Practicing Hospitality

Practicing Hospitality
Read a blog article based on this sermon.

Hospitality is a Biblical Concept. The Father sent Jesus as the bread of life for the world. He showed the ultimate kindness to those at enmity with Him (Rom. 5:8). Though the world rejected Him at first, by His grace, He called us and serves us. This is the biblical concept of hospitality. The terms are: Philoxenia: literally, love for strangers or foreigners. Hospitality is kindness to strangers (Rom. 12:13). Another term, Xenodocheo (verb) means literally to “lodge strangers” (1Tim. 5:10).

Hospitality is Biblically Commanded:
Romans 12:13: Contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
1 Peter 4:9: Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
Hebrews 13:2: Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers…
1 Timothy 3:2: An overseer, then, must be . . . hospitable.
Titus 1:8: [Elder must be] hospitable, loving what is good, sensible . . .
Matthew 25:34-46: Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.
Biblical Examples: Abraham (Gen. 18), Rahab's (Josh. 6:17,22-25), Widow of Zarephath (1Kings 17:10-24), Martha/Mary (Luke 10:38 John 12:1,2), Zacchaeus to Jesus (Luke 19:1-10), Simon the tanner to Peter (Acts 10:6,23), Lydia to Paul and Silas (Acts 16:15), Publius to Paul (Acts 28:2), Phoebe to Paul (Rom. 16:2)

Hospitality has Biblical Consequences. Hospitality is a means of loving people to Christ and to the means of grace in this church. It provides a means of general ministry for you and your family. It provides opportunities through time with visiting missionaries, pastors, or Christian workers and a vision of the work of God in others lives.

Getting Specific

• Schedule it. Set a regular time to reach out (those you don’t know well).
• Set a goal: Every family in the church this year, starting with those least known to you.
• Write it down: Make a list of people who could be encouraged by your service.
• Practice kindness: Learn to ask meaningful questions; make the conversation about your guests; seek to understand their spiritual journey; focus on knowing Christ, not secondary matters; don’t be negative; look for gifts and graces in guest’s lives; ask for matters that can pray about; then pray for them.
• Volunteer to house missionaries or traveling servants of the Lord (10/3-6/2014).
• Sharing at the table and in preparing of the food (five simple examples):
  • Chef Salad - basic salad with other toppings. Let guests chop their own toppings.
  • Homemade pizzas - select a handful of toppings. Get everyone involved.
  • Hotpot - An Asian broth soup based; keep adding to it. Promotes conversation.
  • BBQ - If you’re good with a grill, make a large BBQ, then add other fixins.
  • Soup - from homemade chili to a simply made vegetable/chicken/beef.