Gifts of the Spirit: Hospitality

Big Idea:

Hospitality is God’s gift inviting us home to heaven

Intro:

A little over 10 years ago, Janelle and I were serving at a small church near Murrieta, California, which is a little north of San Diego. We had moved to the area to buy an affordable house and found a local church that was - at the time - around 25 people.

In many ways, it was where God prepared us for church planting:

It was there that I first started leading worship.

It was there where I learned how to setup audio and video equipment.

That’s where I first started teaching the Bible.

It’s there I got my first experience with pastoral ministry as the youth pastor.

And at the time, there weren’t a lot of musicians, so I started raising up the youth to play on the worship team. But, it was a setup/breakdown church (like ours), so we didn’t have a space to practice during the week… so, we practiced in my living room.

Now, one thing about me is - for the most part - I’m a rule follower. Not all the time… but for the most part. And at the time, I was concerned about disturbing my neighbors with the loud music - not that I knew them...

You see… I’m naturally introverted. I’ve shared this before. It’s really hard for me to meet new people and socialize. I’ve gotten better after working really hard at it; but back then in California, I never knew my neighbors. And at least in Southern California...

...btw - do you notice how I keep saying “California?” Just in case, you’re wondering… people from California don’t say “Cali.” It’s weird. Just like we don’t say “Guac.” It’s Guacamole!

Anyways, in Southern … “California”… it’s not normal to know your neighbors. We like our privacy. We close our windows and door.

In the morning, the garage door opens and a car drives out.

Most people have long commutes, so they don’t work in their community.

Then, at the end of the day, the car comes back, gets swallowed by the garage...

...And we repeat the same cycle the next day.

That doesn’t leave a lot of space for neighborly conversation. Nevertheless, I had this fear of bothering my neighbor, so I’d close up the entire house during worship practice. Then, continue ignoring my neighbors the rest of the week...

After a few years, Janelle and I decided to move back to San Diego. And as we finished loading the Uhaul, I saw my neighbor’s garage door open up. Oh geez… I hope they not gonna finally catch up with me and tell me how noisy we were.

The couple started walking over… [Here it comes!]

“Are you guys moving?”

“Um… yes, we are.”

“Oh, that’s a bummer. We always thought you were good neighbors even though we didn’t speak much. And we loved the music you guys used to play!”

… I was so convicted in that moment. Why?

Because I knew the Spirit of God was showing me I missed an opportunity to share the gospel with my neighbors.

I didn’t take the time to know them.

I didn’t obey God’s command to love my neighbors and tell them about Jesus.

And based on their response to our worship practices, I missed what was likely an “openness” to the gospel.

And at that moment, I resolved to live differently! I was never again going to isolate myself from my community.

What does this story have to do with anything?

Well, we’re currently in a series on the Gifts of the Spirit. And today, we’re going to speak on what I’m going to call: the gift of hospitality.

Body:

Now, if you go through the Scriptures, you’re not going to find “the gift of hospitality” listed anywhere. That’s because...

I believe not every gift of the Spirit is listed in the Bible. If you remember from a couple weeks ago, spiritual gifts are “ANY ability that is empowered by the Holy Spirit and used in any ministry of the church.” Think about prayer. While all Christians should pray, there are people “gifted” in prayer to the degree that it’s obvious the Holy Spirit is empowering them.

I also believe there is overlap in the gifts listed, meaning some times the gifts listed are simply different words used to describe the same gift manifested differently. For example, a “word of wisdom or knowledge” could very well be an expression of the “gift of prophecy,” which is when God spontaneously gives a person wisdom to declare to others.

Therefore, today, I’d like to take three gifts given in Scripture to describe what I’m calling as a whole, the gift of hospitality.

1 Corinthians 12:28 ESV

And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.

The first gift we’re going to discuss is the...

The gift of helping

There is nothing necessarily miraculous about this gift. It describes a person who is willing - and has the ability - to help someone else, specifically those who are poor, weak, or an outcast. And this help is not limited to those with physical needs, but also those spiritually poor, weak, and outcasted. It includes people far from God and needing help finding Him.

The Greek word for “helping” is a combination of the words “exchange” and “grab.” In other words, to “help” is to grab hold of a person’s need and make an exchange with them. It is saying, “I will partner with you and take your burdens as my own - I will help you.”

A cool way to think about this verse is found in Romans 8. Have you ever had those moments where you knew you desperately needed help. Like nothing is working and you need to pray, but you don’t know what to say!

But then you remember the promise the apostle Paul writes...

Romans 8:26 ESV

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

We read that and are instantly encouraged because when we don’t know what to pray, we have a promise that the Holy Spirit (who is God) will help us... by praying for us. That’s like the “gifts of helps” - it’s supernatural, God-inspired assistance.

It’s also a help sourced from LOVe for your community. You do not have the “gift of helps” if you’re like, “Fine! I help you. Idiot. I can’t believe you can do this on your own.”

No, those with this gift are standing by you saying, “I’m here to partner with you. We got this.”

The next gift is found in...

Romans 12:6–7 ESV

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;

The second gift is...

The gift of serving

Can you see how there is already natural overlap with the gift of helping? I definitely believe they are connected, but there is a different word use in Romans 12 for translating “serving.” This word is tied to actions. It’s the WORK done to benefit another person.

In many ways, this gift defines what we call ministry. We use the word “ministry” to describe the different ways the church serves God and each other. When we do ministry, we don’t work for our own benefit (at least we’re not supposed to). We serve even when there is no personal benefit; in fact, this serving is sacrificial.

It’s a gift that obeys what we call, “The Great Commandment.”

Jesus was once asked, “What’s the most important thing we are to concern ourselves with in this life?”

Matthew 22:37–39 NLT

Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

The gift of serving is working because you love God with all your heart and you love your neighbor the same way! The gift of serving involves tangible actions that make the invisible God visible. It makes Jesus real to our community.

Now, the third gift is also found in Romans 12...

Romans 12:8 NLT

If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Let’s talk about...

The gift of generosity

This gift involves the both the desire and ability to give, but it’s also much more...

Those with this gift are willing to share from their own personal resources at great cost. This spiritual sharing involves sacrifice.

Additionally, this gift can also be defined as being simple and sincere. It’s having a “singleness of heart.”

What does that mean?

In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul is teaching about the importance of generosity. And he says...

2 Corinthians 8:9 NLT

You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

Jesus has existed in perfection from eternity past. He had no needs. He was rich. But… He shared and sacrificed His perfect life on the cross to save us. He became poor, so we could have eternal life - so we could become rich.

And those with the gift of generosity are empowered to share Jesus’s heart. How awesome is that?

Furthermore… the word used for generosity in Romans 12:8 is related to a word used in Matthew 6...

Matthew 6:22 ESV

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,

The word translated “healthy” is related to the word translated “generous.” And I believe it is appropriate to say a generous heart is a heavenly healthy heart. It’s the spiritual gift that by generosity, transforms the world into the way God desires it to be...

Isaiah 61:1–3 ESV

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

The prophet Isaiah prophetically points to how Jesus would one day make the world right. He would make it “heavenly healthy.” And those with the gift of generosity have the same heart. They too want what God wants, so they generously give as a way to transform the world in Jesus’s name!

…so, that’s the gift of hospitality. It includes the gift of helps, serving, and generosity. Sure, those individual gifts can stand on their own, but I think they rightfully combine (like Voltron) to become the spiritual gift of hospitality.

But now, maybe you’re asking...

What’s so important about hospitality?

So far in this series, we’ve talked about the apostles and prophets - people spiritually gifted to both build up the church and push the Kingdom forward! Last week, Pastor Jon talked about the gifts of miracles, healings, and tongues - supernatural gifts producing awe and wonder in the world! So, what’s the big deal about helping people, serving people, and sharing your stuff?

I mean, honestly, who wants the gift of hospitality? Because to our natural minds, it almost sounds like like being a spiritual gifted doormat. Like, “The Holy Spirit has empowered me to let you walk all over me!”

Let me remind us about a very important truth…

Isaiah 55:8–9 ESV

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God does things differently. Things that seem backwards. Like, Jesus said...

Matthew 20:16 ESV

So the last will be first, and the first last.”

That’s different. That’s not what the world says. Yet, that’s how the Kingdom of God works. Therefore, despite the gift of hospitality sounds lame to us, let me give us 3 reasons why the gift of hospitality is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT:

1) The gift of hospitality reveals the heart of God.

When I was talking the gift of helps, serving, and generosity a moment ago, how many of you theologians noticed the Trinity hiding in those definitions?

By the way, I recognize we have people from all stages of faith who visit The River Church, so when I say “Trinity,” I mean we believe the God of the Bible is 3 in 1 - one God, three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Anyways, in John 14:26, Jesus called the Holy Spirit, “The Helper.”

In Matt 20:28, Jesus (God the Son) says He came to be a servant!

And in John 3:16, God (the Father) generously gave us everything when He gave us Jesus.

When people experience the gifts of hospitality, they experience God. Additionally, those gifted in hospitality have the privilege of personally sharing God’s heart for the world!

2) Hospitality brings healing to a hurting world.

We talked about this earlier… the gift of hospitality makes Jesus real to our community.

We live in a broken world. Pain, suffering, and tears is the normal experience of every human heart. But this was not God’s desire or design. This is the result of human rebellion. The world is broken because of sin; therefore, we are all hurting.

But God is not content to leave us in brokenness, which is why He sent Jesus to save us. But 2000 years ago, Jesus ascended to heaven. He will return one day, but for now… we can’t see Him, even though He is fully alive, present, and still working to bring healing to our world.

That being said, one of the ways we know Jesus is still healing is by those gifted in hospitality. By the Spirit of Jesus, the world receives help and healing from the church… which should challenge us today…

…how often have we made the church a spiritual country club instead of a hospital for the broken?

Maybe we need to embrace the famous words of CT Studd who said, “Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell (spiritual country club), I want to run a rescue shop (a hospital) within a yard of hell.”

And it’s my firm conviction that hospitality is a Holy Spirit hospital keeping people from hell. That’s why we value and invest so much in to the hospitality ministry here at The River Church.

Finally, and maybe most importantly...

3) Hospitality invites people home.

I hope it’s okay that I read a large passage of Scripture (I mean, we’re in church)...

Luke 15:11–24 ESV

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

There is so much to teach from this passage, but here’s what we can focus on: God just wants us to come home.

God has always desired to make His home with us. Want proof of that? Look what it says will happen at the end of this age, when God finally makes all things completely right...

Revelation 21:1 NLT

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.

Revelation 21:3 NLT

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.

That’s always been God’s heart! We (like rebellious children) are the ones who run from Him! But God just wants us to come home. And it’s that biblical truth hospitality preaches:

That you (whoever you are) belong here in God’s house.

You are seen, welcomed, valued, and loved.

And because of Jesus, you have a seat at His table!

I love what Dustin Willis and Brandon Clements write in their book, “The Simplest Way to Change the World”...

The secret weapon for gospel advancement is hospitality… it is the primary way we tell the astounding story that God hasn’t given up on us.

That’s why hospitality is important:

It’s the gift that expresses God’s heart.

It’s a gift that brings heaven to earth.

It’s the gift that invites people home.

Response:

So, as we close, know that hospitality should be practiced by everyone. Peter told the entire church...

1 Peter 4:9 ESV

Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

We can all help, serve, and share what God has given us.

But, some of us have the “spiritual gift of hospitality” - where the Holy Spirit is supernaturally empowering you to excel in these areas.

And if you have this gift, please know WE NEED YOU TO ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION GOD HAS GIVEN US! So please use it, because you are essential in reaching the world for Jesus!

So, here’s 3 [4 - in services] quick next steps to either help grow your gift of hospitality or maybe even discover it:

Open your home. Look at the difference between these two pictures of my house.

When I walk around my neighborhood, this is pretty common. Windows closed, door closed. You know what this communicates? My home is closed. And if we are representatives of the Kingdom of Heaven, we may unintentionally be saying, “God’s home is closed too.”

But now look at the difference. My home is open. You can come over. [Ryan knows this] You are welcome. And guess what... God’s home is open too.

Get to know your neighbor. Did you know God has you living where you live for a reason? Why?You have neighbors who need the gospel. Neighbors God loves and desires to invite home. But they haven’t responded because you haven’t invited them. God purposefully sent you to your neighborhood. Don’t make the same mistakes I made. In fact, maybe try this...

In a couple of weeks, there’s a very good chance you will have a lot of people willingly coming to your home. I wonder what they will encounter? Hospitality or a closed door?

Obviously I’m speaking about Halloween. Now, I know some of us have a conviction about not “celebrating” this; and if so, I respect that.

But here’s what Janelle and I do. On one of the darkest nights of the year, we have determined to be a rescue shop within a yard of hell. We have resolved to be a light in the darkness. So, we buy tons of candy (full-sized bars), put out games, serve hot chocolate and coffee, and play Christian music as hundreds of people come to our door.

And now, after 7 years of doing this, neighbords specifically come to our home because they feel welcomed and valued. And it’s my hope that God would take this small offering and use it to call people home.

And here’s my suggestion: This Halloween, you can do the same thing. And if you want to see how we do it, you’re free to come to my house and help us. So that next year, you can love your neighbors the same way.

Finally, I have a five books to share for those who are interested in reading “The Simplest Way to Change the World: Biblical hospitality as a way of life.” There’s even a Life Group study guide attached for you Life Group leaders. And if we run out of books before you get one, come talk to me or email us… we will buy one for you!

Let’s pray...