CHRISTIAN HOSPITALITY

CHRISTIAN HOSPITALITY

Romans 12:13 (NIV) — 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Hospitality is the act of making space for guests, visitors, or strangers, and extending to them the privileges of family; biblical hospitality focuses on how we will live as God’s people in relationship with people who are different from us.

What did Abraham do?

Genesis 18:1–8 (NIV) — 1 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. 3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.” 7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.

Survey data suggests that hospitality ought to be something that jumps to the front of the list for people of faith.

The most important thing that people in our area are looking for in a church is welcoming relationships.

Biblical preaching was second on the list and everything else you could think of was way down beneath that.

The report data tells us that people in our area are not looking for churches based on the music or the worship style or the condition of the building or the menu of programs offered.

Far and away on the top of the list is that people are looking for welcoming relationships.

The same report also gives data about people in a two-mile radius from us who do not go to church. Do you know what the number one reason they give for why they do not belong to a church?

It is that they did not feel welcomed.

Also top of that list is that people do not go to church because they feel judged.

Instead of feeling hospitality from God’s people, they feel judged by God’s people.

They don’t reject church because they reject belief in God.

They don’t reject the church because they don’t believe the Bible. They reject the church because they feel that church people have rejected them. They have not been shown hospitality.

What can we learn about the faith practice of hospitality from Abraham here in Genesis?

Step one, Abraham was looking. The passage starts out be telling us that it was Abraham who looked out and saw the three visitors. There is no indication from the story that these three foreigners called out or were in other ways trying to get Abraham’s attention. It was Abraham who took time to look around him and notice these visitors nearby.

Step two, Abraham went to them. He did not sit and wait for the visitors to approach him. The way the Bible tells it, Abraham hurried to approach them. It was priority and it was immediate. Abraham did not put it off until he finished scrolling through his instagram feed, or writing an email, or whatever he happened to be doing at the moment. He stopped whatever he was doing at that moment and immediately turned his full attention on these visitors.

Step three, Abraham offered an invitation. It was an invitation that shows something in particular. Abraham assessed what the need was in that moment, and he offered what he could to meet that need. He observed that these men were travelers and were perhaps weary and dirty from their walking. So, he offers water for washing and a meal for nourishment.

Step four, Abraham gives his very best. He instructs his wife to use the finest flour for baking bread. He goes himself to the flock to select the very best calf. And in each instance, it is done immediately. Abraham does not hesitate for one moment to give his very best to serve the needs of these strangers.

And step five, Abraham stays in attendance. Part of Abraham’s hospitality is his immediate presence. He stays right there with these visitors while they are being refreshed along their journey. Don’t miss this one, it is the most important part of hospitality. Abraham did not just provide for the need that he saw. If that is all Abraham does, then it would be an act of generosity, not an act of hospitality. But Abraham’s commitment to remaining present with these men sets it apart as an act of hospitality.

Hebrews 13:2 (NIV) — 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Ephesians 2:12 “that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”

Ephesians 2:19 “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,”

Our home, in particular, should be a place used for God, where hospitality is offered and help is given

Let love abound

“See that I have extended My good will to you. For I have placed My stamp of approval upon you that I may show favors innumerable. Watch for even the smallest expressions of My good will to surround you today.”

And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you (1 Thessalonians 3:12).

Jesus said that one of the biggest temptations of the last days would be that our love for each other would begin to show signs of growing cold (see Matt. 24:12).

He said it would wax cold, like a candle that has burned out.

The wax then becomes cold, hard, and provides no warmth or light. You see, the way the world will know that we are genuinely Christians is not by how many people attend our churches or by our good music or preaching.

They will know we are true followers of Christ because of one simple fact—that we love each other unselfishly.

When the world would rather revert to backbiting, gossip, betrayal, and finger-pointing, we choose to stay in unity and love!

To win the world, we need love toward one another in our churches, families, marriages, and ministries. It is in that atmosphere of love that the presence of God will abide, and you can be certain that wherever God abides there will be no hindrance to miracles, answered prayer, and blessings.

Love will release the supernatural, so let your love abound today!

Prayer Heavenly Father, I ask that You would help me to walk in love today with all my fellow believers and all people. Forgive me, Lord, for the areas where I have not chosen to walk in love. Cause Your love to abound in me today! Amen.

As the people argued

As the people argued amongst themselves, the light went out

How to play your part in the body of Christ

Be filled with the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13).

Play your part without envying someone else’s. Use your gifts and abilities to serve the body as good stewards of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 12:15–16; 1 Peter 4:10).

Make room for others (1 Corinthians 12:17) and do not try to do it all yourself. Others may do some things better than you.

Know your place in the body (1 Corinthians 12:18–20) because this brings security and confidence (Romans 12:3).

Admit your need of other people (1 Corinthians 12:21).The church is your life support system, so do not be afraid to draw on the life of God through others in the church. Do not be so independent that you cannot be helped, advised or corrected.

Value other believers (1 Corinthians 12:22–24) and encourage them.

Care for the body (1 Corinthians 12:26), practice hospitality (Romans 12:13; 1 Peter 4:7), and look for practical ways to share with and help your brothers and sisters in the church (Hebrews 10:24; Galatians 6:10).

Make love your aim and earnestly desire spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 13:1–3; 1 Corinthians 14:1).

What should our attitude be to one another in the body of Christ?

We should: love one another (John 13:34–35; John 15:12, 17; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:18; 1 John 4:7, 11–12).

encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:25).

spur one another on towards love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24).

build one another up (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

edify one another (Romans 14:19).

admonish one another (Colossians 3:16).

instruct one another (Romans 15:14).

serve one another (Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 4:10).

bear with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13).

forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13).

be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32).

be compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32; 1 Peter 3:8).

be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10).

honour one another (Romans 12:10).

live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16; 1 Peter 3:8).

be sympathetic with one another (1 Peter 3:8).

be gentle with one another (Ephesians 4:2; 1 Peter 3:8).

be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2).

accept one another (Romans 15:7).

submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21).

clothe yourselves with humility towards one another (Ephesians 4:2; 1 Peter 5:5).

teach one another (Colossians 3:16).

live at peace with one another (Mark 9:50; Romans 12:18).

confess your sins to one another (James 5:16).

pray for one another (James 5:16).

offer hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9).

greet one another (Romans 16:16; 1 Peter 5:14).

have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7).

agree with one another (1 Corinthians 1:10).

carry one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).

Things not to do to one another in the body of Christ

do not bite or devour one another (Galatians 5:15).

do not provoke or envy one another (Galatians 5:26).

do not hate one another (Titus 3:3).

do not judge one another (Romans 14:13).

do not lie to one another (Colossians 3:9).

do not slander or speak evil about one another (James 4:11).

do not grumble against one another (James 5:9).

do not go to the law against one another (1 Corinthians 6:1–8).