Life by Design

Build a life by design, not by accident — and leave behind a story worth telling.

Community

Love your neighbor

Your faith isn’t just for Sundays. It’s for Monday through Saturday in the neighborhood where you live, the workplace where you earn, and the city where you reside. God placed you exactly where you are for a reason.

Most Christians live isolated from their communities. They drive to work, park in garages, go home, and never know their neighbors’ names. This isn’t what God intended. Your street. Your workplace. Your city. These are your mission field.

Love your actual neighbors. Serve where you live. Be present and engaged, not isolated and detached.

Master these 7 principles to build community that reflects Christ’s love.

The 7 core principles:

1
Know Your Neighbors
Learn their names. Wave when you see them. Strike up conversations. Ask about their lives. Remember details. Be the neighbor you’d want to have. You can’t love people you don’t know.
2
Show Hospitality
Open your home regularly. Host neighbors for dinner. Invite people over for game nights. Share meals on your porch. Hospitality breaks down walls. It turns strangers into friends and neighborhoods into communities.
3
Engage in Conversations
Talk to people at the grocery store, gym, coffee shop. Ask real questions. Listen to their answers. Put your phone away. Look people in the eye. Build depth beyond small talk.
4
Befriend the Lonely
Notice who’s overlooked. The new family on the block. The elderly widow. The single parent. The outsider at work. Invite them in. Include them intentionally. God’s heart is for the isolated and forgotten.
5
Serve Where You Live
Volunteer at local schools. Coach youth sports. Serve at food banks. Clean up parks. Help with neighborhood projects. Mow lawns for elderly neighbors. Shovel driveways after snow. See needs and meet them.
6
Create Gathering Spaces
Organize block parties. Host holiday gatherings. Start a neighborhood group. Create opportunities for people to connect. Don’t wait for someone else to build community. You build it.
7
Share Your Life Openly
Let people see your real life—not just the highlight reel. Invite them into your mess. Be vulnerable about struggles. Share what you’re learning. Your authenticity gives others permission to be real too.

Start with one principle. Master it for a week. Then add the next. Community isn’t built in moments—it’s built in years of presence, service, and love. You’re not just living near people—you’re loving them as yourself.

Need personalized guidance? Use AI tools like Claude or ChatGPT to find local volunteer opportunities, plan neighborhood gatherings, and navigate community engagement.

Ready for structure? Start the 7-Week Community Challenge → One principle per week, progressive habit-stacking, building all seven elements into your community life systematically.