Metro Story: Seattle

Living & Relating in your Neighborhood
From Jon Sween

What does it mean to "live" in your neighborhood? In this age of garage door openers, fences to separate houses and a hectic lifestyle how do we live in our neighborhoods in such a way that our neighbors get a complete picture of the good news of Jesus? Is it just a matter of getting them to our church so they can hear a message from the Bible? Is it bringing them to a crusade at a stadium event? These may be very good things if the timing and the setting is right.

We've lived in our neighborhood for 23 years. We've received an education from our neighbors on what it means to live and relate as friends. Our very imperfect family has tried to live the Gospel of the kingdom with friends in the neighborhood that we really want to experience the good news of Jesus. Yes, we've invited them to a variety of things including our very good local church with some good results. We've also had a neighborhood book club for 20 years that has created a relational environment to get to know our neighbors. But I've often wondered if anything about our faith has flowed naturally and relationally to our friends that we care deeply about.

A few weeks ago, I had lunch with the husband of one of the kids that grew up just across the street from us. He is a follower of Jesus and works as an engineer in a city close to where we live. We had a great time at lunch and chatted about him going with me to Kazakhstan or India to teach at a secular university on servant leadership. His wife, the girl who grew up across the street from us for 15 years, is now a follower of Jesus also.

A few days later, I received an email from his wife, let's call her Susan. Susan wrote to say thank you for meeting her husband and how helpful the time had been. Then she described what it was like growing up across the street from our family.

Susan said, "I grew up across the street from Jon and his family. He and his wife (and daughters) were instrumental in drawing me to Jesus. They modeled what it means to live life as followers of Christ, and they showed me how a Christian home can truly look."

I was stunned but encouraged by Susan's gracious comments. As I said previously, we have struggled in our family and our marriage to reflect Biblical values so please understand that out of our brokenness God did something good.

As I have reflected on Susan's comments the Lord brought several things to mind on living and relating in our neighborhood. Some of those reflections are the following:

• God takes our brokenness and uses it for the kingdom beyond what we could imagine.
• The Gospel can flow naturally and relationally if we take the initiative to love our neighbors.
• Living and relating in the neighborhood takes lots of time and prayer
• People, even little kids, are watching how a Christian family lives and relates
• The good news of Jesus has to be incarnated in close proximity to where people live

Let me close with John 1:14 in The Message. "The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood ..."

Has Jesus moved into your neighborhood through your marriage and your family?