Being great neighbours means not just knowing names and making small talk, but the relationship actually goes a step further when we start working together.

One of my best neighbours ever was a partner in building a deck. I planned to build a deck, bought a book from Home Depot, and got in way over my head. The book seemed to assume perfect conditions, a new house with perfect corners, and not my century home with wonky ones.

My neighbour would wander over, find me scratching my head, and give advice, tools, and a helping hand. He wasn’t just helping me, he became my partner, working alongside me.

There was something in it for him – he was a shift worker bored during the daytime, and loved building things. There was something in it for me – a new deck, and new skills.

It wasn’t planned, it just happened because we knew each other’s names, spent time outside and he was available.

Question: When have you unexpectedly partnered with someone for a project?

Ryan Sim - April 16, 2013

Tuesday - Study It - Perfection

In Matthew 5:48 Jesus said, Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. What's your reaction? Do you laugh? Yeah, right, I'm supposed to be perfect like God! Or do you feel guilt? I'm so not perfect…but I should be. Do you try to rationalize it? He doesn't really meant that? It's not a mistake. This idea comes up elsewhere in the Bible. i.e. Be holy as I am holy. Leviticus 11:44 Holiness is God's quality. Good, perfect, godly. Is Jesus really asking us to be like God in some way? If people were trying to redefine holy to get around this passage from Leviticus, Jesus makes it clear. I really mean I want you to be perfect and holy. By our usual definitions, it seems overly idealistic. Something for young, dreamy-eyed people. But have you ever tried to follow all God’s laws to the letter? The Sermon on the Mount can be discouraging if we treat it this way, and this line is the cherry on top. We'll see tomorrow what this means. Question: Jesus seems to expect the impossible of his followers. How do you react to this?

Related Topics: Disappointment, God, Perfection | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio

From Series: "Sermon on the Mount"

Discuss the Daily Challenge

More From "Sermon on the Mount"

Powered by Series Engine