As Christians we are called to reach out to people in our community for the sake of Christ. This responsibility belongs to everyone who is a Christian…to everyone who is a church member. This modern parable speaks to this responsibility:
A certain man moved into the community. He didn’t fall among thieves, he just moved in. By chance a neighbor came by and saw the man and said: “I’m running late. I don’t have time to stop and meet him today. I’m sure the preacher already knows about him and has invited him to attend.”
Soon another neighbor drove by the man’s house, but for one reason or another he didn’t stop by to greet the man either. He just waved to him as he passed by. He thought: “I don’t believe in being a fanatic about religion. I’ll meet him sometime later and if he brings up the subject of church, then I’ll tell him about my church and invite him to attend.”
After a while another neighbor came by the man’s house. He stopped to meet him and welcome him to the community. He took time to tell him about the grocery stores, pharmacies, doctors, dentists, schools, and recreational opportunities. He told him about his church and invited his new friend to go to Sunday school and Worship with him the next Sunday. On Sunday morning, the neighbor went by the man’s house and drove him to church. He took him to his Sunday School Class and introduced him to all the class members and made him feel “right at home.” After Sunday school, he took the man to the sanctuary, and sat with him during worship. He introduced him to as many people as he possibly could.
Now which of the three do you think was a neighbor to the new person in the community? GO AND BE A NEIGHBOR LIKE THAT!
See you in church Sunday!
~Pastor Bill |
