The Dangerous Act of Loving Your Neighbor

- 2011 Christianity Today Book Award winner

Jesus didn't see a sick woman, he saw a daughter of God. He didn't see an outcast from society, he saw a child of Israel. He didn't see a sinner, he saw a person in the image of the Creator.Are we able to see others with the eyes of Jesus?Seeing rightly is the beginning of renewal, forgiveness, healing and grace. Seeing rightly, says Mark Labberton, is the beginning of how our hearts are changed. Through careful self-examination in the Spirit, we begin to bear the fruit of love toward others that can make a difference. Here is a chance to reflect on why our ordinary hearts can be complacent about the evils in the world and how we can begin to see the world like Jesus.With each chapter broken into brief segments punctuated by questions, this book is ideal for both personal reflection and group discussion.See what happens when you take a chance on the dangerous act of loving your neighbor. Your vision might just be changed forever.



Mark Labberton is president of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He previously served as Lloyd John Ogilvie chair for preaching and director of the Lloyd John Ogilvie Institute for Preaching. Labberton came to Fuller after sixteen years as senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, California. He has served as chair of John Stott Ministries (now Langham Partnership) and co-chair of the John Stott Ministries Global Initiative Fund. Today he continues to contribute to the mission of the global church as a senior fellow of International Justice Mission. He is the author of The Dangerous Act of Loving Your Neighbor and The Dangerous Act of Worship.

Introduction: The Injustice of the Heart


Part I: Discovering Where We Live


1 Our Address


2 Paying Attention to Paying Attention


Sabbath Encouragement


Part II: Seeing


3 The Problem of Misperceiving


4 Learning to See


5 Self-Seeing


6 The Crux


Sabbath Encouragement


Part III: Naming


7 Choosing Names


8 A New Name


9 Social Naming


10 Distorted Names


11 Changing Names


Sabbath Encouragement


Part IV:Acting


12 Free To Act


13 Suffering


14 Practicing Dignity


15 The Act of Worship


Sabbath Encouragement


Conclusion: Just Hope


Group Discussion Guide


Acknowledgments