Who Is My Neighbor? (PART 1)– The Art of Neighboring

September 13, 2026 – tHe Art of Neighboring Sermon Series

Jesus refuses to let us keep “neighbor” as a vague, abstract concept. The lawyer asks “Who is my neighbor?” to limit his responsibility; Jesus flips it to ask “How can I be a neighbor?” This week, we will introduce the Block Map, which identifies the eight closest households around our homes.

Luke 10:25–37: ²⁵And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” ²⁶He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” ²⁷And he answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁸And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” ²⁹But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” ³⁰Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. ³¹Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. ³²So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. ³⁴He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵And the next day he took out two denarii^[a] and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ ³⁶Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” ³⁷He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Who is My Neighbor Block Map Download

This 6-part sermon series is based on The Art of Neighboring by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyou. It takes the Great Commandment literally, moving believers from distant good intentions to practical, everyday love for the eight households closest to them.

Other sermons you may also like

Part 4: The Heart of Hospitality – The Art of Neighboring

Part 3: Overcoming the Fear Factor – The Art of Neighboring

Part 2: Breaking the Time Barrier – The Art of Neighboring

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About the speaker

David Langewisch

First and foremost you need to know I am a sinner who has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus. I believe my life is fully in him. I feel good about my training to be a pastor. However, my heart's desire is to simply be a servant of Christ, used by him to help people experience fullness of life in him. Sometimes I think I’m smart. Sometimes I think I’m funny. But I count all of this as a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ and being found in him. My favorite book of the Bible is Romans, and if you have to pin me down, my favorite chapter is Romans 8. Personally, I think this matters more than knowing I’m from Minnesota, or that I was graduated from Lutheran schools starting with elementary school. Curiosity might lead you to ask about my wonderful wife, Lynn, and four children, but I would probably exaggerate about their greatness and how helpful would that be? If you really want to know other positions I’ve held, honors I’ve received, etc., you can ask and I will try to remember. But when you walk away from our conversation, this is what I want you to remember about me – I am a sinner who has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus and I believe my life is fully in him. And if, in my contact with you, some of this rubs off on you, and you share the same perspective with greater conviction, I will count it a blessing.