No Christian can truly say that they are not around unsaved people. The fact is you spend most of your life all around them. They are right outside your front door. We need to live missional lives, because let’s face our mission has been given to us. And that mission is the greatest in the whole world.
If you are wondering what your calling in life is, it is very simple. Join the mission. Sharing the love of Jesus Christ with the whole world is the greatest thing you could ever do. Start with the people you live beside.
10 Ways to be a Missional Neighbor:
1. Meet your neighbors.
So many Americans have no idea who their neighbors are! This is absurd. You lay your head down each night across the street or around the corner from families; it’s time you knew who they were. Find a way to meet them.
2. Be available.
This could be as easy as being outside more. This could be as difficult as some awkward conversations. Whatever that looks like to you, don’t be a family that just goes inside and closes the door. Talk, be outside, offer your expertise, and know the neighborhood children and elderly. Show people that you are available to them.
3. Take Walks.
Experience entertainment and quality time surrounded by your neighbors. Use this as an opportunity to pray for open doors in their lives and salvation.
4. Random Kindness.
One thing that I’ve found to work is random good deeds. Each week I take in my elderly neighbors’ trashcan and help them unload groceries. It takes a few minutes out of my day, but has produced relationship between our families.
5. Invite them to church.
Holidays are especially great times to invite people to church. Invites to church are also great ways to start conversations about religious beliefs.
6. Take opportunities to talk.
It’s hard to talk to people you don’t know well, but make at least a weekly effort to talk to neighbors when you see them out and about. Remember their names. Whether you like it or not, these are people a part of your community of life.
7. Organize a function.
A blockparty. A cookout. A park competition. A fundraiser for a cause.
8. Neighborhood watch.
One brilliant way is just to take notice and care for your neighbors. Notice if something seems different. Notice if something goes wrong on their house. One nice thing is to dig out their drive way when its covered in snow. Check in if something feels wrong or different. I kept tabs on my neighbor’s elderly live-in parent, and was able to know when he passed away.
9. Have a gospel-centered marriage and family.
This is something you can do inside the home that shines on the outside. Truly healthy, gospel-centered marriages are hard to find. When they are found, people take notice. How you live inside your house will be noticeable on the outside. It matters. And it will make a difference.
10. Step out and share.
People are sometimes intimidated to share their faith. They think people will be turned off or offended by it. In my experience, most of the time people are neither. People are usually interested when I share what I believe. They may not say much or make any kind of spiritual decision, but they know what I believe and ask questions later. So many people share their beliefs, but for some reasons Christians feel like they can’t. Don’t be intimidated to just say what you believe. People are always more interested than I think they will be.
Here is an awesome video on Missional Living.
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