God calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Who could be more obvious than the person next door? Yet, it is a challenge to find opportunities to share the hope of Jesus Christ with those people who live on your street. Here are 8 ways to make opportunities to share the gospel with your neighbor.

Bring Them Cookies

This is an all-season idea. Whether the cookies are homemade or store-bought, they make an appreciated excuse for knocking on your neighbor’s door. But don’t stop with cookies. Bring a gospel gift like “My Secret” to leave with them also. A high quality gospel gift given with cookies, bread, or pie is a friendly way to share the gospel with your neighbor.

Visit Their Garage Sale

This time, let your neighbor take the initiative. When someone has a garage sale, they open a little of themselves to anyone who comes by. Make sure you’re one of those people. Use the opportunity to establish a friendly connection and leave a gospel gift. Garage sales present a great way to share the gospel with your neighbor.

Work in Their Yard

Get your whole family involved in neighborhood evangelism. Pick a neighbor and  rake their leaves, mow their lawn, or shovel their walk. When they mention your kindness, tell them you do it because of God’s kindness to you. Jesus said that those who serve lead. Serve your neighbors, and it might give you opportunity to lead them to Christ.

Bring Them a Meal

Do you have a new neighbor? Or perhaps a neighbor you know has had a baby, lost a loved one, or been through surgery? Bring a meal and a gospel gift to say hello and let them know you care. In times of transition and uncertainty, we are more open to new things. Offer your neighbor the best gift of all – hope in Jesus Christ. Bringing a meal is a caring way to make opportunity to share the gospel with a neighbor.

Go Caroling

Have you ever had Christmas carolers bring a wave of holiday cheer to your door? Singing Christmas hymns is a charming way to meet your neighbors and bring them joy. Sing Christmas carols that speak of our Savior’s purpose in coming, and leave a gospel gift.

Caroling is even more fun if you invite friends for a caroling party. Everyone could bring a plate of Christmas cookies to share together, and enjoy an evening of laughter and fun before you regale your neighbors with Christmas cheer. Bringing the gospel to your neighbors this way is a lot of fun and can become an annual tradition everyone will enjoy.

Invite Them for Dessert

By inviting your neighbor for dessert, you are extending yourself and inviting them into your life. This is a great way to get to know them better personally. Pray for boldness to turn the conversation to the gospel, and plan how you will make it happen. You can ask questions or tell your testimony to bring the conversation to the things of Christ. An invitation to dessert is a perfect prelude to an invitation to Jesus Christ.

Host a Block Party

A block party is more involved than most of these other ideas, but it is a great way to get to know several of your neighbors at once. Before people arrive, think of simple questions you can ask to start conversation. Then give a gospel gift like “My Secret” to each neighbor as they head home. A block party, where everyone wants to get to know the others, can create a perfect opportunity to share the gospel with your neighbors.

Start a Bible Study

God says His Word is powerful and will not return void. You could invite a few neighbors for a weekly or bi-weekly Bible study. All you need is coffee and a Bible. Go through a book of the Bible, reading a chapter each week and discussing it through simple questions like, What is this chapter talking about? Why did Jesus do/say that? What does this chapter reveal about me? How does it challenge me to change how I am living today? In this simple way, you can lead your neighbors to the source of the gospel – and learn more about it in the process.

Don’t say “I can’t”

Your neighbors won’t hear the gospel from you if you just nod and say, ‘those are great ideas.’ Pick one or two which will work best for you, and pray about how you can implement them in your neighborhood.

– Bring Them Cookies

– Visit Their Garage Sale

– Work in Their Yard

– Bring Them a Meal

– Go Caroling

– Invite Them for Dessert

– Host a Block Party

– Start a Bible Study

How are you going to love your neighbor as yourself this year?