One of our most engaged series was last year’s ‘Gospel Intentional Summer.’ We got a notable amount of feedback about how helpful and practical it was, and that people put it into practice. So, we take note of things like that, and we want to re-engage just the beginning of that series as we head into another summer. It was a much longer series, but we want to highlight 4 intentional principles with practical application this week and next week:
Principle #1: THINK intentionally this summer
“Invest in your neighbors for the long haul, the hundreds of conversations that make up a neighborhood, and stop thinking of conversations with neighbors as sneaky evangelistic raids into their sinful lives.”
~Rosaria Butterfield
Summer is a time when we inherently recognize a shift in daily life:
The days are longer and people are outside after dinner long into the evening—walks, kids playing, taking the dog out, and many other activities.
Kids are free from school and looking for more activities, more playtime, and more hanging out with friends.
Some people may be happier because of the sun and the weather and linger longer on the sidewalk–checking the flowers, and getting the mail.
What if we added a little bit of ‘gospel-intentionality’ to the transition to summer and recognized more opportunities to build relationships with neighbors and friends?
Intentional Item #1: Think Intentionally About The Summer & Gospel Opportunities
Like Rosaria’s quote above–not a sneak attack, like “boy, you think the weather’s nice today, wait until you see it in heaven.” No! But thinking about the fact that summer creates opportunities:
-Have slightly longer conversations outside and ask a little bit more about your neighbors’ lives
-Have a couple of new kids over to play with your kids in the yard
-Stop on a walk and compliment neighbors on their flowers or house
-Pet the neighborhood dogs and strike up a conversation about life
What else would you add to this list?
Let’s keep these posts to the point for a few weeks this summer and consider what it would be like to have a little more gospel intentionality this summer.
Principle #2: PRAY intentionally this summer
“…I pray about lost dogs…” Rosaria Butterfield (context: involvement in her neighborhood)
Along with THINKING more intentionally about how summer provides opportunities to build relationships with your neighbors, let’s build on that.
Intentional Item #2: Pray Intentionally About The Summer & Gospel Opportunities
Recall all of those natural activities we talked about last week where you are thinking a bit more intentionally about gospel opportunities. What if you added those to your prayer list?
Now, we all struggle with prayer time, so let’s keep it manageable. Sure you could create a list of people, topics, etc. and either have one prayer time for all of them or add it to your daily prayers and that would be great.
Or, you could start offering quick impromptu prayers when you see someone, think of someone, or when you drive past them on their walk and you wave.
“Lord, give me opportunity to get to know ____ better.”
“Lord, I pray that the sickness ___ mentioned is used for her good to come to know you.”
“Heavenly Father, ___ seemed down when I talked to him the other night…help me to encourage him next time I see him.”
Imagine the details you may have in these short prayers as you seek to linger on a walk and talk to neighbors about life or pet the dog and chat for a couple of minutes.
What might God do if you start to THINK a little more intentionally about your neighbors, and then PRAY a little more intentionally about your neighbors?