As we reach the end of the year, you may be invited to one of many block parties and community Christmas celebrations. If not, then why not create one? These events can be a lot of fun to relax and connect over a cool beverage.
In an ever shrinking window, society takes a break from work to contemplate ‘peace on earth’ and ‘goodwill towards men’. As skewed as Christmas reflections have become, it is a season when we can engage our neighbours in conversational topics of a richer nature. While in the past, this may have occured at church, in our post modern, most of our neighbours will not go to church, let alone know a pastor or a serious thinker of spiritual things. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to take up our responsibility as pastors to our street.
In most culdesacs or street clusters, there are an average of 5-7 households within a stone’s throw of your front door. But how much do we know about the people in those homes, let along their names? Whether it be Christmas, hedonistic New Years, or Australia Day, let’s set ourselves a goal of getting to know our neighbours better. We may be the only pastor they will ever meet. Just like God, we want the entire world to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. However, that can only happen if we get out there. The most natural people we can meet and be responsible for are the people who live right next door.
So this end of year season, enjoy connecting with your neighbours. Be genuinely interested in them as people. And pray that as you connect, God will naturally lead you into conversations that are rich and eternally rewarding.
Blessings
– JC
