Even a Barbeque Can Build a Bridge of Love

[Even a Barbeque Can Build a Bridge of Love](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) Current Teaching Series [A Faith That Works When Life Doesn't: The James Series](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) [Listen to Today's Broadcast](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) [Even a Barbeque Can Build a Bridge of Love](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) By Rick Warren — June 11, 2020 [Facebook](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) [Twitter](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) [Pinterest](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) [Email](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) [Devotional image from Rick Warren](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) “If anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” 1 John 3:17 (ESV) God has given you unique talents, gifts, abilities, and skills. But those things weren't given for your benefit. They were given to you for the benefit of others. And, despite the need to stay closer to home these days, there’s never been a better time to put those gifts to work as you obey God’s command to love your neighbor. Meeting needs and serving other people is love in action. The Bible says in 1 John 3:17, "If anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?" (ESV). I’ve heard about a lot of innovative ways people have been serving their neighborhoods since the pandemic began. When you go to the grocery store, you can check with your neighbors, especially older ones, to see if they need anything. Offer to mow someone’s lawn or wash their car. Maybe someone has questions about their kids’ schooling, their taxes, or a car problem that you are uniquely gifted to answer. Food always opens doors! Make a meal for someone or drop off donuts for a family. Bring the newspaper to their door. Offer to pull weeds or help with an outdoor project. Share your number so people can text you with a need. I heard of one family that even posted a QR code on mailboxes to join a group for support during the pandemic. You can also invite people to watch your church service online and talk with them about it after. Most importantly, there’s one way you can serve your neighbors that will meet their greatest need: Share with them about how much God loves them and how Jesus Christ died to save them. You need to learn how to explain to your neighbors how they can become friends with Jesus. It's not that hard, friends. You share with them that their past can be forgiven, that they can have a purpose for living, and that they can have a home in heaven. You build a bridge of love between your heart and theirs with a barbecue or a driveway conversation, and you let Jesus walk across. The most important way you can love your neighbor is to introduce them to Jesus. Make the most of every opportunity to serve the people around you in love so they can learn about the greatest love they’ll ever know. [PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) Talk About It - If you know your neighbors well, have you shared with them about how much God loves them and what Jesus has done for them? If not, what is holding you back from having those conversations? - What is one specific way you can reach out to a neighbor this week to serve them and share Christ’s love with them? Who can hold you accountable to follow through with this? - How can your church family or small group work together to reach out to your neighbors? How can you work with the other Christians who live on your street? 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[LEARN MORE](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r [Complete Audio Series (Purchase)](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) Includes 9 full-length messages from Pastor Rick's series Unshakable! Thriving No Matter What Hits You. [LEARN MORE](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r [Series Summary](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) Message 1: Real Faith Versus Fake Faith Message 2: A Faith That Loves My Neighbor as Myself Message 3: A Faith That Shows Respect to Everyone Message 4: A Faith That Leads to Emotional Health Message 5: A Faith That Stays Calm in a Crisis Message 6: A Faith That Anchors Me in a Storm Message 7: A Faith That Walks Through the Valley of the Virus Message 8: A Faith That Plants Seeds of Peace Message 9: A Faith That Isn't Troubled by Troubles Message 10: A Faith That Makes Tough Choices Easier Message 11: A Faith That Counters My Bad Habits [PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) Pastor Rick Warren [Facebook](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r)[Twitter](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) [Instagram](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) [Linkedin](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) Enjoy today's devotional? Listen to Pastor Rick’s daily audio teaching at [PastorRick.com](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) Did someone forward this devotional to you? [Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional.](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) As the founding pastor of Saddleback Church with his wife Kay, Dr. Rick Warren leads a 30,000-member congregation in California with campuses in major cities around the world. As an author, his book [The Purpose Driven Life](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) is one of the best-selling nonfiction books in publishing history. It has been translated into 74 languages and sold more than 50 million copies in all formats. His book [The Purpose Driven Church](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the century. Rick also founded [The PEACE Plan](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r) to address five global issues—spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy—through the power of ordinary people in the local church. You can listen to Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope, his daily 25-minute audio teaching, and sign up for his free daily devotionals at [PastorRick.com](JW5b5wbzN:m:1:2618166767:6F322BD6D5AB97C8BB09637BD275F433:r). © 2020 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link below. This message was intended for: {EMAIL} You were added to the system December 23, 2016. For more information [click here](. [Unsubscribe](