Reaching Your Neighbors in a Diverse Community
Who is it for?
Any believer would benefit from this great call-to-action
Anyone who is interested in missions—locally, national, and regional
Every believer who is ready to be challenged
The book "Breaking Barriers: Reaching Your Neighbors in a Diverse Community" offers a fresh perspective on how to address the ongoing issue of ethnic and racial divisions in our world today.
Stefan Johnsson reminds us at the very beginning that the answer to this problem lies in Jesus Christ, but we often let society influence our thoughts and actions, leading us away from the principles of Christianity and loving our neighbors.
Through personal stories that illustrate how the Lord is constantly on mission (even we are not), and strong biblical arguments for how we can live a Christlike life that reaches others, Stefan delivers a strong call-to-action for any believer at any stage.
As Christians, it's our responsibility to share the love of God with everyone, regardless of their background.
The Power of Christianity
The principles of Christianity are not meant to be left on our bookshelf or at the church door. Instead, they should inform every aspect of our lives and relationships.
We are called to love others as Christ loves us, which means seeing every person as a unique image of God, fully deserving of our love and respect. Our allegiance should be to Christ alone, and this should inform and affect our relationships more than any national leanings.
Our faith is a powerful tool for promoting diversity and breaking down barriers.
Christianity is far from dead and is, in fact, growing.
Through a deeper understanding of the Bible and its teachings, we can change our view on diversity within society and the cultural differences that may stand between people. By seeing people through God's eyes, we can better understand and appreciate the unique qualities that each individual possesses.
The Importance of Boldness
In a society that is becoming more globalized and diverse, it's more important than ever for Christians to be bold in their faith. Other religions and cultural ideals are being pushed on us, and truth is being taught as subjective.
We cannot be quiet and allow the culture to change us. We need to be the ones who bridge the gap between cultures and races, promoting diversity and spreading the love of God.
We are all missionaries no matter where we live and we should be the ones to bridge the gap between those who are like us and those who are not.
For many of us, our mission field is not beyond the borders of our own country. It’s our neighborhoods, our jobs, and our schools.
It is important for us to be intentional in our efforts to connect with people from different cultures and races and to be willing to learn and understand their perspectives.
Stefan reminds us that if we cannot effectively preach the gospel in our own city, we will be even less effective when we leave it.
“If you’re not taking intentional steps to connect with someone in this life, why should they care what you have to say about their eternal life?”
Overcoming Cultural Barriers:
It can be difficult to understand and connect with people who are different from us, but as Christians, we need to be willing to learn and understand the cultures of those we are trying to reach.
We need to approach situations with a willingness to learn, not fear and anxiety. Our first reaction should be to ask questions and understand, not to assume or judge.
Don’t miss that!
It’s not our responsibility to determine how someone else should have made different decisions in their life. It’s our job to love them unconditionally, serve them through hardship, and meet them where they are.
The love for others is a central tenet of the Christian faith.
If God does not make distinctions between people when it comes to salvation, then neither should we.
Christians are called to see each person as a unique image of God, fully deserving of our love, respect, and dignity. This love should inform and affect our relationships, promoting diversity and breaking down barriers.
“The outpouring of our love for Jesus should permeate our relationships and promote diversity.”
Breaking Barriers
In a world divided by ethnicity and race, Christ has the power to bring people together and break down cultural barriers.
We are called to love others as Christ loves us, to be bold in our faith, and to be missionaries in our own city.
By living out the gospel and overcoming cultural barriers, we can be an effective witness of the love of God to everyone we encounter.
I sincerely hope that you’ll check this book out. I met Stefan and read this book at a time when God was beginning to open my eyes in some pretty incredible ways, and this book and Stefan’s insight were a formative part of that process.
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