Strategic Hospitality

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.” – Romans 12:9-13

Intro

If you were to attend women’s conferences around the country, there is a high probability you would hear someone teach on hospitality. Sometimes we think of hospitality as a topic that only applies to women. But as we look at this briefly, I hope you’ll see that it isn’t simply a topic of conversation for a particular group or gender in the church, but hospitality is far more than we normally consider.

Hospitality is near the top of the list of characteristics for believers. In fact, it’s so important that Paul includes it as a mark of spiritual maturity (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:8). Gospel-centered churches should set the example of hospitality. By opening up our hearts and homes to others in hospitality, we experience fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ (Rom. 12:13; 1 Pet. 4:9), and we can open doors for evangelism toward those outside the church (Luke 14:12). When a church just begins, in many ways our efforts are focused on learning to practice hospitality well. It’s about meeting, welcoming, listening to, and loving people.

Question: What do you think of when you think of hospitality?

The Call to Hospitality

As far back as you want to go in the history of God’s people, one of the God-appointed duties of the righteous was hospitality—by which I simply mean the willingness to welcome people into your personal living space who don’t ordinarily belong there. In Job, considered the oldest book in the Bible, we see hospitality as an important aspect of a righteous man’s life. He says, “The sojourner has not lodged outside, for I have opened my doors to the traveler” (Job 31:21). We see Job’s heart to care for and welcome those who are not his own.

In the New Testament, the duty was reemphasized for the Christian community. We read in Romans 12:13, “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” This command given to the believers in Rome (and all believers who follow) expresses the same care and welcome shown by the hand of Job. The first word of v.13 “contribute” is the verb form of “fellowship” from the Greek “koinonia.” There are a lot of churches that use that Greek word as the name of their Fellowship groups. We’re doing the action of fellowship by participating in, sharing, and working together for the needs of one another.
Yet, it doesn’t just stop with one meeting together. The verse goes on, “and seek to show hospitality” or as it literally translates “pursue hospitality.” That’s an ongoing sort of aggressive kindness and welcome. You’re really going out of your way for the sake of loving others. So the command in Romans 12:13 is that hospitality not just be a once-a-year thing at Thanksgiving or Christmas, but a constant attitude and practice. The places we call home should stand at the ready for strategic hospitality—a readiness to welcome people who don’t ordinarily live there. It’s a defining mark of a true Christian which God expects of His church.

Think back to the early church. In the book of Acts, we see people repenting and believing in God on a regular basis. Day by day new people were committing their lives to God and being added to the numbers of the church. Everybody was a stranger. God, in wisdom and care for His church, laid the foundation of expectations as these new-found spiritual brothers and sisters were called to love one another and promote unity. One aspect of this love and unity is seen through the pursuit of hospitality.

Gospel Motivation of Hospitality

Good hospitality is an outworking of the gospel. Through the gospel, God is hospitable to us. In the beginning of the Bible, we find God caring for Adam and Eve in the garden. As we trace the biblical narrative, we see God caring for his people in the wilderness. God’s people are to welcome the stranger, just as He welcomed them (Lev. 19:34). God sustains his people until he brings them to the “land flowing with milk and honey.” God welcomes, hosts, cares for, provides, and blesses.

We see hospitality in the ministry of Jesus. He prioritized sitting down around a table with people. One theologian said, “In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal or coming from a meal.” Jesus gets labeled “as a drunkard and a glutton, a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Luke 7:34). He hangs out with people hated by society, like Levi and Zacchaeus (Luke 5:27–32; 19:1–10). After his resurrection, Jesus breaks bread with his disciples (Luke 24:30). And now, we remember his sacrifice and look forward to his return by way of a meal (Matt. 26:26–29; Mark 14:22–25; 1 Cor. 11:23–26).

The early church exhibited hospitality in numerous ways, expressed throughout the book of Acts and across the New Testament. The Bible ends with a glorious vision of the great wedding banquet (Rev. 19:7), and with God dwelling with his people (Rev. 22). There’s an invitation for the “thirsty to come” to God and be satisfied forever (Rev. 22:17). What a gracious, hospitable God!

The Source of Hospitality

The God-centered motivation for hospitality begins in the Old Testament. Perhaps the clearest text is Leviticus 19:33–34:

“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:33–34)

What is the motivation for hospitality here? It’s not Israel liking someone or thinking that it’s a good idea to have people over from time to time. It boils down to one phrase: “I Am the Lord Your God.” The words “I am the Lord your God” are packed with meaning. They are a reminder of God’s faithfulness to his covenant (Exodus 6:7-8). They are the very first words of God’s commandments in Exodus 20. Any faithful Israelite could finish the sentence: “I am the Lord your God who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (v. 2). “I am the Lord your God” (which occurs a dozen times in Leviticus 19 and over 40 times in the Old Testament) is like shorthand for: “I am Yahweh. Remember my love for you as strangers and aliens.”

For the people of God in the Old Testament, the duty of hospitality came right from the center of who God was. I am the Lord your God who made a home for you and brought you there with all my might and all my soul. Therefore, you shall love the stranger as yourself. You shall be holy as I am holy. Your values shall mirror my values (cf. Leviticus 19:2).

Maybe you’re thinking, “What about the church today?” Where does our obligation for hospitality come from? Just as in the Old Testament, it is rooted in God’s unmerited favor, which he shows to sinners like you and me. It’s called grace. Grace is the hospitality of God to welcome sinners not because of their goodness but because of His glory. When God explains His grace for believers in the New Testament, he reminds us that we were also once “strangers” and “alienated.”

“Remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh…remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” (Ephesians 2:11–12)

When one reads that verse, there is not much encouragement to us Gentiles if we only hear that God made a covenant with the people of Israel. We are still aliens, strangers, outside salvation, without God and having no hope in the world.

But then Christ (according to Ephesians 2:15–16) sacrificed his flesh “to create in himself one new man in place of two (Israel and Gentiles), so making peace, and reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end.” Christ came to reconcile both Jews and Gentiles to God and thus to each other. The result for the non-Jew believer is given in verse 19:
“So then you (Gentiles) are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”

The ultimate act of hospitality was when Jesus Christ died for sinners to make those whom he called to be members of the household of God. We are no longer strangers and sojourners. We have come home to God. Everybody who trusts in Jesus finds a home in God.

So then our motivation for practicing hospitality comes from a memory of the past and a hope for the future.

The Results of Hospitality

Strategic hospitality is not content to just have the same good ole boys over for dinner again and again. The goal is unity with the whole body. It strategizes how to make the hospitality of God known and felt all over the world, from the lonely church member right here to the millions of unreached in India. Don’t ever underestimate the power of your living room as a launching pad for new life and hope and ministry and missions! Hospitality is far more than we normally consider. It is rooted in Christ and expressed through his Church!

7 Ways to Grow in Gospel-Fueled Hospitality

To practice hospitality well, we must let Jesus’ example and words guide us. Talk together about the following ideas.

  1. Expand Your Guest List
    Jesus jolted people’s expectations when he said: “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:12-14)

    Jesus rebuked the guests of the party (Luke 14:7–11). Now he corrected the host. When you have a party—Christmas party, birthday party, or some other significant event—invite those who can’t repay you. Invite those outside your comfort zone, outside your friend zone. And you will be repaid “at the resurrection of the just.” (cf. Acts 24:10-15) Jesus fills up ordinary, everyday events with eternal significance.
  2. Serve Others Rather Than Trying to Impress Them
    Many confuse hospitality with “entertaining.” Entertaining is often about the host, not the guests. It’s about showing off, not serving. You can be thoughtful without being extravagant. You don’t have to wow people with expensive China and fancy food. Aim for warm rather than wow. Your goal isn’t to draw attention to yourself, but to Christ. (Acts 15:4; 1 Peter 4:9; 3 John 1:15)
  3. Reject the ‘My Home Is My Refuge’ Mentality
    Jesus is your refuge. Anything else we make our “refuge” is idolatry. When it comes to our homes, we should think of stewardship rather than ownership. A home is a place to welcome and love the broken. Hosting reflects the values of God’s kingdom, giving people a foretaste of what’s to come. If you have a small house, consider other ways to welcome and host—especially newer residents. Show them around town. Introduce them to your church family. Give advice on places to eat, shop, and play in your area. Also, be on the lookout for that lone person at your church. Invite them to go eat after the service or hang out with them during the week. (Hebrews 13:1-2, 15-16)
  4. Pay Attention to People’s Needs, Likes, and Concerns
    Surprise guests with their favorite food or beverage. Supply them with material items they need. These little touches will leave a lasting impression on your guests. It doesn’t need to be anything pricey, just a thoughtful touch to show that you care. These are great pathways to further conversations. Pay attention to the deeper heart issues: a person’s fears, dreams, hopes, and questions so our conversations speak about what is spiritual, wholesome, fitting, kind, sensitive, purposeful, complimentary, gentle, truthful, loving, and thoughtful. Let’s work together to learn how to “let our speech always be gracious.” (Colossians 4:5-6)
  5. Don’t Feel the Need to Copy Others’ Practices
    One person may have a pool. Another may be a great hand at the grill. Perhaps you can cook wonderfully. Perhaps you prefer to cater. Whatever you do, do it with gospel intentionality. That means doing life together with an intention to talk about Jesus, minister to one another with the gospel, and share that gospel with unbelievers. (Romans 15:7)
  6. Greet Warmly, Engage Sincerely, Say Goodbye Thoughtfully
    The greetings and farewells in the New Testament should strike us as we consider how they are filled with warmth, love, and meaning. (cf. Acts 20:36; 21:5–6; Romans 16:1-27).

    When someone comes into your home, greet them affectionately. Take their coat. Offer them a drink. Give them a place to sit. As you talk with people, ask about their life. Don’t turn everything back on yourself. Put your phone away. Draw attention to Jesus’s grace. When they’re ready to leave, walk them to the door, or even to their car. Invite them back. All of these gestures convey value and love. And people remember them. (cf. Acts 16:14-15, 32-34, 40)
  7. Be a Good Guest
    You’ll learn to show good hospitality by learning to receive it. Think twice before you refuse an invitation. Consider, rather, how you might be able to make yourself available. Be thankful for people’s generosity. Send the host a thank-you to express your gratitude. Hospitality flows out of a humble, grateful heart. Be a student of hospitality when hosted. You will grow in hospitality as you seek to humbly learn from others. (cf. Luke 10:5-8)

    Bonds of brotherly love are forged when we affectionately seek to build friendships. Hospitality stems from a desire to know and be known by others. We welcome others into our lives when we are transparent, vulnerable, and genuine toward one another. ( cf. Ephesians 4:23; 1 Timothy 5:10)

Finally, meditate on the goodness of God. We were the orphan, but God adopted us into his family. We were strangers without a country, but we have been brought into his kingdom. We were the widow, but Jesus has become our Groom. We were the poor, but we now have a glorious inheritance. We are pilgrims here on earth, but Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us. Marvel regularly at God’s grace and remember that the proper response to his grace is more grace—a lifetime of gratitude, generosity, and hospitality.

Don’t wait. Find someone at church to show hospitality to this weekend. Make a plan to keep opening your life and home to one another – “bearing with one another in love.”

“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” – Romans 15:7 (ESV)

Pastor Marc


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