The overall biblical model is this: God transforms people’s lives as people bring his Word to others. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things in the lives of others[1].

Mercy ministry is more than meeting needs through deeds.  Biblical mercy includes a personal or relational aspect.  Many churches have done well at accomplishing deeds of mercy, but we all have room to grow regarding the relationships we form with those we are serving.

God wants you to experience the joy of bringing more than a heart of compassion, a willingness to listen, and a commitment to help bear someone’s burden (deed driven).  Though these are the sweet fruit of Christian love, God wants you to offer more.  God wants you to bring the heart-changing truths of Scripture to people in the midst of their situations and relationships.  Biblical mercy is about people loving people with good deeds, but in a way includes bringing God’s word.  This is doing and speaking “truth in love.”[2]

How have you entered into a relationship with your neighbors or with those in need?  Have you brought more than a willingness to carry a burden?  Have you brought to light Scripture and how there is hope, joy, and confidence in our God through Jesus Christ?

Our tendency is to be deed driven, especially when it comes to mercy ministry.  My challenge to you is to see beyond the physical needs of people and realize that our greatest need is reconciliation to God through faith in Christ.  Yes, we meet physical needs and step into the suffering of others, but if we fail to bring to light God’s Word, we fail to truly love the very neighbors we claim to care for.

[2] Ephesians 4:15

5 Ways You Can Get To Know Your Neighbors in the Inner City Atmosphere.
(These are NOT all inclusive or exhaustive.. just to get you thinking)

1.  Go Borrow Something (i.e. an egg, a saw, a shovel, etc.)  It is always important that   a relationship be reciprocal.  You need your neighbor just as much as you think your neighbor needs you.

2.  Play with the kids (outside, unless parents approve them coming inside your home).  Kids have a way of looking past all the barriers we adults set up such as color, economic status, culture, and even expectations of cleanliness!  They are a great gateway to meeting their parents and beginning conversations.

3.  Be Intentional and Strategic.  You don’t want to seem like a stalker, but you also don’t want to have the excuse “They are never home.”  People do come home!  Pay attention to when people are outside, getting into their cars, checking their mail, sitting on their porches.  Example,  make an effort to check your mail when you know your neighbor is pulling up to the house from work.  This might provide an opportunity for a conversation or at least a friendly hello.  Or, when you hear your neighbor taking out their trash, go ahead and take yours out too.  This works well in the urban areas because the homes are so close together – you can’t help but talk to your neighbors.

4.  Take Walks.  If you have a child, a dog, or a friend, just take a short walk around your block or to a local park.  In inner city areas, more people are walking on the sidewalks because their transportation is either the bus or their feet.  This is a great time to meet new folks.  And kids and dogs are great ice breakers (unless you don’t take the pooper scooper!)

5.  Stay Home.  This could also fall into the the ‘intentional and strategic’ category, but the basic premise is this:  Staying home means you are available!  How are we to meet our neighbors if we are ALWAYS at work, church, school, or the gym (while simultaneously on our cell phones)?  Sometimes we have to ‘schedule’ home time so that we are there when the neighborhood kids want to come in and play CandyLand unexpectedly, or the lady next door needs to borrow some milk.  If people come to an unanswered door enough times, they stop knocking.