proverbs 14:21 – You can be as kind as you want to your neighbour, it will always be welcomed

TAKE HOME :

Neighbouring takes thoughtfulness & action; wisdom & patience.

• All those practical bits of wisdom from Exodus, Leviticus, and Proverbs are helpful.
• Just like every other role we play, husband, friend, wife, dad, leader…we are getting better at those things, we can be getting better at neighbouring.
• Here’s a statement to adopt, ‘I am becoming a neighbour’.

Law Fades / Love Stays

• In Mark & Luke Jesus turns the religious leader’s understanding of Moses’ law on it’s head…it’s not about how neat and tidy you follow the Law, rather, it’s how lavishly you can live out God’s love.
• As you look back to the OT you start to see what was going to stick and what was going to fade. Remember this, Law Fades / Love Stays

Neighbouring begins at Home

• As we move on in this series we’ll see how far and impactful this neighbouring thing really is
• But first…remember that neghbouring starts where you are…with who’s near you
  • your close circle
  • behind closed doors
• Less Attention = Bigger Impact
  • We have this all wrong when focus on big attention, which might only bring little impact.
• One of the questions you may want to start your day with are, ‘What can I do for _____________ today?’. Ask this about your wife, husband, kids, friend, co-worker, etc. Who knows what God can do with that kind of loaded question.

Accepting the invitation from Jesus to be a neighbour will challenge you, but it will also change you.

So…Won’t you be my neighbour?

– – – – – – – – – – – – –

(Quotes from the big screen on Sunday)

“Who is my neighbour?” irrelevant to Jesus, for whom everyone, even your enemy, is a neighbour. The only question is, “What does neighbourly mean?” (L. Sweet)

There is a story behind every person, a reason why they are the way they are. Don’t be quick to judge. Be kind and assume the best. (Nicky Gumble)

Nationalism defines neighbours. The gospel doesn’t give us that permission. We don’t define neighbour by street, block or town.

Not too many people want to actually talk, they only want to tell. If you want to talk, you have to be able to listen.

Learn to be present with others.
Make eye contact.
Ask a thoughtful question.
Stay curious.
Don’t interrupt with your story.
Listening for pain & joy
Behold the meaning. (Dan white Jr.)

The biblical test case for love of God is love of neighbour.
The biblical test case for love of neighbour is love of enemy. (Zhahn)

People may hate us because of Jesus, but they should never hate Jesus because of us.
(Jen Hatmaker)

Love your neighbours. Not the neighbours you pick out, but the ones you have.
(Wendell Berry)

Beloved. Belong. Become.

by Marquis Murray | Jun 5, 2018 | Sunday Conversations

This past weekend we had the privilege of hearing from Todd Lester. Todd works for Be In Christ Canada, the fellowship of churches we are grateful to belong too.

Todd used his time with us to teach through the three values Be In Christ Canada has chosen to reflect and live out: BELOVED, BELONG, BECOME. These values are very much connected to our own values at The Village: DISCOVERY, STORY, COMMUNITY. Can you make the connection?

Below are scriptures Todd used to walk through these values. Take some time to read them, pray through them, and see how God challenges you through them.

SOMETHING TO BUILD YOUR LIFE ON…

Matthew 7:24
Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds
a house on solid rock.

I AM BELOVED BY GOD

Ephesians 1:4-5
Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us … and it gave Him
great pleasure.

1 John 3:1
See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us his children, and that is
what we are!

The early church theologian, Augustine, wrote: “God loves each one of us as if
there was only one of us to love.”

I BELONG TO GOD’S FAMILY

Romans 12:5
So it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to
each other.

Hebrews 10:25
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage
one another…

In community you are…SAFER…STRONGER…SMARTER

1 Peter 4:9
Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

I AM BECOMING LIKE JESUS

Ephesians 5:2
Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.

Matthew 9:36
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were
confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

– – – – – – – – –

small(er) group questions:

How are these values connected to the gospel, the good news of Jesus?

God loved and chose us before he knew us (Ephesians 1). How does that make you feel?
What do you make of the Augustine quote?

Which scripture speaks to you most about community and belonging? Why?

One of our favourite words at The Village is becoming – what do you think it takes for us to be challenged and grow, while at the same time being patient when we’ve yet to arrive at the place we want to be?

Which one of the values do you resonate with more? BELOVED? BELONG? BECOME? Why?

God doesn’t hate anything…except… #4

by Marquis Murray | May 23, 2018 | Sunday Conversations

Cooking segments on day time TV are always interesting…I love how they have 5 min to make something, and it turns out amazing.
What I find intriguing, from someone who doesn’t cook all that well, especially one who doesn’t bake, is how it all comes together.
The hardest part, in my opinion, is starting. You have to imagine something good coming out of your raw ingredients. You have to have a vision that drives you to mix and stir and bake and cool…and then…EAT.

We are, knowingly or not, stirring up something.

• our life is a result of what we started stirring up a few years before
• our actions are a result of what has been stirring in our heart
• our relationships are as strong as the ingredients we’ve put into them and the discipline to do the hard work.
• nothing tastes good without any planning, working, stirring, and mixing at the onset.

How is this analogy part of our current conversation?

Well, as we come to the end of our journey in Proverbs 6, we are given the last and final thing God hates, or at least, the writers interpretation of what God hates. It has to do with stirring, mixing, and creating.

I mentioned last week that I tinkered with a FaceBook survey or pole. As promised, I will share some of the best responses. Here are the top things people hate…

• Bad Coffee & Bad Beer
• Philadelphia Flyers
• Marble Cheese
• The political party they didn’t vote for
• Dust bunnies
• Boston Bruins
• When someone presses an elevator button that’s already been pressed
• How much time do you have?
• Facebook questions/surveys?
• Doing the same thing over & over and expecting different results
• Lies & vaccines (needles)
• Mental illness & it’s impact
• Seeing people suffer
• Fear
• Lies & Arrogant people
• Mistreatment & Rigid Thinking
• Entitlement
• Hate (a few people said they hate hate…I agree with them)

Where have we been so far? What have we talked about? What is God ‘not fond of’?

• prideful eyes
• envious of what others have
• lying tongue
• hands, feet, HEART

This all comes from Proverbs 6. The writer of the proverbs does his best to interpret and answer this question, ‘what does God hate?’.

¹⁶ There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
¹⁷         haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸         a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
¹⁹         a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

This final line seems to both add another layer to the conversation, while also summing things up quite nicely.

3 parts two this line that are essential…PERSON / STIRS UP CONFLICT / COMMUNITY

a PRESON who…

The underlying intention in this text was leading us to this all along.

What kind of PERSON do you want to be?
What makes up WHO you are?

This proverb reminds us that our hands, our feet, our eyes, our tongue, and of course our heart, reflects the PERSON we are.

Will we be defined by the words this proverb uses to describe those parts of the body…or…will we, with intention and purpose, be the person Jesus is calling us to be.

• Humility instead of Pride
• Truth instead of Lies
• Good instead of Evil
• Life giving instead of Life threatening

We get to choose the kind of person we are. We get to invite God to help us become who he calls us to be. That’s both a gift and a choice.

STIRS UP CONFLICT…

Like we said at the top, we or others are always stirring up something. Nothing that happens, just happens. We or someone else was part of it. Things come about because of what was being stirred before hand.

This puts value on every part of everything we do.

I love the metaphor or analogy…to stir up or sow:

• are we intentional about what we are creating with the decisions we’re making?
• are we thoughtful of what will come from our ideas and more importantly, our actions?
• are we planting peace, hope, love, grace, forgiveness…today…so it grows into something impactful…tomorrow?

This proverb of course warns us of what not to stir up: CONFLICT. DISCORD.

We know what conflict is, but I love the word DISCORD (ESV). Something intriguing about that word.

Discord in Hebrew means, division, strife, contention, quarrel, and of course, conflict.

When I think about this word I can’t help but think about music and chords and separating the word like this – DIS / CHORD

• something that break ups the harmony
• a note that doesn’t belong in the chord or the scale
• a musical element that causes unnecessary tension

God hates it when what was supposed to be harmonious is now in dis-cord, or is now in conflict, is now divided.

Proverbs speaks to this issue a lot…

10:12 Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.
15:18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.
16:28 A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.
17:1 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.
13:10 Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
22:10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.
28:25 The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.
29:22 An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.

Of course, the NT addresses this as well:

Ephesians 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
1 Tim 6:4 They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction…

What contributes to or feeds conflict/strife (according to Proverbs)

• A hot temper
• gossip
• greed
• anger
• quarrels
• pride
• talking too much / saying the wrong thing at the wrong time or the right thing at the wrong time
• Mocking/Judging

What sucks the air out of conflict or strife (according to Proverbs)

• A peace maker
• patience
• A grateful or content heart
• A calm demeanour
• humility
• listening
• If and when you talk, think about it, pray about it, count your words

COMMUNITY…

The last word in this proverb is community.

What saddens God’s heart most? A break up in community.

All the things that are listed in Proverbs 6 are of course things that lead to broken relationships, broken families, broken marriages, broken neighbourhoods, broken work places and offices, even brokenness in faith communities and churches.

TAKE HOME :

We have a choice…to be the kind of person who stirs up good, who builds up others, who makes those around us better.

How do we do that? By hating what God hates and loving what God loves.

Say no to pride and yes to humility
Say no to lies and yes to the truth
Say no to evil and yes to good
Say no to tearing people down and yes to building people up
Say no to unnecessary conflict and yes to healthy community

These are the ways of Jesus. We can’t get away from that. Jesus lived his life in this way for us to follow his example.

The final question in this series is this: What are you stirring up? What ingredients are you adding to the mix when if comes to forming your character, your heart, your mind, your life? What kind of person are you becoming, and do your actions reflect who you want to become?

This is a question we should always be asking ourselves so we keep in step with the person God is calling us to be in Jesus.

– – – – – – – – –

small(er) group questions:

What are your impressions of this final theme in this series? How does that final line in our Proverb text resonate with you?

Did you see how the writer led us to this very place where we can analyze what kind of person we are? How do you feel about the sequence he used? Eyes, Tongue, Heart, Hands, Feet, Person? How does this challenge you?

Conflict isn’t always negative and is sometimes necessary. If so, what do you think the writer means by causing conflict, strife or discord? (Feel free to use the other proverbs quoted above)

How valuable is community to you? How about a sense of family? Do you see God’s heart for this here? Is your heart aligned with God’s in regards to community and healthy relationships?

What are you stirring up? Does this metaphor speak to you and more importantly, challenge you? Is fo, how?

How difficult or important is it to choose humility over pride, truth over lies, evil over good, life giving activity over life sucking activity, and community over division?