The Art of Neighbouring
6 week series on being a good neighbour
SERIES
The call to neighbouring
Table of Contents
The call to neighbouring
Wednesday 17th July 2024
As we journey through life, one of our greatest callings as Christ-followers is to reach out to non-believers, sharing the transformative love and grace we have found in Jesus. The motive behind our outreach is crucial. It is love that must compel us—love for God and love for our fellow humans.
In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus gives us the greatest commandments: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’” These commandments are the foundation of our mission. When our outreach is rooted in genuine love; it reflects the heart of God and aligns us with His purposes.
In his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul emphasises the paramount importance of love in all we do: “If I speak in the tongues of men or angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 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” (1 Corinthians 13:1-2, NIV). Love is the essence of our faith and must be the driving force behind our outreach efforts.
Our world is filled with people searching for meaning, hope, and acceptance. As Christ-followers, we possess the answer to their deepest longings. Jesus tells us in John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” Our love for each other and those outside the faith is the most compelling testimony we can offer.
When we reach out to non-believers with love, we mirror the heart of God, who “so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, NIV). God’s love is sacrificial, unconditional, and all-encompassing. This divine love should inspire and motivate us to share the good news of Jesus with those who do not yet know Him.
Furthermore, in Romans 5:8, Paul reminds us, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This profound truth should humble and inspire us. If God loved us so much that He reached out to us while we were still in our sin, how much more should we extend His love to those who have not yet experienced His grace?
Our approach must be marked by compassion, understanding, and patience. As Peter advises in 1 Peter 3:15-16, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” Our love should be evident in our words and actions, drawing others to the beauty of the Gospel.
Let us commit to being vessels of God’s love, reaching out to non-believers with hearts full of compassion and grace. May our lives reflect the love of Christ so profoundly that others are irresistibly drawn to Him. Together, empowered by the Holy Spirit, let us make a difference in our communities and beyond, sharing the hope and love that only Jesus can provide.
The Art of Neighbouring | 7 week church wide series
As a whole church, we are starting an exciting new initiative from 21st July. Check out the video below.
Wherever you live, whatever you do, you are a neighbour to someone. What if Jesus actually meant what he said, when he invites us to love our neighbours? What does this look like? Who are your neighbours? Do you know them? Do you love them?
To address these questions, our church is running a churchwide series called the “Art of Neighbouring” where we get to explore the second half of the Great Commandment, that is, “Love your neighbour.” We will dive deep into what it looks like to transform our neighbourhoods by simply becoming a good neighbour.
So how can you take part?
Firstly, attend the 6 weekend services. All sermons will relate to loving our neighbour.
Secondly, participate in weekly life groups. We encourage life groups to meet weekly for 7 weeks to watch the teaching videos and go through the book and study guides. If you are not in a Life Group then we encourage you to start one up or sign up to one by clicking here. The book ($20) and study guide (free) will be available from Sunday, 23 June at The Desk.
And lastly, if you are a parent of school aged children, I invite you to bring your kids to Kids’ Church and/or FUSE Youth as they will be running the series as well.
Want to know more?
Come to The Desk after the service.
Send your queries to [email protected].
Check out the website at berwickchurch.org.au/neighbouring.
Let us love our neighbours well, together!
Operation Christmas Child | Send a Gift-Filled Shoebox in Jesus' Name
Would you like to bring joy and Jesus to the lives of children in need? How about 200 children? How about 300 children? You have the opportunity to do this by taking part in Operation Christmas Child. And you can do it in 6 easy steps!
- Purchase a box from the stand beside The Desk for $1
- Fill the box with the gifts
- Label your box
- Bring the box back from Sunday 28th July 2024
- Make a $12.50 donation for shipping and gospel materials
- Pray for the child who will receive your box
Bring joy and Jesus to the life of a child this Christmas by taking part in Operation Christmas Child.
Any questions? Come see the Team in the church foyer after the service and they are happy to assist and respond to your queries.
Serve Your City | Volunteering Opportunities
At Berwick Church of Christ, we encourage everyone to Follow Christ, Love People, Serve their City, and Grow Faith Communities. We want to invite you to prayerfully consider serving your city in one of the following three ways. We look forward to helping you go and be His presence in these places.
Do you have a heart for refugees? We are looking for mentors to support eligible people from a refugee background through the COACH Community Mentoring Program located in the Dandenong/Casey region.
What is COACH Mentoring?
Coach Mentoring assists refugees who are seeking to become economically independent.
Each mentee’s goals are identified before being matched with a suitable mentor.
Typically, mentors and mentee’s meet once a week, for an hour and this relationship would continues for a period of 12 months.
Mentors are allocated a COACH Coordinator as a contact point to support them throughout this mentoring relationship.
Our mentoring program suits people with a heart to come alongside and support refugees as they settle in Melbourne. Mentors undergo training and screening checks, before being matched with a participant. The purpose of the mentoring relationship is to be a “friend with purpose”, to support them as they work towards achieving their identified goals, such as education, employment and making community connections.
If you have questions, or would like further information, please don’t hesitate to send an email to [email protected] with your contact details.
As a Kids COACH Mentor, you can help children learn positive social skills, have fun, reach their goals, and build resilience. Come alongside a child at school to offer practical help and be a positive role model for one hour a week, for a minimum of 12 months. This opportunity is in partnership with Crossway South East, with an initial commitment of one day of in-person training and an online module. (10 volunteers for Term 3, 2024).
For more information, contact Ps Mat Daniels. Email: [email protected] or phone (03) 9702 1011.
Would you like to empower primary-aged students to implement positive change in their lives? As a REBOOT program volunteer, you can help upper primary school students (grades 5 and 6) learn about wellbeing through fun games and activities during lunchtime. The wellbeing topics covered are Self-Esteem, Perceived Control, Optimism, Personal Relationships, and Achieving in Life, which are delivered in an actionable format. (5 volunteers for Term 1, 2025 training to be confirmed).
For more information, contact Ps Mat Daniels. Email: [email protected] or phone (03) 9702 1011.
Sunday Service | 21st July | The Call To Neighbouring | 9:00 am & 11:00 am
We begin our churchwide series called the “Art of Neighbouring” where we get to follow the second half of the Great Commandment, that is, “Love your neighbour”. Join us as we explore what it looks like to transform the world by simply becoming a good neighbour.
Kids Church | Sunday 21st July | 9am & 11am
This week at Kids Church…
2 to 4-year-olds | Be joyful around others | Romans 12:15
5 to 12-year-olds | Come rain or come shine – be joyful | Romans 12:15 (Supporting Acts 2:42-47)
Y&Y Baptism Service | Sunday 21st July | 5:30pm
We are having our FIRST EVER Youth & Young Adults Baptism Service, and we want you to be there! This is going to be an incredible service where we celebrate all the wonderful testimonies of how good our God is, and stand with those making the decision to get baptised. If you would like to be baptised or know someone who wants to get baptised, please reach out to Jordan and the YA leadership team ASAP!
We will also be serving hot chocolate before the service starts, so get down early to grab a hot choccy!
Make sure you come to celebrate with those getting baptised and bring your mates! Also, stick around for food and fellowship after the service!
Men's Prayer Group | Sunday 21st July | 5:45 pm
Calling all men! At our weekly gatherings, we come together to pray, support one another in our faith journey, and grow deeper in our relationship with God.
Whether you are a seasoned prayer warrior or new, we welcome you with open arms. Our group is a safe space where men can come together to share their hearts, struggles, and victories.
Join us as we seek God’s guidance, wisdom, and strength in our lives and for our families. Together, we can uplift each other, grow in faith, and make a real difference in our community.
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land”. (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Come and join our Men’s Prayer Group where together we seek the Lord for our families, community and nation.
Boys Brigade | Monday 22nd July | 7:30 pm
Be part of the action.
For over 20 years the Boys’ Brigade has advanced Christ’s Kingdom among boys.
ANCHORS | Grades 1 & 2: 6pm – 7.15pm
JUNIORS | Grades 3 – 6: 7pm – 8.30pm
SENIORS | Grades 7 to 18 years old: 7pm – 9.30pm
Seniors Ministry | Friendship Group | Wednesday 24th July | 1:30 pm
We will discover the amazing history & geography of Peru. The flag colour is red and white – start planning now for your outfits and hats in red & white. Time: 1.30pm – 4.00pm. Where: 446 Centre Road, Berwick, Vic, 3806. Bring: please provide a plate for everyone to share.
Writers Group | Saturday 27th July | 9:00 am
Aspiring writers, are you looking for a creative outlet to showcase your writing talents and connect with fellow literary enthusiasts? We are thrilled to invite you to join our Writers Group, where your words will come to life in a community of like-minded individuals.
Whether you write poetry, short stories, essays, or anything in between, we welcome all writing styles and genres. So come join us and ignite your passion for writing! Together, we will inspire each other to reach new heights and unlock our full potential as writers. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to be a part of something truly special.
Join us today and let your creativity soar!
Mental Health Support Gathering | Tuesday 30th July | 7:30 pm
Mental Health Support Gatherings cater for people who may benefit from mental health support. This may be personally or to assist a friend, family member or carer. This is a safe place to be heard, to share life’s challenges, make friendships and have hope restored. Remember, you are not alone.
In addition, the Gatherings also provide tools to assist people in dealing with life challenges and, on occasion, have specialist speakers addressing relevant topics. The Mental Health Support Gatherings are held on Tuesdays fortnightly during the School Terms from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. If you’re interested in coming along please click the ‘Book Now’ link below and choose: Special Interest Group: Mental Health Support Gatherings. For more information please contact the Church Office 03 9702 1011. The Mental Health Support Gatherings are a ministry of the Berwick Church of Christ.
Exploring Partnership | Sunday 11th August | 1:00 pm
Exploring Partnership is an important step in taking up co-ownership of the vision, mission, and purpose of our Church. This meeting is an opportunity to understand the role of partnership in the broader functioning of the Church. You will meet some of our Church Leadership as we chat about how you can partner with us to make our vision a reality.
If you regularly attend Berwick Church of Christ and are not yet a partner, we would like to invite you to attend our next meeting and enjoy lunch together.
Baptism Class | Monday 12th August | 7:00 pm
Baptism is the complete immersion into water of those who have confessed their faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and their Saviour.
However, it is more than just immersion in water. It has a number of significant meanings.
Complete the expression of interest form if you want to be contacted about attending the Baptism Class.
Y&Y Service | Sunday 18th August | Josh Hawkins | 5:30 pm
Josh (or Hi Josh) is a pastor-turned social media comedian. He grew up in a church in North-West Sydney, decided to do a Bachelor of Theology for 3 years and became the Young Adult Pastor at his church. He was doing social media as a hobby and, in 2015, went viral with a couple of videos which started to grow his following. After 5 years of full-time ministry, his social media following had grown to a point where he was able to follow his passion and became a full-time content creator. Now, with over 2 million followers, he’s best known for his Google Review and lip-reading videos. He’s also a dad of two who lives in Adelaide and attends a local church with his family. Be sure to join us in food and fellowship after the service. SEE YOU THERE!
Have a safety concern?
We are serious about keeping our faith community safe. We encourage all staff, volunteers, partners and congregation to report any concerns they have about safety and wellbeing. We are committed to handling all concerns seriously, legally and in a child-focused way (if concerning children).
If you have any concerns about safety at the Church, we strongly encourage you to share your concern with one of our Pastors or the Safety Contact Person, Karen Fletcher and fill in our Reporting Concerns Form.
Thank you for being His Presence in Every Place!
BRAAM BOTHA
Senior Pastor
Wonderful group of people! Went here for the first time entering a church in my life on Father's day. I have never felt so welcome somewhere in my life. If you're new to the area and looking for a church this is your place. If you've never been to church and are curious THIS IS YOUR PLACE! Everyone I meet is kind and loving. I have social anxiety so I'm usually in and out but when I do stop to talk, I've never met such kind people in my life. I honestly can't speak more highly of EVERYONE in this church. My kids love going and really look forward to it. It's just the best community of unjudging people I've ever met.
As a follower of Jesus, this place has been a second home! I’m always welcomed, and it’s always such a vibrant place to praise him!
This place is fantastic!!! I love this church. Holy spirit is alive and well, nice mixed age congregation, solid worship. They are discipleship minded and want Christians to actually be different. I will go back every chance I get!
Berwick Church of Christ is a beautiful local family Church with a huge program for any age.
It is a very established Church with qualified staff, very friendly and welcoming.
I visited Berwick Church while in the area. It is a very friendly church and easy to navigate. But as good as the rest was, the most meaningful part are their life groups. It is a great way to meet some wonderful people and get connected personally even in a large church.