Houses of Light Beyond the Letterbox Guide

BEYOND THE

LET TERBOX

GETTING STARTED IN

MAGNIFYING JESUS

IN YOUR STREET

Ideal for home groups, individuals

or missional communities

• 7 weekly scriptures and reflections.

• 40 days of prayer for your street

• 40 acts of kindness for your neighbours

VISION TO SEE A HOUSE OF LIGHT

IN EVERY STREET IN THE UK

A Houses of Light is an individual or

household, who choose to take spiritual

responsibility for their street, PRAYING for

their neighbours, CARING for their neighbours

and SHARING Jesus with their neighbours.

Believing for 5 new disciples on every street.

JOIN US NOW

MAGNIFYINGJESUSONOURSTREETS

HOUSESOFLIGHT.NET

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BEYOND THE LETTERBOX

GETTING STARTED IN ‘MAGNIFYING JESUS IN YOUR STREET.

CONTENTS

How to use this guide............................................................... 3

Introduction to Houses of Light................................................ 4

Origins of this Guide................................................................. 5

Getting Started- quick guide to starting your House of Light..... 6

Light Story (testimony)............................................................ 7

PART I Weekly scriptures and reflection................................... 8

PART II Daily prayers................................................................ 16

PART III Neighbour challenges.................................................. 25

More Resources........................................................................ 27

Special Thanks…....................................................................... 27

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

This guide is divided into three sections. You can choose to use the whole of this resource or some of it, tailoring

it to the local needs of your community and local church.

1. Seven weekly reflections based around scripture. Ideally, we suggest this is done with at least one other

Christian or in a home group, missional community or ‘Light Connect’ group.

2. A forty-day prayer guide loosely related to the themes in part one.

3. For those of you who want to do more than the seven weekly, ‘Neighbour challenges,’ we have added a

further 33 challenges, making up 40 in total. You can do these in any order that you choose.

Artificial Intelligence

Apart from using Bible Gateway for scripture references, we do not use artificial intelligence when

writing guides. The guides come after extensive prayer and often Bible reading. We do not use AI to generate

any written newsletters or written resource content. The author of this guide is Rebekah Brettle.



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INTRODUCTION TO HOUSES

OF LIGHT, BY FOUNDER AND

CEO, DR REBEKAH BRETTLE

Houses of Light is aiming to see at least one ‘House of Light’

in every street in the UK. A House of Light is an individual

or household aiming to take spiritual responsibility for their

street.

We want to see God’s Kingdom break out in every street in the UK. We ask people who sign up to be a House of

Light – to PRAY for their neighbours, CARE for their neighbours and SHARE Jesus with their neighbours. We are

aiming to see 5 new disciples of Jesus on every street in the UK. We do this by preparing in PRAYER, mending nets

with CARE and catching new disciples through SHARING JESUS.

We know this works as we have ‘light stories’ across the UK since 2012, showing that when people PRAY, CARE

and SHARE, neighbours come to know Jesus, people have been healed, crime has fallen and loneliness has

decreased.

We believe that every Christian should be salt and light in their street (Matthew 5:13-16).

Click here to sign up to be part of a growing community of like-minded Christians, separated by geography, but

unified in purpose!

If you want to know more about our vision visit our website at www.housesoflight.net

If you wish to feedback about this guide email ceo@housesoflight.net

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ORIGINS OF THIS GUIDE

This is an updated resource first published in 2016. Lisa Hutt,

our Prayer Director, believes that this guide was a catalyst for

seeing her own street transformed. She has been very keen

for us to bring this back. You can read Lisa’s ‘Light Story’ on

page 7.

Anyone signing up to become a House of Light on their street, will be given this guide in digital format. However,

for those of us who have been part of our community for some time, it is also ‘good’ for jump starting things

again in our streets.

This ‘getting started’ guide to reaching out to neighbours, is intended for use in home groups, missional

communities or ‘Light Connect’ groups. It can and has been used individually by many people previously. It has 7

weekly Bible readings with reflections, practical suggestions and daily prayers over a 40 day period.

For many of us, the only relationship we have with our neighbours, is when we collect a parcel on their behalf.

This guide is intended to take you- ’Beyond the Letterbox!’

Jesus tells us to love our neighbour (Matthew 22:39, Luke 10:25-37). Jesus had a broad definition of who we

should view as our neighbour, but I don’t think he ever intended for us to ignore those on our immediate doorstep!

SAFETY NOTICE: While the vast majority of people living in our streets, would not harm a child or vulnerable

adult. We are concerned about the growing problem of abuse. We would ask you to be vigilant of this risk when

getting to know neighbours, and don’t put yourself in a position where you are alone with a child, vulnerable

adult, or member of the opposite sex. Please as a courtesy to your church leader, let them know you are using

this guide.



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GETTING STARTED

List five neighbours from 5 different houses. Put their names

on your fridge and pray for them every time you open the

fridge door. If you don’t know their names, ask God to present

opportunities for you to get to know 5 neighbours’ names

this week.

1:

2:

3:

4

5:

Sign up to www.housesoflight.net registering your street on our map, so that we can see where the gaps are.

Every time you leave your home, pray a blessing over your street. Once a month prayer-walk or drive a literal mile

from your home and once a year on the last Saturday in September, join many across the UK going, ‘A Mile with

Jesus on our national ‘A Mile with Jesus’ prayer walking day.

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LIGHT STORY, FROM LISA

HUTT, DIRECTOR OF PRAYER,

HOUSES OF LIGHT

This resource was transformational of my own life and street.

As soon as I saw it, I knew this was something I wanted to use.

As I prayed about what this looked like for me, I was led to commit to do a different type of fast which was to not

watch television for 40 days. As someone who regularly watched certain tv programmes I know this was a grace

of God. The desire to do this came from God. I also sought God and decided which 5 neighbours I would pray

for each day. The prayers and scriptures along with the weekly reflections and questions drew me closer to God

and helped me understand more of God’s love for my neighbours and His call for me to love them. I was given a

heart desire to get to know my neighbours and be open to God’s leading. At this time, I had lived on my street for

over 15 years. The first New Year after we moved into our home, we had been invited by a Christian couple next

door to a New Year’s gathering. This is how I got to know my immediate neighbours. I had not entertained the

thought of getting to know other neighbours on my street. Yet God moved in an extraordinary way as I fasted,

read the bible and prayed. After a few days I was walking home from church and met one of the five neighbours I

was praying for. She was delivering invites to all the homes on our street inviting women to a social in the home

of another of the 5 neighbours I was praying for! We have a long street, so I knew immediately this was an answer

to my prayers. At the street social I met neighbours I had never seen before. One of them lived only a couple of

doors up from me. Those at this first women’s social said they had not been to any type of social like this before

on the street in their memory. It was a breakthrough moment where people got to know people. Neighbours

were no longer strangers, and I still greet people in the street I first met there. Since that time there have been

several street socials which have brought our community together. I have helped organise some of these street

parties. I have had opportunities to share I am a Christian as my neighbours have got to know me. I regularly

pray the Lord’s prayer over my street in the morning. I have seen one neighbour become passionate for prayer.

God has done immeasurably more than I could have asked or imagined. I believe this excellent resource was the

launchpad for all God has done and continues to do.



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PART I

Week 1:

Luke10:25-37 (NIV)

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to

test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to

inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do

you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your

heart and with all your soul and with all your strength

and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbour as

yourself.”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do

this and you will live.”

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus,

“And who is my neighbour?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from

Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by

robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him

and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest

happened to be going down the same road, and when

he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32

So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw

him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan,

as he travelled, came where the man was; and when

he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him

and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.

Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him

to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took

out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look

after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse

you for any extra expense you may have.’

they became ‘unclean’ until a certain time had passed.

They may have been worried about getting involved or

they may simply have been too busy or late. It is also

possible that they were afraid for their own safety.

Whatever the reason or reasons, they had their own

priorities and did not stop to help.

The Samaritan ignored the plans he already had and

chose to get involved, at great cost. He diverted his

time and his money to helping a stranger he did not

know and who he probably suspected would not

be able to repay him. Compassion was no doubt the

driving force for helping the man in need.

Questions

1. Who are the Samaritans in your street?

2. What reasons do you have for not getting to know

your neighbours?

3. Who would the priests represent today?

4. List some problems you know your neighbours are

facing.

5. Can you imagine some of the problems your

neighbours might be facing right now that you do

not know about? List them…

Neighbour Challenge 1:

Walk up and down your street each day, asking anyone

you bump into whether they live nearby. Make a note

of the houses and the names of the people you bump

into (perhaps helping you identify your 5 neighbours

on page 6.

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour

to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had

mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Reflection:

Samaritans were despised in Jesus’ time and yet in this

story, Jesus makes a Samaritan the hero of the story.

The priest and the Levite, both religious men, crossed

over the side of the road, to the other side. There

were several reasons they may have done this. They

may have thought that the man was dead. The law

of Moses said that if someone touched a dead body,

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Week 2: Peace In Your House, Peace In Your

Street

Read Luke10:1-12 (read the whole of Luke 10

for context)

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and

sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and

place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The

harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the

Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers

into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like

lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or

sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this

house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there,

your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to

you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they

give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not

move around from house to house.

8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what

is offered to you.9 Heal the sick who are there and tell

them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10

But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go

into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town

we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure

of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell

you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom

than for that town.

Reflection

In this passage, Jesus sends the ‘72’ out with no money,

no change of clothes and no food. He tells them that

he is ‘sending them out as sheep among wolves.’

The idea of reaching out to neighbours can be a

daunting one. These are the people that live in our

streets, who we may have to bump into, time and

time again. Despite having no resources available,

the disciples were able to accomplish great things,

because they had the presence of God, (the Holy

Spirit) with them.

The disciples were sent out in twos for a reason.

Two people can encourage one another, talk through

anxieties and support each other. Jesus talks about

saying, ‘peace to this house’ and if ‘a man of peace is

there your peace will rest on him.’ What is Jesus saying?

prayer/every day conversation will ensure that we see

the opportunity in our own street. Who is the man or

woman of peace, that God is drawing you to?

A neighbour who is a ‘man or woman of peace’ will

have the following characteristics:

(i) They will be someone happy to get to know you and

open to the Christian faith.

(ii) Be someone of influence over your neighbours.

(iii) They will help you get to know other neighbours,

help you share the love of Jesus and perhaps in

time, share the Gospel.

In some cases, God may be asking you to be the ‘man

or woman of peace’ on your street!

This scripture seems to encourage us to focus on one

household to begin with, so that many others will be

influenced. Is there a ‘man or woman’ of peace in your

street? Pray that God will reveal who this is in the next

few days.

Importantly, Jesus tells his disciples not to be

discouraged. If people reject you, they are rejecting

Jesus and God the Father.

Strikingly, Jesus expected miracles to happen wherever

the disciples visited. What miracles do you want to see

happening in your street?

Questions

1. Have you experienced the peace of God or have

others commented that you seem peaceful?

2. Is there a man or woman of ‘peace’ in your street?

3. What miracles would you like to see in your street, if

you had the faith to believe for them? Pray for more

faith.

4. How is your prayer life and your relationship with

God?

5. How often do you read and know your Bible?


Think about how you would tell a neighbour, what God

has done in your life. Ask God for an opportunity to tell

a neighbour you attend church.

The peace that Jesus talks about is the peace that

every Christian has, the peace of the Holy Spirit. It is

a peace that other people who are not yet Christian,

can feel in the presence of Christians. When I was a

‘none-Christian.’ I would often meet Christians and feel

or see something different about them. I was drawn to

the presence of the Holy Spirit. Staying close to God in



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Week 3: Do Not Judge

Read Matthew 7:1-29

7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the

same way you judge others, you will be judged, and

with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your

brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your

own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me

take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there

is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take

the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see

clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your

pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under

their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will

find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For

everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds;

and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give

him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a

snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how

to give good gifts to your children, how much more

will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who

ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you

would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law

and the Prophets.

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the

gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction,

and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and

narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find

it.

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you

in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious

wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do

people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from

thistles?17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit,

but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot

bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down

and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will

recognize them.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will

enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who

does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many

will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not

prophesy in your name and in your name drive out

demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away

from me, you evildoers!’

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of

mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man

who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came

down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and

beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it

had its foundation on the rock.26 But everyone who

hears these words of mine and does not put them into

practice is like a foolish man who built his house on

sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and

the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell

with a great crash.”

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the

crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he

taught as one who had authority, and not as their

teachers of the law

Reflection

We make judgements about people all the time, how

they dress, how they live. Christians living in a ‘secular’

culture can be guilty of judging other people’s lifestyle

based on our own values. For example, how do we feel

about couples who live together and are not married,

people who have sex with many different partners,

those who have abortions, those who drink excessively,

swear too much, raise their children in a way we might

not? I believe whether we intend to or not, Christians

make judgements every day, about people who have

never heard the teachings of Jesus and genuinely do

not believe that they are doing nothing wrong. Jesus

tells us we are not to judge others, regardless of what

we feel is personally right and wrong. In judging others,

we are bringing judgement on ourselves.

Jesus also teaches us in Matthew 7, that we should

ask God in prayer for the things we would like to see in

our lives and the lives of others. When we ask though,

we need to be asking with the right motives, with love

in our hearts and our focus on God and not what we

can get from Him. How many of us fail to ask God for

things? Imagine if every Christian in the UK, prayed

regularly and with passion for the streets where they

live? How many lives would be transformed?

Jesus also warns us not to follow false teachings. Today

we are bombarded with Youtube videos, Christian

influencers, TV programmes, radio and resources and

Christian posts on social media. If we so choose, we

can dip in and out of other churches to supplement

what we hear in our own church. How do we know

what are false teachings? Firstly, we must always line

up what we hear with what we read in the Bible, but if

we wait long enough, we will also see ‘good’ or ‘bad’

fruit in the teacher’s life.

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Jesus also warns us here, that we need to be taking time

to develop our relationship with Him, so that we have

a personal relationship with Him. To do this, we should

be taking time to read the Bible and pray regularly. We

need to bring before God, all of our concerns and our

blessings and thank Him for both, believing that God

can bring ‘good’ out of every situation (Romans 8:28).

It is possible to have a relationship with Jesus where

we can hear what He is saying to us. For some of us,

when praying, we may be reminded of a scripture.

Sometimes, someone else might speak about a

scripture that keeps cropping up all over the place.

Some people see ‘pictures’ when praying and in rarer

cases, some report hearing the audible voice of God.

How your relationship with Jesus develops, depends

how much time you give the relationship through

prayer and reading the Bible. God speaks to us all in

different ways.


Think of a neighbour who lives a completely different

lifestyle to you, or a neighbour from a different religious

or cultural background. Invite them around for a meal

or make a meal for them. Please if you live alone, do

this with someone else.

Lastly, Jesus tells us to follow his teachings. For if we

do, our lives will look different from those around us.

Hopefully our lives will be attractive to our neighbours.

How much do you follow Jesus’ teachings?

Do not dwell in areas of weakness, for all fall short

of the glory of God. Sometimes our weaknesses can

make us more approachable, to those struggling with

similar things.

So, in all things:

• Do not judge your neighbours.

• Pray regularly, asking God for specific things, with

love and in line with God’s word.

• Weigh up the teachings, is there fruit in the person’s

life? Is the teaching in line with what the Bible says?

• Develop a personal relationship with Jesus, through

personal prayer and Bible reading, also attend a local

church if you don’t already.

• Apply Jesus’ teachings to your life.

Questions

1. How do you judge your neighbours and how do your

neighbours judge you?

2. How often do you pray and read the Bible?

3. Ask God to highlight a neighbour you should pray

for.

4. Do you feel that you know Jesus personally? How

has God spoken to you in the past?

5. What areas of Jesus’ teachings do you struggle with

and is there anything you need to speak to God

about, that has formed a barrier, (from your side)

towards God?

Week 4: Love Your Enemies

Read Matthew 5:43-48

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your

neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love

your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and

sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46

If you love those who love you, what reward will you

get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47

And if you greet only your own people, what are you

doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is

perfect.

Reflection

We all have people that we do not get along with, but

some of us, now or in the future, live on streets where

we have neighbours who make our lives difficult. Some

irritations are minor, such as parking, teenagers playing

ball games too close to our homes and loud music at

unsociable hours. Some neighbour disputes are far

more serious, escalating to threatening behaviour,

criminal damage and causing fear and intimidation.



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Our response to these difficult situations should

always start with showing love.

Common neighbour disputes (these are just a flavour.)

1. Parking: If you are not disabled, why not park further

away rather than getting upset about cars parked

outside your home?

2. Planning permission for extensions, new builds etc.

Speaking to neighbours ahead of seeking planning

permission, sometimes offsets any problems, but

do also be considerate to their concerns. If your

neighbour feels that your extension is going to

reduce sunlight, for example, are there ways around

this?

3. Fences: If you are replacing fences, inform your

neighbour before and you may find that they will

contribute to the cost. If the deeds of your house

say that you are responsible, do not get offended if

they say they can’t or won’t contribute.

4. Bins: If your neighbour is upset about where you

place your bins, if it is not on your property, could

you put them somewhere else? Does it matter if a

neighbour steals your bins? Clean it up or order new

ones.

5. Post: Don’t expect your neighbours to take multiple

parcels each week and make sure you return the

favour if they do this for you.

6. The state of your garden: Why not try to keep it tidy

if you can?

7. Loud music and many parties: If you are having a

party, why not inform your neighbours and keep

the sound down. If your neighbour has the odd loud

party, let it go.

8. A tree or a bush that encroaches on a neighbour’s

property or reduces light: Prune these as irritation

grows over time.

What does loving your neighbour look like?

Very few of our neighbour meet the criteria for being

an ‘enemy.’ How much more are we called to love them

if this isn’t the case!

Perhaps loving our neighbours, is not speaking to

other neighbours about the problems you are having,

choosing not to argue (even if you are right) and always

trying to think about their best interests.

threatening behaviour. In cases of criminal behaviour,

you should try to speak to your local police officer.

Finally, Jesus says that we should not ignore,

neighbours we struggle with, or dislike. We should try

to say hello when we can.

The truth is that many disagreements begin, because

one or both neighbours have not thought about the

impact on the other. Perhaps if there was a greater sense

of community, there would be less disagreements…

Someone wrote into us, a long time ago, to say how

irritated she had been with the loud music down the

road late at night and not for the first time either. She

was praying to God about it, when she felt God gently

whisper, that she should pray for the young people,

that they got home safely and didn’t live to regret some

of their decisions the next morning. In this moment

of prayer, her heart towards them turned from one of

anger, to one of love.

Still, one more person told me that they lived in a house

where every time they left the house, a neighbour

threatened them. We would suggest prayer only and

to stay away if possible, from such neighbours and

contacting the police if necessary.

Questions

1. Do you have any neighbours where you are in dispute,

dislike each other or a more serious situation?

2. How do you feel about applying the teachings of

Jesus, when someone has hurt you, threatened you

or mistreated you?

3. What does it mean to pray prayers of blessings over

neighbours?

4. Can you give examples where you have behaved in a

loving way to someone who has caused you upset?

5. How challenging do you find Jesus’ teaching about

loving enemies in general, be they on your street,

workplace or in the wider world?

Neighbour challenge 4:

Pray for a neighbour you dislike or are in dispute with

or where relationship is strained or threatening.

Next, Jesus says, we are to pray for them, pray blessing

over our neighbours and their home, relationships,

finances and relationship with God.

Jesus says, ’we are to do ‘good’ to those who hate

us. This does not mean that we tolerate abusive or

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Week 5: Generosity

Read: Acts 2:42-47

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching

and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to

prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many

wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44

All the believers were together and had everything

in common. 45 They sold property and possessions

to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they

continued to meet together in the temple courts. They

broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad

and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the

favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their

number daily those who were being saved.

5. How do you as an individual Christian and your

church as a whole; compare with the Acts 2 church?

Neighbour challenge 5:

Is there something you can give to a neighbour in

need? Make it a priority this week to be generous to at

least one neighbour. Ask God to show you someone in

need this week.

Reflection

In this passage, we see the church growing extremely

fast. How different is it from our own experience? Some

of us reading this will be in churches that are growing

quickly and some who are in shrinking congregations.

Why did the early church grow so fast?

I don’t think that we can glean one simple answer from

this passage, but there are some things of particular

relevance; to our street!

The people followed the teachings of Jesus and the

Apostles, in their daily lives. They met with other

Christians regularly, had communion regularly and they

prayed regularly. The fruit of this was that they were a

very generous people, sharing all that they had, with

those less fortunate. They gave thanks to God for what

they did have. They were an attractive community, a

magnetic community, to those around them. They

showed love to one another and to those outside their

community. They did not conceal their faith, they were

very visible. People around them could not but notice

what was going on. God was moving among them.

The church is not just a meeting place, where services

are held, it is the people who attend, who are the

church, in our homes, our streets, our villages, our

towns, our cities and in the UK.

Questions

1. Do you meet up with any other Christians to pray

regularly outside of church services?

2. Do you study the teachings of the Bible, especially

Jesus’ teachings and apply them to your life?

3. Do you thank God for everything that you have,

rather than complaining about what you don’t have?

4. Are you generous with time, money and resources?

Week 6: Humility and Hospitality

Read Luke 14:7-14

7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places

of honour at the table, he told them this parable:

8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast,

do not take the place of honour, for a person more

distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so,

the host who invited both of you will come and say

to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated,

you will have to take the least important place. 10 But

when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that

when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend,

move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honoured

in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those

who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who

humble themselves will be exalted.”

12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give

a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends,

your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich

neighbours; if you do, they may invite you back and

so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet,

invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and

you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you,

you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Reflection

What is your attitude towards others? Do you think

that you are better than some people or worse? Do



13

you think you deserve some things more than others;

that you are usually right about most things? If so, you

like the rest of us are likely suffering from a degree of

pride. Pride is the opposite of humility affecting how

we treat others. If we think others are less deserving

than ourselves, we are less likely to mix with them.,

help them, or to use an expression of Jesus ‘be a

servant towards others.’ Jesus teaches us, that we

should strive for humility.

Humility looks to always serve others, to let others

take the best places and in some cases opportunities.

Humility leads us to sacrifice our time and resources

for others, seeking the best for them and putting our

own needs second. Humility is closely related to love!

Love for others, rather than yourself is the opposite of

pride.

This passage also talks about hospitality and Jesus

tells us to take hospitality to another level. He tells

us we should invite those much less fortunate than

ourselves, people perhaps we won’t immediately ‘get

on with.’

Hospitality could be a ‘cuppa’ with a neighbour, taking

cakes around to neighbours, putting on a coffee

morning, or afternoon tea, having a meal together or

a street party.

Lent/Easter

Organise a pancake party with your neighbours.

Give out some Easter cards with a message about

Jesus, local church services at Easter and or some

prayer request cards.

June: 1st weekend in June is the ‘National Big Lunch’

where everyone is encouraged to have lunch with their

neighbours www.thebiglunch.com

July/August: Organise a barbeque in your street for

your neighbours.

September: Organise or attend a Macmillan coffee

morning.

October: Organise an ‘Operation Christmas Child’

shoebox packing party www.samaritanspurse.org

November: Consider doing something with neighbours

around remembrance Sunday to honour those who

have fallen in the armed services.

December: Invite neighbours to hot meat sandwich

parties, mulled wine and minced pies (caution re

alcohol abuse in the community), or Christmas themed

parties, also inviting to local Christmas church services

and Shine Your Light events locally.

Questions

1. In what ways would you say you are humble, in which

ways proud? How does this affect your behaviour

towards others and your neighbours?

2. When was the last time you enjoyed some hospitality

from someone living nearby, no further than a few

streets away?

3. What does hospitality mean to you?

4. How could you, together with others put on an event

for some neighbours on your street?


Plan a gathering of neighbours, depending on the time

of the year.

All year round:

• Invite a neighbour/family around for food.

• Make some cakes and give them out to neighbours.

• Arrange a ‘afternoon tea’ or coffee morning on your

street for your neighbours.

• Cook for an unwell neighbour, a family who have just

welcomed a new baby for a week or two. This works

best if several of you are doing this.

14



Week 7: Aiming for 5 new disciples on your

street.

Read Matthew 28:18-20 The Great

Commission

8 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in

heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore

go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in

the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy

Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have

commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to

the very end of the age.”

Reflection

This scripture can be one of the most exciting or the

most scary, depending on how you feel about sharing

your faith. For some of us this comes naturally, for

some of us, this does not. Jesus commands us to make

disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey all the

things He has commanded us. It may be that some of

us are called to serve overseas as missionaries, but all

of us are called to be a missionary to where we live or

indeed work. Our street is a mission field. Indeed, in

many parts of the UK, we literally have people who

are originally from many other nations living on our

streets. The nations have come to us! This scripture

tells us that while God will be with us, we have a part

to play in seeing the Kingdom advance where we live.

However, it is also challenging. To make disciples, we

tell our neighbours about Jesus and that isn’t enough,

we need to be serious about modelling His teachings,

and sharing them with others. We worry about if

people will still like us and whether we will be rejected.

Perhaps we need to worry more about disobeying

something Jesus has told us to do. Notice that Jesus

does not tell the leaders of churches to go and make

disciples; the great commission is for all of us!

Questions

1. Have you ever shared your faith with anyone?

What was the response and were they followed up?

2. What does a disciple mean to you?

3. What are the main barriers to you telling someone

about Jesus?

4. How can you overcome them?


This year commit to sharing your faith with at least

one neighbour, praying for God for the opportunity.

Consider inviting them to church run events, Alpha

courses or just letting it flow out of everyday

conversation. Continue to pray for your 5 neighbours,

until you see them become Christian!

We PREPARE in PRAYER

We MEND nets with CARE

We CATCH new disciples, through SHARING JESUS.

Sign up to pray for your street at www.housesoflight.

net – encourage as many Christians as you can, to

join you. We will soon be developing some booklets

answering the most common questions/objections

people have to Christianity, based entirely on scripture.

Look out for these via our website.



15

PART II DAILY

PRAYERS

Day 1: John 3:16-18

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and

only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish

but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son

into the world to condemn the world, but to save the

world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not

condemned, but whoever does not believe stands

condemned already because they have not believed in

the name of God’s one and only Son.

Father, help (list five names of neighbours) to come to

know Jesus as God’s son. Bring opportunities for my

neighbours now and in the future, to hear of recent

stories of miracles and transformed lives. Open their

eyes to who Jesus is. Amen

Day 2: Philippians 2:1-4

Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being

united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any

common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and

compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being

like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit

and of one mind.3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition

or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above

yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but

each of you to the interests of the others.

Lord, increase my love towards others. Help me

sacrifice time watching TV, playing computer games,

social media, so that I might spend more time with

neighbours, friends and family. Amen

Day 3: Romans 13:8-10

8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the

continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves

others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments,

“You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not

murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and

whatever other command there may be, are summed

up in this one command: “Love your neighbour as

yourself.”[ 10 Love does no harm to a neighbour.

Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Teach me to be a better neighbour. Present

opportunities this week for me to get to know my

neighbours much more than I do now. Amen

Day 4: Isaiah 16:3-5

“Make up your mind,” Moab says, “Render a decision.

Make your shadow like night—

at high noon. Hide the fugitives, do not betray the

refugees.4 Let the Moabite fugitives stay with you;

be their shelter from the destroyer.” The oppressor

will come to an end, and destruction will cease; the

aggressor will vanish from the land.5 In love a throne

will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on

it— one from the house of David—one who in judging

seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness.

Father, help asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants,

to feel welcome in our street and in the surrounding

neighbourhood. Fill my heart with love towards

them and bring harmony among the different faith

communities in my area. Amen


Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of

God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,

holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper

worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this

world,but be transformed by the renewing of your

mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what

God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Father, help me make my life a living sacrifice, so that

I will prioritise people’s needs over my own. Present

opportunities for me to help my elderly neighbours,

when they are sick, need help getting to appointments,

or just need a friendly face. Amen

Day 6: James 5:12-16

12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—

not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you

need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you

will be condemned.

13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is

anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is

anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of

the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil

in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in

faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise

them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for

each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a

righteous person is powerful and effective.

Lord, give me more faith, so that I will believe that my

prayers will be answered. Help me to trust you more.

Help all Christians on our street, to confess our sins

16



before You. Sow a seed in my heart to believe things

that I might currently think are impossible. Amen

Day 7: James 2:1-13

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord

Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose

a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring

and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes

also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the

man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good

seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand

there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not

discriminated among yourselves and become judges

with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God

chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to

be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised

those who love him? 6 But you have dishonoured the

poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are

they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7

Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble

name of him to whom you belong?

8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture,

“Love your neighbour as yourself,” you are doing right.

9 But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted

by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the

whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty

of breaking all of it.11 For he who said, “You shall not

commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If

you do not commit adultery but do commit murder,

you have become a lawbreaker.

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged

by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment

without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not

been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Father, cleanse me of any prejudices I have developed

towards any people-group, social class or cultural

difference. Help me to treat all people equally and

to show love to everyone regardless of how they

speak, dress or act, even when I find views or actions

offensive. Amen

Day 8: John 17:20-21

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for

those who will believe in me through their message,

21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are

in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that

the world may believe that you have sent me.

Father, help me to find other Christians on our street, so

that together we can commit to praying for the whole

street. We bring before You every church in the area

and ask that all churches would come together in unity

to seek Your will for the area where we live. Restore

relationships between churches, so that while unity is

not uniformity, we are all working towards seeing Your

Kingdom come in our streets, in our neighbourhood

and in the UK. Amen


Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities,

for there is no authority except that which God has

established. The authorities that exist have been

established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels

against the authority is rebelling against what God has

instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment

on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those

who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you

want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then

do what is right and you will be commended.

Lord, give wisdom and resources to our local

neighbourhood policing teams and help them to come

to know You. Change the atmosphere of our street,

so that people would comment on the ‘peaceful

atmosphere in the street. Amen

Day 10: Matthew 5:1-12

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a

mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to

him, 2 and he began to teach them.

He said:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs

is the kingdom of heaven.4 Blessed are those who

mourn, for they will be comforted.5 Blessed are the

meek, for they will inherit the earth.6 Blessed are

those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for

they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they

will be shown mercy.8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.10 Blessed are

those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 “Blessed are you

when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say

all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice

and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven,

for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who

were before you.

Father, bless those who mourn, not just those who

are grieving for loved ones that they have lost, but

also those who mourn because of injustice. Bless the

peacemakers, the merciful, the meek and those who



17

hunger and thirst for righteousness. Help myself and

other Christians to have no fear of saying that we are

Christians, especially those who have experienced

previous persecution. Amen

Day 11: Joel 2:12-18

12 “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all

your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”13

Rend your heart and not your garments.

Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and

compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love,

and he relents from sending calamity.14 Who knows?

He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing—

grain offerings and drink offerings

for the Lord your God.15 Blow the trumpet in Zion,

declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.16 Gather

the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together

the elders,

gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let

the bridegroom leave his room

and the bride her chamber.17 Let the priests, who

minister before the Lord,

weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say,

“Spare your people, Lord.

Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a

byword among the nations.

Why should they say among the peoples,‘Where is

their God?’” 18 Then the Lord was jealous for his land

and took pity on his people.

Father, let Your Holy Spirit flow like a river through my

street, giving people a hunger and thirst for You, in a

new way. Lord, we pray for local churches to have a

passion for prayer. Amen

Day 12: Isaiah 6:1-7

6 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high

and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his

robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim,

each with six wings: With two wings they covered

their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with

two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one

another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth

is full of his glory.”

4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and

thresholds shook and the temple was filled with

smoke.5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am

a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of

unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the

Lord Almighty.”6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me

with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with

tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth

and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is

taken away and your sin atoned for.”

Lord, forgive me for the times that I have gossiped

about people or have broken their confidence. Help

me to be a neighbour whom people can trust. For

neighbours, who are victims of bullying, emotional

abuse or gossip, heal them of their past and current

hurts. Amen

Day 13: Luke 12:1-3

12 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had

gathered, so that they were trampling on one another,

Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying:

“Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees,

which is hypocrisy. 2 There is nothing concealed that

will not be disclosed or hidden that will not be made

known. 3 What you have said in the dark will be heard

in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear

in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

Father, help me not to be viewed as a hypocrite, to

carefully speak only positively about others. Let me

establish myself a reputation as a great listener, my

neighbours can have confidence in, without worry it

will go any further. Amen

Day 14: Luke 10:1-12

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and

sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and

place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The

harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the

Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers

into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like

lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or

sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this

house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there,

your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to

you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they

give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not

move around from house to house.

8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what

is offered to you.9 Heal the sick who are there and tell

them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10

But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go

into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town

18



we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure

of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell

you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom

than for that town.

Lord, identify the person of peace in my street and

bring opportunity for me to get to know them and talk

to them at the right time, about You. Lord, bless my

neighbours’ houses. Amen

Day 15: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but

do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a

clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and

can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I

have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have

love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor

and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,

but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does

not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonour

others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,

it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight

in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects,

always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,

they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be

stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

Lord, help me to have genuine love for my neighbours.

Help any of my neighbours who are abusive towards

others, addicted to drugs or alcohol, a criminal… Help

them to know and receive Your love. Amen


7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the

same way you judge others, you will be judged, and

with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your

brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your

own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me

take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there

is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take

the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see

clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.6

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your

pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under

their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.7 “Ask and

it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock

and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone

who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and

to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.9

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give

him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a

snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how

to give good gifts to your children, how much more

will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those

who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what

you would have them do to you, for this sums up the

Law and the Prophets.13 “Enter through the narrow

gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that

leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads

to life, and only a few find it.15 “Watch out for false

prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but

inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit

you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from

thornbushes, or figs from thistles?17 Likewise, every

good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad

fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad

tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does

not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the

fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.21

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter

the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the

will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to

me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in

your name and in your name drive out demons and in

your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell

them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you

evildoers!’24 “Therefore everyone who hears these

words of mine and puts them into practice is like a

wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain

came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and

beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it

had its foundation on the rock.26 But everyone who

hears these words of mine and does not put them into

practice is like a foolish man who built his house on

sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and

the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell

with a great crash.”28 When Jesus had finished saying

these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,

29 because he taught as one who had authority, and

not as their teachers of the law.

Father, help me to stop judging my neighbours whether

I intend to do this or not. Help me to see others the

way You see them. Help my neighbours come to know

You and build their a solid foundation for their lives,

based on Your teachings. Amen



19

Day 17: Nehemiah 9:1-3

9 On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the

Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing

sackcloth and putting dust on their heads.2 Those of

Israelite descent had separated themselves from all

foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed

their sins and the sins of their ancestors. 3 They stood

where they were and read from the Book of the Law of

the Lord their God for a quarter of the day and spent

another quarter in confession and in worshiping the

Lord their God.

Father, highlight areas of my life where I need to

confess sins I have committed, whether intentional or

unintentionally. Show me how to be a better neighbour.

Forgive my neighbours for all the sins that they have

committed and let them come into a life transforming

relationship with You. Amen

Day 18: Ezekiel 47:12

12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of

the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their

fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the

water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit

will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”

Father, bring new life to our street. Where there is fear,

let there be faith; where there is rejection, let there be

healing, where there is crisis, let there be resolution.

Provide a financial miracle for families struggling to

put food on the table or crippled with debt. For our

neighbours seeking work, bring opportunity for the

right job at the right time. Holy Spirit, visit our street

in power. Amen!

Day 19: Matthew 7:7

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will

find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Father, help me to ask, so that I may receive, knock so

that the door will be opened to me, seek You so that I

may find You. Help me come to a better understanding

of You as my heavenly Father, a Father who wants to

hear from me and give ‘good’ gifts. Amen

8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east

wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he

grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be

better for me to die than to live.”

9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry

about the plant?”

“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”

10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about

this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow.

It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And

should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh,

in which there are more than a hundred and twenty

thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from

their left—and also many animals?”

Father, give me a heart for my neighbours, that reflects

Your love for them. Lord, I pray that all my neighbours

come to an understanding about the things they are

doing, that are damaging themselves and others. Help

all turn away from destructive patterns and come to

repentance. Father, show me how I can make my street

a better place, so that Your Kingdom will advance in my

street. Amen


43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your

neighbour and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love

your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and

sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46

If you love those who love you, what reward will you

get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47

And if you greet only your own people, what are you

doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is

perfect.

Lord, help me to bless those who curse me, pray for

those who persecute me, do ‘good’ to those who ill

treat me, so that I may perfectly follow your example.

Help me to be quick to apologise for anything I have

done wrong and to be known as a ‘good’ neighbour.

Amen

Day 20: Jonah 4:6-11

6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made

it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to

ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about

the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided

a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered.

Day 22: James 4:1-6

4 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t

they come from your desires that battle within you?

2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet

but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and

fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3

20



When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask

with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get

on your pleasures.

4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that

friendship with the world means enmity against God?

Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the

world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think

Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs

for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he

gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:“God

opposes the proud, but shows favour to the humble.”

Lord, forgive me for any selfish or bad attitude within

me. Help me to be reconciled with any neighbour,

where there has been a disagreement. Help all those

living in my street, in bad or broken relationships,

especially those who feel rejected. Let them know You

as a Father, who loves them unconditionally. Amen

Day 23: Exodus 20:12

12 “Honour your father and your mother, so that you

may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving

you.

Help all children in our street, to honour their parents

(whether the ‘children’ are adults or minors) especially

for children growing up with a Mum or Dad living

elsewhere. Help them to respect both their parents

as well as any step-parents. Bring harmony among all

family members. Protect children from any form of

abuse. Bring healing for adults and children who have

suffered past abuse at the hands of their parents; help

them not to feel condemned for their difficulties in

how they feel towards their parents today. Amen

Day 24: Romans 12:17-21

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to

do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is

possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with

everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends,

but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is

mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the

contrary:“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is

thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with

good.

Lord, bring reconciliation between neighbours in

dispute or between family members in the same

household. For neighbours who play loud music,

display argumentative or threatening behaviour or

simply ignore others; I pray peace over their household.

Give me grace to deal with these problems Your way,

rather than my own way. Amen

Day 25: Hosea 6:1-3

“Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to

pieces, but he will heal us; he has injured us, but he

will bind up our wounds.2 After two days he will revive

us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may

live in his presence.3 Let us acknowledge the Lord; let

us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun

rises,he will appear;he will come to us like the winter

rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”

Lord, send dreams and visions to everyone living in our

street, that they may dream of You and desire to find

You! Help all my neighbours to realise Your awesome

power, enabling lives to be change for ‘good’ redeeming

impossible situations, providing solutions and help at

their greatest time of need. Amen

Day 26: Joshua 1:8-9

8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips;

meditate on it day and night, so that you may be

careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be

prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded

you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do

not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with

you wherever you go.”

Lord, help me and other Christians to be people known

for encouragement. Help me give neighbours words of

encouragement and kindness. Help all my neighbours

living in fear and anxiety about what the future holds,

or the problems of tomorrow. Bring encouragement to

them and let faith in You replace fear. Amen

Day 27: 2 Peter 1:3-11

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for

a godly life through our knowledge of him who called

us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he

has given us his very great and precious promises, so

that through them you may participate in the divine

nature, having escaped the corruption in the world

caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to

your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6

and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control,

perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7

and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual

affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities



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in increasing measure, they will keep you from being

ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our

Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them

is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have

been cleansed from their past sins.

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every

effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you

do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you

will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdomof

our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Lord, help me be known for self-control, kindness

and love, towards others. Help acts of kindness and

generosity to others become a common occurrence

in my street. Help all Christians everywhere, live as

though Jesus’ return is coming very soon. Amen

Day 28: Joshua 6:1-5

6 Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred

because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one

came in.

2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered

Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its

fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the

armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests

carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On

the seventh day, march around the city seven times,

with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you

hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have

the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the

city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone

straight in.”

Father, give me a strategy to pray for my street, that

Your Kingdom will come, Your will be done in my

street. Give me a heart of obedience, so that I will do

what You ask of me, without fear or questioning. Make

me hungry for prayer and praise. Give me a heart of

endurance, to keep praying until I see You transform

my street. Amen

Day 29: Acts 2:42-47

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching

and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to

prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many

wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44

All the believers were together and had everything

in common. 45 They sold property and possessions

to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they

continued to meet together in the temple courts. They

broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad

and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the

favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their

number daily those who were being saved.

Lord, help all local churches to become ‘magnetic

communities,’ known for their love of each other and

those outside the church. Let churches be known for

their generosity to people in need and be devoted to

following the teachings of Jesus. Amen

Day 30: Acts 2:42-47

(see previous day for scripture)

Lord, give me faith to believe for signs and wonders

in my street and for unity among Christians and

organisations. Let those struggling financially, benefit

from generosity. Add daily to the number in our street

and local streets, who are being saved. Amen

Day 31: Hosea 4:1-3

Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites, because

the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live

in the land:“There is no faithfulness, no love, no

acknowledgment of God in the land. 2 There is only

cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they

break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed 3

Because of this the land dries up, and all who live in it

waste away; the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky

and the fish in the sea are swept away.

Lord, help my neighbours to stop lying, being

dishonest, including the pursuit in some cases of

benefits they are not entitled to, or fraudulent claims

for compensation. Cleanse our streets of all past sins

that have taken place. Let Jesus be ‘magnified’ in our

street. Amen

Day 32: Daniel 6:12-14

12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his

royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during

the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or

human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be

thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The

decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes

and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of

the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your

Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays

three times a day.” 14 When the king heard this, he was

greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel

and made every effort until sundown to save him.

15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and

22



said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according

to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or

edict that the king issues can be changed.”

16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel

and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to

Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually,

rescue you!”

17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth

of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet

ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s

situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king

returned to his palace and spent the night without

eating and without any entertainment being brought

to him. And he could not sleep.

Lord, help neighbours who might otherwise be drawn

to You in a deeper way, if it were not for pressure from

family and friends. Help all my Christian neighbours

and those exploring faith in Jesus, learn to pray

regularly and get into a prayer rhythm, each day.

Help all Christians and all who are not yet Christians,

understand that prayer works. Amen


9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what

is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honour

one another above yourselves.11 Never be lacking

in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the

Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful

in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in

need. Practice hospitality.

Help me to practice more hospitality towards my

neighbours. Help especially all those who are lonely,

sick and unable to leave their house, having very few

visitors over weeks, months and years. Give me eyes

to see the suffering in my street. Amen

Day 34: Exodus 7:1-7

7 Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you

like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be

your prophet. 2 You are to say everything I command

you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let

the Israelites go out of his country. 3 But I will harden

Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and

wonders in Egypt, 4 he will not listen to you. Then

I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of

judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the

Israelites. 5 And the Egyptians will know that I am the

Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and

bring the Israelites out of it.”

6 Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded

them. 7 Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eightythree

when they spoke to Pharaoh.

Lord, give all those who are much older or feel that their

lives are coming to an end; a revelation that You highly

value them and they still have a contribution to make.

Help my younger and older neighbours to co-exist in a

respectful way, not judging one another. Open my eyes

to the challenges all my neighbours face, young or old

or middle aged. Amen


13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses

its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no

longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and

trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a

hill cannot be hidden.15 Neither do people light a

lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on

its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others,

that they may see your good deeds and glorify your

Father in heaven.

Lord, help me to be the salt of the earth in my street,

leading a life that is attractive to others, yet not

compromising in following Your teachings. Make my

house, a house of prayer, that may see our street

transformed. Amen

Day 36: 2 Peter 3:8-9

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With

the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand

years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping

his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead,

he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish,

but everyone to come to repentance.

Lord, I pray that every single one of my neighbours,

will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and

God as their Father. Prepare the hearts of everyone

living in my street, for a revelation of God. Prepare

local churches to receive new Christians and to disciple

them well. Amen

Day 37: John 4:34-38

34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who

sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a

saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you,

open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe



23

for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a

wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the

sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus

the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I

sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others

have done the hard work, and you have reaped the

benefits of their labor.”

Lord, equip me to form deep, long-term relationships

based on genuine love and concern for my neighbours,

and that from these relationships, opportunities to

tell people about You will arise. Tell me Lord, when to

speak to my neighbours about You and when to hold

my tongue. Give me the right words, at the right time,

to share what You have done in my life and the lives of

others. Amen

Day 39: Jude:3-4

3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to

you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to

write and urge you to contend for the faith that was

once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. 4 For

certain individuals whose condemnation was written

about long ago have secretly slipped in among you.

They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of

our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus

Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

Lord, let us not forget what You went through on the

cross. Let all in my street have multiple opportunities

to hear and respond to the Christian message. Help all

Christians apply the teachings of the Bible to their own

lives, impacting those around them. Amen

Day 38: Revelation 3:15-20

15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor

hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So,

because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am

about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am

rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’

But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful,

poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me

gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and

white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful

nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can

see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be

earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door

and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the

door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they

with me.

Lord, help me to resist the temptation over time to

become ‘luke-warm.’ For local Christians, help those

who are ‘luke-warm’ to realise their condition before

You. For every single household in my street, let them

have ears to hear when Jesus stands at the door and

knocks. For all my neighbours, who once attended

church, but have somehow lost their faith, show local

Christians how to help them find their way back. Amen


18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in

heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore

go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in

the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy

Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have

commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to

the very end of the age.”

Father, help me now and for the rest of my days, to be

a living example of how to follow Jesus’ teachings and

that even if I never opened my mouth to say anything

about Jesus, people would recognise the positive

example of what it is to be a true disciple of Jesus.

Lord, let the power of Your Holy Spirit transform my

street, so that crime falls, health improves, atmosphere

change, hearts are filled with love and many follow You

for the first time. Amen

24



PART III

40 neighbour challenges:

These include the main 7

included in the main guide.

Choose to do them in any

order you wish, but please

if you are on social media,

please spread the challenges

and how they went on your

street.

SAFETY NOTICE: Please ensure a parent is always

present when interacting with children.

1. Choose 5 neighbours to pray for throughout the

year.

2. Invite some neighbours around for food.

3. Walk up and down your street each day, asking

everyone you bump into, whether they live nearby.

Make a note of the houses and names of the people

you bump into.

4. Think about how you would tell a neighbour about

what God has done in your life. Ask a neighbour for

an opportunity to tell a neighbour that you go to

church or that you are praying for them.

5. Think about a neighbour who lives a completely

different lifestyle to you, or a neighbour from a

different religious or cultural background. Invite

them over for a meal or make a meal for them.

Please if you live alone, do this with someone else.

(If Hindu, no beef, if Muslim, Halal food, if Jewish,

kosher food…ask them for dietary requirements if

they accept.

6. Pray for a neighbour, that is hard to get along with.

7. Is there something you can give a neighbour in need?

Make it a priority this week to be generous to at least

one neighbour.

8. Make some cakes or give out some chocolates in

your street.

9. This year commit to sharing your faith with at least

one neighbour, praying for God for opportunity.

Consider inviting them to church run events, Alpha

courses, or just letting it flow out of everyday

conversation. Continue to pray for your 5 neighbours,

until they become a disciple of Jesus.

10. Sign up to pray for your street over the coming

months, weeks and years at www.housesoflight.

net

11. Give your neighbour a lift or pay for their bus or

train ticket.

12. Buy a welcome to your new home card, for a

neighbour who has just moved in, either on your

street or a nearby street.

13. Give a neighbour a ‘good’ Christian based

inspirational book.

14. Take the bins out for your neighbour(s)

15. Give out prayer request cards on your street- you

can download the design from our website and

print them locally.

16. Take a neighbour to a doctors or hospital

appointment.

17. Invite a neighbour to watch a recent release film

with you.

18. Help an elderly or disabled or unwell neighbour

with their shopping.

19. Offer to accept mail on behalf of a neighbour when

they are not in.

20. Pick up litter on your street (please use heavy duty

gloves for this)

21. Prayer-walk your street, praying a blessing over

each house as you pass.

22. Tell a neighbour you attend church, praying it will

open up further conversation.

23. Could you spend some time with an elderly or

housebound neighbour, who cannot leave the

house?

24. Ask God to show you something nice you can do

for a neighbour you don’t get along with.

25. Send a thank you card to your local ‘Neighbourhood

Policing Team.’

26. Send a thank you card to your local MP, councillor,

or other politicians – especially if you disagree with

their politics.

27. Thank your local bin men (refuse collectors)

28. Thank your regular amazon deliverer, postman etc.

29. Worship in your home with some friends (at a noise

level that your neighbours can’t hear.

30. Tell a neighbour you are praying for them.

31. Invite some of your neighbours to donate to a local

Foodbank.



25

32. Tell your neighbours about some of the projects

your church provides such as CAP money courses,

homeless shelters, cafés etc

33. Aim to say something kind/encouraging to a

neighbour.

34. Arrange for you and some other neighbours to

deliver meals to someone just returned from

hospital or who has just given birth.

35. Consider joining the local ‘Neighbourhood Watch’

or ‘Residents association.’

36. Pray to God to connect you with another Christian

living in your street or nearby so that you can start

a ‘Beacon of Light’ on your street. Visit www.

housesoflight.net

37. Buy a card and a small present for a new Mother/

Father and baby on your street, from the local

church.

38. Allow a neighbour on a one-off basis to take your

parking spot (due to potential legal issues, we do

not recommend this long term).

39. Put an illuminated cross in the window that tells

your neighbours that you are a Christian.

40. Arrange a gathering of neighbours at your home

working with some others from church or your

neighbours such as a street party. Please see week

6 for more ideas.

Visit www.housesoflight.net for more prayer resources.

We try to publish some new resources at least every 4

months as a minimum and sometimes produce new

resources at the request of our members or missional

friends. Please contact us, if there is a particular

resource that you are looking for. All our resources

are free at the point of use. If you have enjoyed using

this guide, we encourage each person reading it, to

consider a small donation of around £1 per reader via

our website. Thank you in advance for your gift.

Click here to donate to our work.

26



THROUGH THE LENS OF THE STREET

40 DAY PRAYER GUIDE

A MILE WITH JESUS

& VIRTUAL PRAYER

WALKING GUIDE

PRAYER AND OUTREACH IDEAS.

HERE ARE

SOME OF

OUR OTHER

RESOURCES

www.yumpu.com/en/account/documentmanager

PURSUING HOLINESS

I N

O U R

S T R E E T S

STREAMS OF LIVING WATER ON YOUR STREET

7 DAY PRAYER GUIDE

40 DAYS

OF SCRIPTURES

AND PRAYER

In partnership with

‘Operation Consecrate the Land’

Special Thanks to:

All the trustees, past and present, for their ongoing support. To RCCG Place of Victory Church, Swansea and

Neath Methodist circuit, without whom this resource would not be possible. To Lisa Hutt, Rachael Fola-Taiwo,

Rick Yates, Natasha Ruddock and all who are Houses of Light in their street. And also, to all who pray for the

ministry of Houses of Light.

Special thanks to Rev Dr Carl Brettle (PhD) as former CEO, for all the work in building the foundations of Houses

of Light, during the time that we were known as Neighbourhood Prayer Network. We wouldn’t be anywhere

without his support and strategy.

Houses of Light - Copyright 2026

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, by any means,

electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher or a licence permitting

restricted copying. In the U.K. such licenses are issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, 4 Battlebridge Lane, London, SE1 2HX.

www.cla.co.uk

Copyright notices

(NIV) Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®️, NIV®️. Copyright ©️ 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.️

Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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