Grant Myles-Era - July 1, 2018
Won't You be my Neighbor
How to live the best kind of life is a question that has preoccupied human beings for millennia. There have been many answers suggested by philosophers and religious traditions. When Jesus was asked this question he pointed to the vertical and horizontal relationships of love for God and others: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10: 27). In our modern spiritual landscape, the question of who exactly God is may be contested. Even if we can possibly find common ground on that subject, the question, "who is my neighbor?" remains a vital one to answer if we are to be the kind of community that brings salvation and healing to this world. Jesus’ perspective on this question, controversial in his day, still is today.
From Series: "ALL In"
In the song Eleanor Rigby, the Beatles asked, “...all the lonely people, where do they all belong?” Their lyrics portray the “church” as providing no real solutions to the isolation and loneliness that so many people experience in the modern world. They may have a point. Some of the loneliest people sit in church pews week after week without ever finding the sense of belonging that they long for. How can this be, when the Christian faith calls human beings into the deepest experiences of community living? This summer at NewSong we'll be exploring the rich tradition of community life that is at the very heart of faith in Jesus. We'll also be hearing from some leaders from various types of community in our neighborhoods. Even more importantly we'll be spending time together, and seeking to ensure that there is no one left in isolation within our sphere of influence. From the beginning... Genesis 2:18, "Then the Lord God said, 'It’s not good that the human is alone…’ to the new beginning… ” Rev. 7:9 "After this I looked, and there was a great crowd that no one could number. They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language.” All in!