The Hopeful Neighborhood: What Happens When Christians Pursue the Common Good

by Don Everts, David Kinnaman (Foreword)

Are you tired of hearing people dismiss the church as an irrelevant relic? (Do you secretly wonder if they are right?) Don Everts explores an exciting reality that is revealed in Scripture, shown throughout history, and confirmed in the latest research: when Christians pursue the common good of the neighborhood, the world stands up and notices. It turns out this is exactly what we're called to do. When Christians make good things, we bring blessings and hope to our local community. With original research from the Barna Group and Lutheran Hour Ministries on how Christians relate to our neighborhoods, this book is filled with constructive, practical ways that Christians and churches bless those around us. As Christians join together for the common good, we bring hope to the world, credibility to the church, and glory to God.

Genres: Christian

200 pages, Hardcover

First published November 3, 2020

About the author

Don Everts began writing while spending nearly two decades on college campuses in Washington and Colorado. He wrote his first book, Jesus with Dirty Feet, as a 25 year-old who had just gotten married and moved to Boulder, CO.

Since then Don has published 12 books with InterVarsity Press and is currently mulling over writing an uplifting zombie novel.

Having finally gotten off the college campus, Don is serving as a minister at a nearly 200 year-old Presbyterian Church outside of St. Louis, MO.

Reviews

[Mitch Vanyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book's premise, and the portraits of first century recipients of the gospel and epistles were fun and unique, but I was hoping for a little more meat on the bone, especially regarding what "the common good" actually means and looks like. Still, I'd recommend this to anyone looking for an intro to why we should care about our physical neighbors and neighborhoods.

[Drew Lindberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been a terrific read and is a wonderful resource for Christians that want to become better neighbors – yes, in the neighborhoods where we actually live today.
The Hopeful Neighborhood is a collection of scripture, stories, and Godly wisdom applied to your local neighborhood. Don Everts encourages us a convincing way to be more active and engaging in our neighborhoods. Following the lead straight from God’s Word, it’s best to learn about the gifts and resources that already exist in our neighborhood. And... Behold! Take time to behold.
Don also includes recent research on the ways that Christians and non-Christians view the world and see value in communities.
This would be a good book for a small group, as discussion questions are included in each chapter.
Thanks, Don, for encouraging and equipping the church to live for Christ in our neighborhoods.

[Donna Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The vision of this book is to inspire and empower neighbors to bring blessing and hope to their prospective neighborhoods. The easy-t0-read content is informed by sound research from the Barna Group and Lutheran Hour Ministries. I was especially interested by the biblical-historical foundation that focuses on the mission of the early church to pursue the common good, the clarion call of this book. Peter's epistle shapes the scriptural context (and may reshape the way you read 1 Peter). Stories of everyday people who make neighboring a way of life are peppered throughout each chapter.

More resources for effectively engaging your immediate community can be found at hopefulneighborhood.org.

[David Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don Everts has done such a remarkable job of combining statistical data, intellectual integrity, church history, and powerful story telling! Don invites us to a much more holistic expression of faith, one that loves, serves, unifies, and seeks the common good for all, but most especially for the people among whom we live. My best experiences are consistent with Don's exhortation: the good news of God's love is best served with care, compassion, listening, time, and partnership. I love this book, and I'll heartily recommend it to others!

[Ginger Hudock · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is based on research done by the Barna group about how Christians can help in their neighborhoods. This book is a mixture of research, personal stories, Bible stories and Christian history. It was an interesting read which might be best utilized as a resource by Sunday School classes or church small groups.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate the emphasis on the belief that God has created all people to work for the common good of all creation. I came out of my upbringing believing more that Christians are the ones God created with a purpose more specifically, and that the common good was more about spreading the Gospel than just serving people and creation out of love.

[Isaac Goodspeed Overton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The hopeful neighborhood is an easy read with some valuable information on neighborhood ministry. A lot of good stuff, although I wish it went more in depth into conversation around diversity, gentrification, and other complications in building relationships within neighborhoods. Overall a good book though.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don Everts asks us to step back from the isolation of our modern neighborhoods with a call to seek more interaction and to seek the common good of our neighborhoods. Though written from a Christian perspective, his challenge to seek the good of our neighbors has global application for all people. His style of sharing personal stories, stories of Asia Minor in the early years of the church, and modern applications of the principles helps to make the five challenges he shares more personal and understandable. He also sprinkles the text with application questions. Highly recommended read.

[Brandon Rathbun · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of community books, so this isn’t a knock on this book necessarily but I don’t think it added a lot of new stuff.
The research from Barna was solid as usual.
This could have been a wonderful long blog.

[Peter Hoft · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author draws from Scripture, church history, personal stories and Barna research to inspire the reader to make a difference in his or her neighborhood, pursuing the common good. In these divisive times I found this book refreshing.

[Megan Hutchins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good insights and practical encouragement on how to live out God’s call to love our neighbors.