Pastor Dave Ferguson shares a simple acronym that describes for us a practical way to B.L.E.S.S. our neighbors.

• B – Begin with prayer
• L – Listen
• E – Eat together
• S – Serve
• S – Share stories

I have spoke about “Begin with Prayer,Listen, Eat Together, and Serve.” Today, I want to address the fifth and final step which is to share story.

St. Francis of Assisi is often credited with saying: “Preach the gospel. If necessary, use words.” The implication is that the best way to share the love of God is through acts of kindness. It is that we lead with what we practice rather than what we preach.

But Romans 10 reminds us:

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Romans 10:14, ESV)

There comes a time when others need us to tell why we do what we do. There comes a time when others need to know that there is a wonderful God who loves them dearly. And God uses our words to help them connect the dots.

You cannot argue or debate someone into heaven. But what they cannot debate is your story. You can share your story of how you have experienced God’s love in your life. You can share the difference he has made for you. You can share how the Savior has changed your life. There are times when the most loving thing you can do is to tell the story.

Do you know your story? Can you articulate your relationship with God? If not, take some time and write down some of the ways that you have seen God at work in you and through you. Then share it with someone else.

As I leave you today, I am reminded of the hymn “I Love to Tell the Story.” Take a few moments to reflect on these lyrics.

I love to tell the story, of unseen things above, of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love. I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true; it satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.

I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory, to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

Pastor Dave Ferguson shares a simple acronym that describes for us a practical way to B.L.E.S.S. our neighbors.

• B – Begin with prayer
• L – Listen
• E – Eat together
• S – Serve
• S – Share stories

I have spoke about “Begin with Prayer,Listen, and Eat Together.” Today, I want to address the fourth step and that is to Serve.

When Jesus is in the upper room with his disciples, he sets an example of service for us. He washes his disciples’ feet. He was the master. He was the teacher. You would think that it was the disciples who ought to wash Jesus’ feet. But there Jesus is stooping down to perform this modest but meaningful task.

After he finishes he says:

“You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” (John 13:13–15, ESV)

Jesus goes above and beyond. He does more than is expected. And he tells us to do just as he has done.

There are many ways we serve. We all have responsibilities in life. There are expectations placed upon us. But to truly serve in the spirit of Jesus is when we go beyond what is expected. Serving in that way like Jesus is so uncommon. It catches people’s attention when they see it because it is not a common experience.

A second thing about serving like Jesus served is that we serve without expecting something in return. We don’t serve to be appreciated or to receive the praise of others. We serve simply to bless others with no strings attached. We serve to show others that they are important to us and loved by God.

How can you serve someone in an unexpected way today?

Pastor Dave Ferguson shares a simple acronym that describes for us a practical way to B.L.E.S.S. our neighbors.

• B – Begin with prayer
• L – Listen
• E – Eat together
• S – Serve
• S – Share stories

I have spoke about “Begin with Prayer and Listen.” Today, I want to address the third step and that is to Eat Together.

This week, families will gather all across our country on Thanksgiving Day. They will share a meal together. They share the meal together because of the special bond between them. They are family!

We eat with others because we have a special bond with them. Eating together also creates a special bond. When I first came to New Jersey to begin my ministry as the Pastor of Good Shepherd, I arrived without my family. Barbara and I did not want to pull our daughter out of school one month before Summer break. So I travelled to New Jersey by myself while the family stayed behind so our daughter could finish the school year.

I spent that month living in an empty house, and I asked the church to feed me. I extended the invitation for them to invite me to dinner. And they came through. There was hardly a night I did not have a meal provided. I was welcomed into the homes of many of our families. I might have been away from my family, but during the course of that month, I discovered a new family.

I can still remember each one of those meals that I shared. And there is a connection with those people that simply does not exist with people with whom I have not broken bread. I can’t fully explain it. But I am sure that you understand. This is one of the reasons it is so important that families prioritize eating together. Families that eat together, stay together.

Do you want to be a blessing? Invite someone to share a meal! Do you want to assure someone else that they belong? Invite them to share a meal! Do you want to be a friend? Invite someone to share a meal!

Jesus seems to have understood this better than anyone else. He gives us an invitation to join him for his meal – the Lord’s Supper. Don’t lose the fact that one of the Sacraments is a meal. There is nothing that communicates that you belong like eating together. And our belief is that this meal is shared with us to give us the faith and assurance that God welcomes us into his family. In giving us his body and blood, Jesus says, “You belong!”

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;” (James 1:19, ESV)

Pastor Dave Ferguson shares a simple acronym that describes a practical way to B.L.E.S.S. our neighbors.

• B – Begin with prayer
• L – Listen
• E – Eat together
• S – Serve
• S – Share stories

I spoke last time about “Begin with Prayer.” Today, I want to address the second step, and that is to listen.

Listening is an important part of every believer’s life. We start with listening to God. We seek him in his Word to have him speak into our lives. But we don’t stop there.

We also take the time to listen to others. One of the most loving things we can do is listen. There are few things to make other people feel more cared for than when someone takes the time to hear what they have to say. Think about a time when you had someone genuinely listen to you without any agenda. How did that make you feel?

To listen to others, we must:

1. Stop talking. Often when we are in conversation with another person, we are thinking more about what we will say in response to the other person than anything else. Consider just letting the other person talk.
2. Ask questions. Questions spark conversation. And questions communicate genuine concern. I have learned it is more important to ask the right questions than it is to have the right answers.
3. Don’t presume. We often make assumptions and think we know what a person will say before they even say it.
4. Seek understanding. Clarify that you understand what the other person is saying. Make sure that what they wanted to say to you is what you heard them say.

I believe this world would be a much better place if we spent more time listening to each other and less time striving to make our point known. By listening, we discover great opportunities for ministry that we would never recognize otherwise.

“You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” (2 Corinthians 1:11, ESV)

Pastor Dave Ferguson shares a simple acronym that describes to us a practical way to B.L.E.S.S. our neighbors.

• B – Begin with prayer
• L – Listen
• E – Eat together
• S – Serve
• S – Share stories

This acronym is not the only way to be a blessing but is something that is proven to be effective. The first step is to begin with prayer. If you are to pray for your neighbors, there are a few things to consider:

1. Do you know the names of your neighbors? It is hard to pray for people when you don’t know their names.
2. What are some of the needs of your neighbors? Where are they struggling? Where do they need divine intervention? To figure these things out, you need to talk with your neighbors.
3. Do you pray consistently and intentionally for your neighbors? Many of us are not intentional with our prayers, and so the prayers in behalf of our neighbors easily slip out of our focus. What is your strategy and method of prayer for others?

There are many reasons we fail to pray for our neighbors. Sometimes we are too absorbed in our personal affairs that we become apathetic to the needs around us. But the reality is that the more aware we become about the struggles of others, the more insignificant our struggles might seem.

Another reason we fail to pray for our neighbors is that we may not like our neighbors much. We may be angry towards our neighbors. But when you start praying for someone, God has a way of shifting your attitude towards them. I was once told that it is hard to be angry at someone for whom you are praying.

Still another reason we might fail to pray for our neighbor is out of fear. It is not so much about fear of praying, but the fear may be in opening ourselves up to new people and building relationships with others. The other fear is that we might be put in a place we are not comfortable being. But loving others will never be simple. It requires setting aside our comfort zones for God’s priorities. Being a blessing means setting aside my wants for the needs of others. But in the end, I discover something more than I wanted.

How are you praying for your neighbor today?