Love Where You Live , livre ebook

Cover
Endorsements
“We often wonder why God has us in the places and roles we’re in, perhaps because we believe if we were somewhere else doing something else, we could finally be used by the Lord. In Love Where You Live , Shauna reminds us that whether God calls us to stay or go, we are a sent people, and therefore our places and roles have divine purpose. Through biblical stories and her own story, she illustrates practical ways we can live as the sent people we are. For those who are new to an area, for those needing fresh eyes for where they already are, and for those needing a jumpstart toward loving their neighbor—you will find this resource immensely helpful.”
Christine Hoover , author of several books, including The Church Planting Wife and Searching for Spring: How God Makes All Things Beautiful in Time
“Many of us say that we want to change the world, but we are not willing to change the way we live out our days in our own neighborhoods. Instead we want to choose the time, place, and level of commitment so that we can compartmentalize it from our nice, neat, clean, daily existence. We have turned the love of the gospel into something we schedule to do rather than something we are. The truth of the matter is if we want to change the world we have to change the way we live and get some daily dirt under our nails in the process. Love Where You Live is our practical guide in helping us navigate our neighborhoods, inviting people into our lives, and sharing Jesus.”
Todd Adkins , director of LifeWay Leadership at LifeWay Christian Resources
“To really impact this continent with the gospel, we must mobilize every Christian family to engage their neighbors, friends, schoolmates, and coworkers with the good news of Jesus. In Love Where You Live , Shauna Pilgreen shares her family’s story of moving to San Francisco and becoming salt and light in their community. I pray God will use this book to help tens of thousands of families become the hands and feet of Jesus in their communities.”
Kevin Ezell , president of North American Mission Board, SBC
“Shauna Pilgreen has written a holy instruction manual for those who desire to follow God’s calling into parts unknown—and she does so with grace, humor, and love. She reminds us that each part of our ‘average story’ can be used by God to impact those around us.”
Lauren K. Denton , USA Today bestselling author of The Hideaway and Hurricane Season
“If I’m honest, the place I call ‘home’ has always been about me . . . where I feel comfortable, where I relax, where I retreat. Shauna Pilgreen shattered that perspective and replaced it with a sense of purpose and mission for loving where I live by living sent. This book will challenge you to find meaning and purpose where God has you. Whether you’ve lived on the same street your entire life or moved every year, Love Where You Live will help you see the purpose in the place you call home.”
Jenni Catron , author, speaker, and founder of The 4Sight Group
“In Love Where You Live, Shauna Pilgreen gives practical insights and strategies for navigating the perils as well as seizing the opportunities to bear fruit where God has planted each of us. A must-read for all of us who are tempted at times to believe that a moving truck is the only acceptable answer to our prayers.”
Steve Stroope , lead pastor of Lake Pointe Church and author of Tribal Church
“As Christians one of our chief words is go . Abraham had to move, Moses was a vagabond, Jesus called the disciples to leave their nets, and the Great Commission is intended to send us out. Yet we yearn for a mortgage in a quiet neighborhood with good schools, pleading with God ‘No, not Africa.’ Instead of fear, let’s walk in faith. Trusting God’s leadership to uproot and replant or just plant us deeper and differently where we live. Shauna has practical principles to help us become difference makers wherever God has planted us. Let her lead you on His journey of joy for you.”
Gregg Matte , pastor of Houston’s First Baptist Church an d author of Finding God’ s Will
“I know this woman. I love this woman. I trust this woman. That’s why I am giving a big shout-out about her book Love Where You Live . You must read it! Shauna shows us how to love like Jesus loved, right in our own little corners of the world. Her own messy-beautiful story of learning to ‘live sent’ right where she’s planted is as practical as it is powerful. You’ll want to slip on your shoes, walk out your front door, and start loving where you live today.”
Jennifer Rothschild , author of Lessons I learned in the Dark and Me, Myself and Lies
“The message of Love Where You Live is essential not just for pastors and Christian leaders but for every follower of Jesus. I’ve watched Shauna and Ben live out this message in one of the most unreached areas of North America. If the church could get this, it would change everything! This is a must-read!”
Andy Wood , lead pastor of Echo.Church
“I have known Shauna Pilgreen for several years now, and I have watched her and her family since they moved to San Francisco. This book is a great book because of its content. But the book is even better, in my mind, because I have watched Shauna live this out. If you care about people, if you care about God’s mission, if you care about people experiencing the love of God and hearing the gospel of Jesus, this book is for you. I hope you will buy it, read it, and live it.”
Micah Fries , senior pastor of Brainerd Baptist Church and editor and author of Islam and North America
“Most of us know that we’re supposed to live as ambassadors for Christ. But if we’re honest, few of us have a handle on what that means or looks like on a daily basis. In Love Where You Live , Shauna Pilgreen explores the practical realities of living with a ‘sent mindset’ and opens our eyes to the fact that no matter where we live (whether temporarily or long-term) we’re not there by accident. We’ve been sent here on special assignment.”
Larry Osborne , pastor of North Coast Church, Vista, CA, and author
“In this book Shauna teaches us how wonderful and dangerous it is to pray, ‘God, I’ll go anywhere.’ From a small town in Georgia to the heart of San Francisco, Shauna shows us practically what it means to love where you live and see every challenge as an opportunity to share the love of Christ. This book tells the story of how God is using Shauna and her family to impact one of the most culture-defining cities in the world for Christ. Read it and you will be inspired to love where you live!”
Aaron Graham , lead pastor of The District Church, Washington, DC
“Ever so eloquently, Shauna teaches us that God moves us where He chooses based on His perfect plan, not ours. Living sent is not just His desire for us but is also the remedy for the fear and discomfort we may feel when we are sent. Living sent is as joyful and life-giving for us as it is for those God intends we reach and love. This book not only provides practical steps for living our calling but also is a wonderful story that will ease your soul.”
Ally Evans , central group leader of NextGen Ministries, Life.Church, Edmond, OK
Title Page
Copyright Page
© 2019 by Shauna Pilgreen
Published by Revell
a division of Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.revellbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2019
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-1652-3
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2016
Scripture quotations labeled NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Some names and details have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.
Dedication
To those with whom I share the sidewalks:
this book is for you.
To the ones I get to hold hands with every day,
Ben, Elijah, Sam, Kavita, and Asher:
this book is because of you.
Epigraph
The Dweller’s Prayer
Awaken me, Lord, to engage with the people around me today. I choose to make You known so that Your love may be in them as it is in me. Come, Jesus. You are welcome here.
Contents
Cover 1
Endorsements 2
Title Page 5
Copyright Page 6
Dedication 7
Epigraph 8
Foreword by Randy Frazee 11
Introduction: Why Live Sent? 15
• Part I • What Is Living Sent?
Starting Point 27
1. The Town of Six Traffic Lights 29
2. The Comfortable Life 39
3. Thanks, Queen Esther 46
4. Start to Stay 53
Welcome Mat 63
5. Jesus Is Here 65
6. God’s Plan for Places 73
7. The Enemy Has a Plan Too 80
8. Meet the Neighbors 89
9. Meet the Faith Family 98
Essentials on Hand 109
10. Walking Shoes 111
11. Seeing Eyes 119
12. Listening Ears 127
13. Compassion Stickers 133
• Part II • How to Live Sent
It’s a Lifestyle 143
14. Choose to Stay 145
15. Quadrants 150
16. Circles 156
17. Hubs 161
18. The Sacred Field 170
19. Strategic Family 175
20. Position Matters 184
Be a Dweller of Purpose 193
21. Connector 195
22. Storyteller 203
23. Grace Giver 209
24. Intercessor 215
25. Caretaker 224
• Part III • The Hope of Living Sent
To Be Continued 233
26. Your Story Isn’t Over 235
27. Their Story Isn’t Over Either 241
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