It seems like every sitcom shares a feature: friends just come and go, they seldom knock or call first.  Think of Friends – the characters simply came and went.  You might think Seinfeld was an exception, with George and Elaine buzzing from the lobby, but don’t forget how Jerry’s neighbour Kramer just tumbles in the door.  I’m sure to some degree this is about writing a good script – you can’t have a lot of down time waiting for people to answer the doorbell.  But it also communicates something about the depth of their friendship.

Some researchers say these kinds of friends have what’s called refrigerator rights.  The term comes from a book of the same name, but you may have heard it in pop culture, too.  It defines a close relationship, where even though they don’t live there, a friend is able to come and go at will, and even eat from the other’s fridge without asking.  It’s a high level of friendship.

For some people, maybe that seems natural enough.  You grew up with it, perhaps.  But for others, it bothers you.  You might think it’s awkward, too intimate, or too trusting.  You might ask, “What if I needed those leftovers for lunch tomorrow?  What if that dessert was for a party?  What if you come in my house while I’m in the shower, sleeping, or arguing with my spouse?”

The lines between family and friend are starting to blur in that kind of relationship.  That’s the shift we’re going to explore this week in our pursuit of becoming great neighbours.  We’ll look at the relationships with our neighbours that go deepest – where we become like family, with a focused, high level of friendship.

Question: How do you react to people having “refrigerator rights” in your house?  Would you love more relationships that close, or are you a bit nervous?

Ryan Sim - June 3, 2014

Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Preaching

Pioneer Story

Shortly after the church saw the arrival of the Holy Spirit, the massive expansion of their numbers by 3000 people, and established some early practices, we find today’s story. In today’s story, Peter had just healed a man who wouldn’t walk since birth. The crowds saw this, were amazed, and suddenly wanted to hear from him. This was his opportunity to preach to thousands. What would he say? While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. (Acts 3:11-15 ESV) Peter basically retells the story of Jesus’ death. But in this case, he is uncomfortably direct, at least by today’s standards. He speaks directly to his fellow Jews, in particular those in Jerusalem, and makes sure they don’t miss the significance of what happened, and their implication in it. He says those listening to him were responsible for four terrible things about Jesus: 1) You handed him over. High priests handed him over to Roman authorities. 2) You disowned him before Pilate even though he would have let him go. They said Caesar is Lord instead about Jesus is Lord. 3) You traded him for a murderer There was a tradition to release one criminal at Passover. They asked Pilate to release Barabbas, not Jesus. 4) You killed the author of life. The crowds yelled, “Crucify him!” The author of life is an important title. The Greek word (archegos) we translate as author here could also be translated as pioneer. That’s why we called this series Pioneer Story, because it’s the story of the first Christians, who were like pioneers, but it is even more so the story of Jesus, the true pioneer of the Christian faith, working through those other early pioneers. What was the bottom line of Peter’s message? You did this. He wants his audience (then and now, them and us) to feel guilt. Question: Why would Peter make them feel so terrible? Where is he going with this?

Related Topics: Evangelism, Pioneer, Preaching | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio

From Series: "Pioneer Story"

We read through the Book of Acts as a Pioneer Story for the church.

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