New Sermon Series: How to Neighbor

Rev. Leanne Pearce Reed
1 day ago
2 min read

Love God, love your neighbor. It's the core of Jesus's teaching, but what does it actually look like to love your neighbor in the messiness of real life? We don't get to choose our neighbors, but we do get to choose how we show up for them. In our fall worship series, "How to Neighbor," we'll explore practical ways to live out Jesus's greatest commandment. Join us as we learn to put love into action right where we are.

Start Small

September 7

Luke 9:10-17 and Luke 13:18-19

The world's problems can feel overwhelming, but Jesus reminds us that the greatest acts of love often begin with a small seed or a single meal. This week, we'll explore how even the smallest acts of kindness have a ripple effect, multiplying and growing far beyond what we can imagine.

Embrace the Mess

September 14

Luke 5:17-26

Loving our neighbors isn't always clean or convenient. In fact, it often requires us to get creative and break through obstacles, just like the friends who lowered a man through a roof to get him to Jesus. This week, we'll talk about embracing the messy, unpredictable, and sometimes chaotic reality of real-life relationships.

Look for the Lost

September 21

Luke 15:1-10

We all know what it's like to feel lost, alone, or overlooked. Jesus reminds us that a good shepherd will leave the ninety-nine to go after the one who is missing. Being a neighbor means actively seeking out those on the margins, offering a place of belonging, and extending a hand to those who have been forgotten.

Honor Each Person

September 28

Luke 16:19-31

Jesus consistently flipped social norms, offering honor and dignity to those his culture ignored or looked down upon. This week, we'll challenge ourselves to do the same. We'll explore what it means to see the sacred worth in every single person, honoring their story and their humanity, especially when our society tells us not to.

Make Peace with Division

October 5

Luke 12:49-56

Loving our neighbor doesn't always lead to a peaceful, easy life. In fact, following Jesus can sometimes bring us into conflict with the customs and attitudes of the world around us. This week, we'll look at the difficult, yet necessary, reality that living out our faith may cause tension, but our call to love remains.

(As You) Love Yourself

October 12

Luke 10:25-28

Jesus said to love our neighbor "as yourself," a crucial part of the greatest commandment that is often overlooked. But for many of us, it can be easier to love others than it is to treat ourselves with compassion and grace. We'll explore how practicing love for ourselves is not selfish, but an essential part of being able to truly love our neighbors.