Neighborology: Practicing Compassion as a Way of Life

Description

Endorsements:

“Neighborology is an excellent resource for the church. Drawing from more than thirty years of experience in diaconal and mercy ministry, Dr. David Apple gives biblically based, practical advice about loving our neighbors. If you serve in the church as an elder or deacon, this book will help you greatly in your ministry to the sheep of your fold. I recommend this book for anyone who works in mercy ministry, and especially those who will serve as officers in the church of Jesus Christ.”

—Mark Casson

Director of Prison Ministry, Presbyterian Church in America

 “In Neighborology, David Apple again contributes uniquely to lit­erature on mercy ministry by telling vivid stories. The stories prove that biblical mercy ministry is possible and profitable for ordinary churches and saints! Here, as followers of Jesus, we learn in con­crete ways, by precept and example, how to listen and speak to our neighbors. Addressing racial tension develops as one theme of the book; the specific instructions to help congregations work through those matters alone is worth the purchase price.”

—Rev. James Faris

Reformation Society of Indianapolis

 “The Lord Jesus told us the second greatest commandment is, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ (Matt. 22:39). In this wonderful book, Dr. Apple has provided an amazing tool to teach the church to be neighborly with the mind of Christ. Following the gems contained in this precious jewel will result in His church reflecting the love of neighbor which our Savior commanded and modeled, especially as it relates to believers loving one another across racial barriers. I highly recommend this book.”

—Ray Hutchison

SIM USA East Central Regional Director

“Neighborology challenges and corrects our view of discipleship

and missional engagement as it calls us to live out what it means to be a gospel-driven, Christ-centered neighbor. My friend David Apple illustrates how Jesus entered into the lives of the least, the last and the lost by engaging with them as the perfect neighbor. He then charges us to leap into the lives of those in need with care, concern and godly stewardship. This is an invaluable tool for churches of every ministry context. Get it! Read it! Live it! Preach it!”

—Rev. Doug Logan

Lead Pastor, Epiphany Fellowship, Camden, NJ

“With personal, practical and biblical insight, David Apple has given us a book that helps us see what it looks like when we obey Christ’s command to love our neighbors as ourselves. While not denying the difficulties, he guides us into urban as well as sub­urban neighborliness in such areas as hospitality, visitation and shepherding. I recommend this to all Christians ready to bridge the divisions that separate us sinners from our neighbor sinners around us.”

—Mary Beth McGreevy

Adjunct Professor, Covenant Theological Seminary

“In Neighborology, following on the heels of Not Just a Soup Kitchen, Dr. Apple seeks to shed further light on the biblical mo­tives behind being a good neighbor and the implications for taking seriously our Lord’s command to love our neighbor as ourselves. Without any hint or suggestion that mercy ministry is easy, Dr. Apple prods us toward a new obedience of denying ourselves, taking up our cross and following Jesus, exhibited in that loving concern for and compassion toward our neighbor. It would be dif­ficult to come away from this book without a renewed zeal to serve others, armed with both the theoretical and the practical.”

—David P. Nakhla

Administrator, Committee on Diaconal Ministries

for the Orthodox Presbyterian Church

“David Apple’s Neighborology not only shows that a true love for God will produce practical love for our neighbors, it also shows that Christ’s welcome of us resources our hospitality and reminds us of our need to be received by and learn from our neighbors. Whether you are part of a small group that needs to exercise your service muscles or a ministry veteran who needs a refreshing cup of cold water, this book will prove valuable.”

—Dr. Gregory Perry

Associate Professor of New Testament

& Director of the City Ministry Initiative, Covenant Seminary

“A very helpful guide for local churches seeking to develop or expand their ministry to needy neighbors. Solid biblical founda­tions. Practical, concrete advice. Neighborology grows out of several decades of successful holistic ministry leading a large, center-city, evangelical congregation into greatly expanded ministry with their most neglected neighbors.”

—Dr. Ronald J. Sider

Distinguished Professor of Theology, Holistic Ministry

and Public Policy, Palmer Seminary at Eastern University

Neighborology is a rare study that gets the balance right. It challenges Christians to develop deeper levels of compassion, but never devolves into a works-based religion. It could not have been written by anyone without David Apple’s tremendous practical experience as well as his commitment to biblical orthodoxy. The book is must reading for anyone, and any church, wanting to know how to show the mercy of Christ to a merciless world.

—William Edgar

Westminster Theological Seminary

Philadelphia

ISBN 9781619582392