Ep 2141: Are You Actually a Good Neighbor?

David Burton thought he was a great neighbor – friendly, polite, easy to live next to. But after hearing a simple challenge rooted in Jesus’ words to “love your neighbor,” he realized something uncomfortable: he didn’t actually know most of the people living right next to him. 

That moment didn’t just change his perspective. It reshaped his work, leading to the Engaged Neighbor Program and a growing movement to help people live out one of Jesus’ most foundational commands in a tangible, everyday way. 

In this conversation, David unpacks what it really looks like to love your neighbor, not as an idea, but as a lifestyle, and why this command, repeated throughout Scripture, still has the power to transform communities today. 

What you’ll hear in the episode: 

  • The personal conviction that challenged David’s definition of a “good neighbor” 

  • How Jesus’ command to love God and love your neighbor reframes everyday life 

  • Why the opposite of love isn’t hate – it’s apathy 

  • The gap between being “friendly” and being truly engaged 

  • The four key elements that help communities thrive: belonging, connection, vitality, and leadership 

  • How neighboring creates natural, pressure-free opportunities to share your faith 

  • Real stories of impact, from neighbors stepping into leadership to showing up in life’s hardest moments 

  • Why many people (even in the church) settle for distance instead of connection 

  • The importance of starting with the people right outside your door, not just the world at large 

  • Simple, practical ways to begin neighboring, even if it feels awkward at first 

At its core, this episode is a reminder that Jesus didn’t just teach about loving your neighbor – He lived it. And when we take even small steps in that direction, we reflect His heart in a world that’s often disconnected and isolated. 

Start simple. Learn a name. Open your door. Love the people God has already placed around you. Pick up David’s book Neighborhood Mission Trips for Everyday Christians, and consider signing up for the Engaged Neighbor newsletter and marking your calendar to celebrate Good Neighbor Week (Sep 28-Oct 4, Missouri) and Good Neighbor Day (Sep 28, national).  

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And for national (even global) networking and an incredible marketplace missions experience, come to SWC 2026, April 22-24 in Orlando (code IWORK4HIM gets you 20% off): https://www.swc2026.com 

Featuring: David Burton 

Ministry: The Engaged Neighbor Program 

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