This morning we are in the last of a three part series on the book entitled: The Art of Neighboring. Last week we were challenged to make a block map. This week we’re challenged to go a step further.
Have you ever felt that twinge of nervousness when you thought about walking across the street to introduce yourself to a neighbor? That little voice in your head that says, "What if they think I'm weird?" or "What if I don't know what to say?" Or maybe even, "What if I get too involved and they need more than I can give?"
Neighboring can feel riskier than a week-long mission trip to a developing country. Because the people next door—they're always going to be there. They'll still see you in your driveway, at the mailbox, or walking your dog. It's not a one-and-done service project. It's real life. Ongoing. Messy. Vulnerable.
But this is the kind of relationship Jesus calls us into.
The incarnation—God becoming human—is the ultimate example of neighboring. God didn't send a message from a distance; He moved into the neighborhood. And now, as His followers, we are called to do the same.
But we won't do it unless we overcome fear. And the only way to overcome fear is not by mustering up courage—it's by leaning into faith.
The Opposite of Fear Is Not Courage—It's Faith
Let's talk about what drives us. When fear takes the wheel, it controls how we relate, how we speak—or how we stay silent. Think about the storm in Mark 4. The disciples are terrified. The wind is howling. Waves are crashing. And Jesus? Asleep. When they finally wake Him, He doesn't say, "Why aren't you braver?" He says: "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" – Mark 4:40 (NIV)
What Jesus is revealing here is profound: our fear isn't just a lack of courage; it's a lack of trust.
Courage is simply faith applied.
We see this in every story of bravery. Soldiers are courageous not because they have no fear but because they trust—their leaders, their cause, their training. That trust allows them to move forward despite fear. But only one kind of trust never disappoints. Romans 10:11: "Anyone who trusts in Him will never be disappointed." Faith in ourselves can falter. Faith in others can fail. But faith in Jesus—this is the solid rock.
Personal Story: When I first felt called to ministry, I was terrified. I came to it later in life. I wasn't sure I knew enough or was equipped enough. But I learned that the call of God isn't about confidence in myself, it's about confidence in Him.
And every time I've chosen to trust Him, He has come through. Not always in the ways I expected, but always in the ways I needed.
Let's look at Matthew—someone who knew what it meant to overcome fear with faith.
Faith Gave Matthew the Courage to Publicly Identify with Jesus
Matthew was a tax collector. That meant he was hated by his own people. Seen as a sell-out. A traitor. Wealthy, yes, but spiritually bankrupt in the eyes of many. When Jesus called him, Matthew didn't negotiate. He didn't ask for time to clean up his reputation or his life. He stood up and followed Jesus publicly.
It's no small thing. He left the safety of his desk, his income, his status, however hated it was, and took a step into the unknown.
How do we publicly identify with Jesus today?
We identify through Baptism
Baptism is more than tradition. It's our first act of gospel witness. It's how we say to the world, "I belong to Jesus." Matthew 28:19-20 “Go… baptize… and teach them…” . Acts 18:8"Many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized."
Baptism is the outward sign of an inward transformation. It doesn't save us, faith does, but it shows the world we've been saved.
We identify through Fellowship
Matthew didn't just follow Jesus in private. He became part of the movement. He joined the community of believers. We show our faith by showing up.
Hebrews 10:25 "Let us not give up meeting together…"
Think of the woman who sat in the back of the sanctuary every Sunday, though she couldn't hear a word. When asked why she still came, she said, "Because I want people to know whose side I'm on."
Faith Gave Matthew the Courage to Follow Completely (v. 9b)
He left everything. That means more than just his job. He left behind security. Identity. His old way of life. Luke 9:23 "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." True faith doesn't just add Jesus on—it surrenders all to Him. That doesn't mean perfection. Matthew didn't suddenly become sinless. But his direction changed.
1 John 3:6 "The one who abides in God does not keep on sinning."
Real faith doesn't always look dramatic—but it always leads to change.
If there's been no change, no sacrifice, no movement in our lives since we said "yes" to Jesus, we need to ask whether we're truly following—or just admiring from a distance.
Faith Gave Matthew the Courage to Share Jesus Intentionally (v. 10)
Matthew didn't just follow Jesus and keep quiet. He hosted a dinner party. He invited his old friends to meet his new Savior.
That's the heart of evangelism—not memorizing a script, but sharing your life. Making room for people. Creating spaces where Christ can be encountered.
Personal example: I remember a man who did some drywall work for us. He gave us a fair price—then came back later and undercharged us just to bless us. He didn't know we'd tell everyone we knew. But when someone blesses you, you can't help but share it.
How much more when Jesus has changed your life?
Matthew didn't preach a sermon, he set a table.
Evangelism isn't always about a platform. Sometimes it's about a potluck.
You don't need a seminary degree to start neighboring. You just need a table, a heart, and a willingness to listen.
Let's bring it home.
You have a mission field. And it starts at your mailbox. On your street. In your apartment complex.
So what can you do?
Here are 7 practical steps:
1. Persist – Keep connecting with your neighbors (start with a block map)
Neighboring isn't a one-and-done project—it's a lifestyle of persistence. Just like we don't build deep friendships in a day, we won't build trust in a neighborhood with one wave or one event.
A block map is a simple tool: draw a square for your house in the center, then draw the eight homes around yours. Do you know the names of the people in those homes? Something about their story? If not, that's your mission field.
Every wave, every "how's your day going?" at the mailbox, every time you take your trash out at the same time they do—it's all part of the slow, sacred work of neighboring.
Don't underestimate the power of showing up consistently.
2. Pray – Ask God to guide you and bless your neighbors
Before you bake cookies or plan a BBQ—pray. Not just once, but regularly. Pray over your street as you walk. Pray for your neighbors by name. Ask God to soften hearts—yours first, then theirs.
Pray for opportunities to show kindness, for wisdom in timing, for the Holy Spirit to make divine appointments out of ordinary moments.
Oswald Chambers "Prayer is not preparation for the work—it is the work."
You don't need a megaphone to share Jesus—you need a prayer life that is tender toward your neighbors and sensitive to God's Spirit.
3. Plan – Come up with a simple, natural gathering
This doesn't need to be Pinterest-perfect. Think simple. Think accessible. A Saturday morning donut-and-coffee gathering in the driveway. A front yard hot dog grill-out. A firepit with s'mores. A Super Bowl party. A porch potluck.
Make it low-stress and invitational, not fancy and intimidating. You're not putting on a show—you're opening a door.
Ask: What would make my neighbors feel at home?
Start small, stay consistent, and keep it real.
4. Partner – Team up with another believer
Don't do this alone. Find another believer who shares your vision. Maybe it's someone on your block or a friend from church who lives nearby. Jesus sent His disciples out two by two—and for good reason.
When you team up:
• You share the work.
• You build in accountability.
• You model community.
Partnership means someone else is praying, planning, and participating with you. And it can transform your courage.
A shared mission is a sustained mission.
5. Promote – Get the word out creatively and warmly
No one can come to something they don't know about! Promotion doesn't have to mean printed flyers or fancy invites—though those help. It might look like:
• A handwritten note with a small treat.
• A text message or neighborhood group post.
• A personal knock on the door with a smile and a simple invitation.
Make it warm, personal, and welcoming. Let people know there's no pressure—just community. Don't underestimate the power of telling someone, "We’d really love to have you there.”
You’re not selling an event—you’re extending friendship.
6. Party – Create a space of hospitality and joy
This is where the magic happens. Not in the planning, not even in the praying—but in the presence. When neighbors gather, stories are shared. Laughter happens. Connections are made. And in a world starving for belonging, that’s the beginning of transformation.
You don’t need fancy décor—just food, a welcoming smile, and maybe some music or yard games.
Remember: hospitality is more about presence than presentation. Let your home or yard be a place where people can breathe, laugh, and feel safe.
You don’t have to be a perfect host, just a present one.
7. Present Christ – As God opens doors, share your story and your faith
Don’t force the moment. You’re not a salesman, you’re a storyteller. As you build trust, people will open up. They’ll talk about their challenges. Their hopes. Their fears. And when they do, be ready.
Not with a rehearsed script, but with your story.
Tell them what Jesus has done for you. How He’s changed your life. How your faith sustains you. And then? Invite them into that story.
1 Peter 3:15 “Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
Trust that the Holy Spirit will lead you when it’s time to speak. And until then? Keep being faithful. Keep planting seeds.
This isn’t a checklist—it’s a rhythm. A lifestyle. A sacred way of being present.
God didn’t ask us to fix our neighbors. He asked us to love them.
And here’s the truth: every time we step toward a neighbor in love, heaven leans in.
Let’s not wait for the perfect moment—let’s create sacred space in the everyday.
What if, three months from now, your neighbors could say, “I may not understand everything they believe, but I know they love me”?
What if your home became a lighthouse on your block?
What if the courage to follow Jesus in faith became the spark that lit up your whole neighborhood?
Let’s not wait until we feel brave. Let’s act in faith.
Let’s not settle for safety. Let’s step into the sacred risk of love.
Let’s not just admire Jesus. Let’s follow Him.
And let’s start with the people next door.
