Neighbors and Ne'er-Do-Wells

An Invitation to
Neighbors and Ne’er-Do-Wells

Everybody loves a good story. Whether we’re talking about something that we did with our friends last week or something that happened unexpectedly during a church service, people are social creatures. We love to tell stories about things that happened, or even things that didn’t happen. In America, more books about fiction are published each year than any other genre.
While not a novelist, Jesus was nevertheless a master story teller! In fact, at one point Jesus taught exclusively by means of parables. (Matthew 13:34) But Jesus didn’t tell stories simply to entertain those who were listening. He understood that a good story is like a window that lets light in. A good story illuminates and helps us to understand truth more clearly.
As a preaching pastor, I realize that it’s the stories that people remember the most in my sermons. In fact, people often remember stories long after they have forgotten a catchy title or outline. Stories have “staying power.” A good story isn’t easily forgotten. That’s because they have a tendency to draw us into them, causing us to reflect on where we find ourselves within their scope. A good story isn’t just something that we hear. It’s something that we experience.
Neighbors and Ne'er-Do-Wells is primarily about two stories that Jesus told—stories that have incredible staying power. The Parables of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son are about amazing love. They both speak volumes about our interpersonal relationships in our families, our churches, and even among nations. The main text may be read by itself. Those wishing to dig a bit deeper will find sources and issues of a more academic nature addressed in the endnotes at the end of the book. Discussion questions are also provided at the close of each chapter to spur additional thinking for individuals and groups.