BLESS Booklet PDF

5
Intentional Rhythms
To Bless others
A simple guide To
neighboring well
*Adapted from Dave Fergusons Bless Acronym

Even from the beginning it seems that God has had a “blessing strategy” for
humanity. We can trace it all the way back to the origins of the nation of Israel.
God called Abraham to be the start of a new nation, a nation that was going to
be God’s special and chosen nation, that would love God with all that they had.
The formation of Israel was never meant to just involve Israel. This blessing
was two-fold, we know that Jesus comes from the line of Abraham as the
ultimate blessing to all nations - but also God was planning to bless the nations
through Israel. God gives Abraham a promise in Genesis 12:2-3
2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name
great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him
who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be
blessed.”
God’s plan from the outset was to bless Abraham so that others would be
blessed through him. Fast forward to the life and teachings of Jesus and there
is no question that Jesus calls us to live a life of blessing as he commands us
to Love others as ourselves. In fact, Jesus says himself that loving God and
loving others is at the center of his teaching.
“The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You
shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater
than these.”
But what does “loving” our neighbor look like? Often times we take this great
commandment and we tame it down to being “nice” to the folks we run into
during the day. But isn’t love more than niceties in our daily interactions? We
believe it is, and in order to love well it needs to be intentional, take time and be
theologically rooted. We look to the example of Jesus as we seek to take this
charge to love God and love others seriously. In the following pages we will
look at five simple rhythms that can help us love our neighbors well.
1

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be
made for all people 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live
peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
This is what Paul tells his readers to start with first. Pray on behalf of others,
even those in authority, (whether you like them or not). How much more should
we consistently pray for the people that God has placed us near?
Even in the midst of busy ministry Jesus modeled and called his disciples to
spend time in prayer. Why? Because God is the source of the blessing that we
desire to offer to others. We must be rooted in him before we pour our lives to
others. Below are some ideas of ways areas to pray through daily. Try to
practice this individually but also with others (family, friends & neighbors)
2
Rhythms of Prayer
Your Heart
Pray for humility and compassion.
Pray for a new sense of awareness toward others.
Pray for opportunities to invest, love and share well.
Pray for boldness to step into those opportunities.
People
Choose a handful of people to intentionally pray for.
Pray that hearts are softened to the Gospel.
Pray for peoples spiritual, physical and emotional needs.
Pray for opportunities for relationships to form.
Pray the holy spirit touches lives.
Places
Pray for restoration, healing and protection in your neighborhood.
Pray for spiritual curiosity and openness.
Pray for a true sense of community to fostered.

Listening means that we take moments to stop and take in our surroundings. It
is a higher sense of awareness about how God wants to use you where you
are at. Whether it is in simple or complex ways, God wants us to listen for his
leading, to listen for opportunities for Him to use us.
One of the most dangerous prayers we can pray is—”your kingdom come,
your will be done.” What you are saying to God is that I am obedient to YOUR
purposes in my life. The reason that this is dangerous is because throughout
scripture God continually uses people who live this prayer to do some powerful
things. He is a God who sends. When we actively listen we take on the
posture of a missionary looking and listening for opportunities for God to use
us in our space. Are we listening? Are we desiring to hear from God and
others so we can say “how is God calling me to respond?”
3
"Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
Are we listening to God’s leading, both through his word and through the
leading of His Spirit. The second aspect is are we listening to others, meaning
are we actively listening for their needs, dreams, hopes and for opportunities
for us to be a blessing when and where we are able.
Rhythms of Listening
Pray that God’s Kingdom come and his will be done in your
neighborhood & ask God how He wants you to partner in that.
Pray for a greater sense of awareness to your surroundings. Take time
to STOP and be still, to look around and process.
Help to foster environments of conversation by taking more walks,
spending more time in the front yard to listen to others.
“Put your ear to the ground in your neighborhood” - not gossip but
listening for needs within your neighborhood.
Ask yourself this dangerous question regularly - “what is God speaking
to me and what does he want me to do about it?”

We believe that we need to take back the table in our culture as a place where life is
shared. We want it to be a space where our neighbors are invited into our lives and
where we can pour into the lives of fellow believers. In Jesus’ day the table was known
as “little temple” because of the social prominence it held in their culture. Jesus regularly
used this communal rhythm to spend with all sorts of folks. This is one of the simplest
ways for us to build relationships with others.
4
16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the
sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with
tax collectors and sinners?”
One of the ways we can take the great commandment of loving our
neighbors seriously is to share a meal and our home with our neighbors.
Rhythms of Eating
Family - Create space this week to use a meal as a way to connect with your family.
Share “highs” and “lows” of your day.
Spend time in prayer as a family, not just as a blessing for the meal but as a
response to what you shared (praises or struggles)
Church - Create space to use a meal as a way to connect with folks from church.
Use it as a space to share your stories, encourage one another, celebrate how
God is working in your life and in the lives of others. Deepen relationships and
sharpen one another.
Neighbors - Create space this week to invite neighbors into your house for a meal.
Maybe it is a large neighborhood BBQ or inviting one person/couple or family over to
share a simple meal. Use this time to ask questions that help unpack people’s stories.
“What do you love to do?”
“Where did you grow up?”
“How did you two meet?”
“What made you decide to move to Clark/Steamboat.”

Here are the words of God in the flesh, let them sink in for a moment…
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his
life as a ransom for many.”
How odd is it then when we desire to use status, positions of power and
money to our advantage - to be served? Jesus is our standard barer in
everything and his service (even to the least in society) is what we look to.
What was his motivation to serve? Does God hope to gain anything from
humanity through His service and His sacrifice? No, God doesn’t need
anything from us. His service was the epitome of a love that didn’t seek a
return on investment. This is the model that we live by as followers of Jesus.
10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.
God’s got stuff to do and he is going to get after it whether we have the
courage to join in—but he has redeemed us in Christ, not just for our benefit,
but for the benefit of others too. Will we answer that calling? When you learn
of needs, of fears, discouragement and dreams of the people that you are
building relationships with, we should respond to those things with service.
May our lives be used by God to enrich and serve others, not for our benefit
but because people are made in the image of God and have inherent value
in God’s eyes.
Rhythms of Service
Chop-wood, move snow, mow lawns, help clean, make meals, etc.
Babysit for a couple so they can have a date night.
Serve in the local church or other ministries.
Give financially to individuals or an organization.
Give your time to someone who is lonely and cut-off from community.
5

“Evangelism” is a word that can make people uneasy, both in and out of the
church. Maybe you cringe at a “bait and switch” type of gospel presentation. Or
a manic & harsh street preacher as he yells at strangers. Interestingly enough
some of you may have come to a relationship with Jesus through a less than
ordinary method. We put far too much stock in the method which often causes
evangelism to seem forced and disingenuous. Also some folks are gifted in
sharing the hope and freedom they have found in Jesus—others would rather
go to the DMV, or get a root canal. Instead of focusing on method I think God
wants us to focus on story—each one of us has a story and as followers of
Jesus, he has profoundly shaped our story.
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to
make a reason to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you;
yet do it with gentleness and respect,
What is interesting is that Peter and even Paul makes the distinction between
gifted evangelists and evangelistic Christians. Peter is talking about the later
saying live lives that are “questionable.” Peter isn’t forcing all people into a God
given gift but he is saying be prepared to share your story, a story that has
been shaped by the larger narrative of Gods redemptive plan, that is both good
news on a incredibly personal level and on a universal level. Peter doesn’t say
manipulate conversation into the direction you want, he has the assumptions
that Christians would be so culturally weird that they would have ample opportunity
to respond to lifestyle questions with Gospel answer. Meaning the motivation
for this “bless strategy” is unashamedly and unequivocally Jesus Christ
of Nazareth.
6
Rhythms of Sharing
Reflect on your story. How has it been shaped by Jesus?
Pray for opportunities to hear and share stories with your neighbors.
Pray for boldness to share the reason for your hope when asked.
We don’t need to be preaching to explain how the Gospel effects the
different aspects of our life (marriage/forgiveness, money/generosity)

Now that we’ve laid out the practical a bit, lets take a step back and just
imagine for a moment how these simple rhythms might impact our lives, and
our neighborhoods. How might our communities change if “ordinary” followers
of Jesus lifted up their heads and invested in the community they find
themselves in? Could it be that God might have big things prepared for us in
our neighborhoods, in our place of work, in all our spheres of community and
influence? Can you imagine what our world might look like if every follower of
Jesus lived a life of intentional investment, even with just a handful of folks.
God often uses relationships as the primary conduit for his church to bless
others, proclaim the Gospel and to invite others to follow Jesus.
“Lord, I confess my lack of awareness for the people around me. Whether it
be selfishness, fear, or indifference, I pray that you soften and shape my heart
into a one of compassion, empathy and service. Use me as a conduit for your
blessing in this world while we intentionally seek to address physical,
emotional and spiritual needs in the communities that you have placed us in.
May we learn by your word and Holy Spirit how to be ambassadors of
reconciliation, pointing others toward You in both word and deed.”
"These impious Galileans (Christians) not only feed their own poor,
but ours also; welcoming them into their agape (love feasts), They
attract them, as children are attracted with cakes.”
- Julian the Apostate (Roman Emperor from 361 to 363)