A Hospitable Community - Making a Place at the Table

Greeting

Good Morning church! Good morning to those of you joining on the LIVE stream. Glad to have that technology available.

Well it is good to see all of you this morning and I want to remind you that we are gathered in this place this morning in the name of our lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If our hearts and attention are not on Him, then we are wasting our time.

If you are here this morning and you have made a commitment to Jesus to follow Him as His apprentice, then be reminded and encouraged that He is the reason we have gathered. If you are here this morning and you have not yet made that commitment, then I want you to know you are welcome here and I invite you to just overhear what Jesus is saying to his followers, but I would say that the most important issue for you to be thinking about this morning is not necessarily how to practice Hospitality, the subject matter of this morning’s message. The most important thing for you to consider this morning is Jesus Himself, who he is and what he did and what he said and what you're going to do about that. Amen.

Introduction:

Well I want to begin this morning by inviting all of us to imagine walking into a room full of strangers, unsure if you belong. You hesitate, your heart races a bit, and you are wondering if anyone will notice you, let alone greet you and welcome you. Now imagine someone sees you, walks over, smiles warmly, and says, "Hey, we’re really glad to see you here." That little moment can change everything.

We are in the midst of a series of messages we are simply calling “Community” where we have been considering what the body of Christ in a local church might be like if we were intentionally Following the Spirit - Extending Grace - and Demonstrating Love.

If any local church were to be serious and intentional about those three things, I am convinced that we would see:

A community that is a bit peculiar in comparison to the world around it.

A Community that is hopeful about not only the present but also the future.

A Community that is quick to serve those around us.

A Community that centers its attention on and devotion to Christ. A community of apprentices to Jesus.

A Community that is quick to reconcile and make amends when division threatens.

A community that encourages and lifts one another up.

A community the is generous with the abundance that God has provided and sees to the needs of others.

A Hospitable community and

A Worshipping community.

Over the past 7 or 8 weeks now we have taken time to look into what each of these attributes might look like in the church and what adjustments we may each need to make in order to become the community that Jesus had in mind.

This morning’s message is “A Hospitable Community - Making a Place At the Table.”

And the case I hope to make this morning is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Him crucified and then raised from the dead, and his message of what living in the Kingdom of his Father is like, very naturally and logically leads us to be, a hospitable people.

So here’s the thing. I think, we have too small a view of hospitality. When we think of hospitality we often think about meals or manners. Throwing a flawless dinner party with a table setup so perfectly it is suitable to take a picture and post and share. Or maybe we think hospitality is meant to be done only by the extraverts among us since they are better suited. Or that hospitality is reserved for those who are gifted entertainers. Or even the view that Hospitality is a business model or an industry.

But true Biblical hospitality is something far deeper, far richer, and honestly far more radical than simply hosting some friends at our house. In fact, if there is main thought that you could take away from today’s message, I’m gonna put all my cards on the table right away, it’s this: You might want to write this down.

Biblical hospitality is about making space for others.

It's about creating a place of belonging. Because the truth is, as Christians, we were all strangers who have been brought near so that we can see strangers and bring them near. Many in the room today were at one time strangers from God and have been brought near to Him and we possess His heart to bring others near as well.

So there’s really three questions I want to address this morning.

The first of course is the one we've already delved into a tiny bit here which is:

Q1: What is Hospitality? I will say more about that later.

The second question is,

Q2: Is it important?

and the third question is...maybe question 2b because it assumes an answer of yes to the second question, so if yes, it IS important, then...

Q3: Why is it important?

So first, we really want to know what is biblical Hospitality

This morning I want to take us back to a passage we visited a couple weeks back when we talked about being a generous community. Turn again if you will to Acts chapter 2. In this chapter we read about the coming of the Holy Spirit, Peter’s famous sermon, and the way the early church responded to it all.

I want to hone in on the last half of chapter two beginning at verse 36 this morning but before we read that, let me give you a brief summary of the first part of chapter 2 for context.

In Acts chapter two, beginning in verse 1 we are told that...

On the day of Pentecost (a major Jewish festival), This is of course after Jesus had raised from the dead and ascended into heaven. And we find Jesus’ followers all together in one place. They had been waiting in Jerusalem because Jesus had commanded them to go there and wait on the Holy Spirit to come.

Suddenly, a loud sound like a rushing wind fills the house where they were sitting. Then something that looked like tongues of fire appeared and rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and started speaking in different languages—languages they had never learned—because the Spirit was enabling them.

At that time, Jews from all over the world were in Jerusalem, speaking many different native languages. When they heard the sound, a crowd gathered, and they were blown away—each one could hear the disciples speaking in their own language! They were confused and amazed. “Aren’t all these people Galileans?” they asked. “How are they speaking my language—about the wonders of God?”

People from all different places—Parthians, Medes, Egyptians, Romans and others—were hearing the message in their own language. Some were amazed and wanted to know what it meant, but others mocked and said the disciples must be drunk. In verse 14, under the unction of the Holy Spirit, Peter stands up and raises his voice to address the crowd. “Listen, we’re not drunk—it’s only nine in the morning! What you’re seeing is exactly what the prophet Joel talked about a long time ago.”

Peter then quotes Joel’s prophecy: “In the last days, God says He will pour out His Spirit on all people. Sons and daughters will prophesy, young men will see visions, and old men will dream dreams.” He explains that these are the last days and God promised to do miraculous things, and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Then in v 22, Peter goes on to talk about Jesus, and says, “Let me tell you about Jesus of Nazareth. He was a man approved by God through miracles and wonders that many of you witnessed. Yet, He was handed over and crucified—but this wasn’t an accident. It was part of God’s plan. But death couldn’t hold Him. God raised Him back to life!”

In v 25, Peter quotes King David, who had written in the Psalms about someone who wouldn’t be abandoned to the grave or experience decay. Peter explains that David was speaking prophetically—not about himself—but about the resurrection of the Messiah. David died and was buried, but he had been promised that one of his descendants would be the Messiah, and so he looked ahead to Jesus' resurrection.

Peter says in v32, “God raised Jesus to life—and we are all witnesses of it. Now Jesus is exalted at God’s right hand, and He has poured out the Holy Spirit, just as you’re seeing and hearing right now. David didn’t ascend into heaven, yet he said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.”

And then Peter ends his sermon with this:

Acts 2:36 “36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Mic drop.

And that's how he finishes his sermon. He's like, This is on you. You guys did this.

And the next verse tells us...

Acts 2:37 - 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

The Holy Spirit caused Peter's words to penetrate their hearts they were convicted over their sin and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles, “Brothers what shall we do?” They're wondering how do we respond to this reality that Jesus is Lord and Christ

And Peter says to them in verse 38,

Acts 2:38–40 - 38 .... “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”

Verse 41...

Acts 2:41 - 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Man that would be something to see wouldn’t it? I would be pretty stoked if everyone in this room gave their heart and life to Jesus this morning. Pray beloved. With God, all things are possible.

Well, my sermon might not get it done, but Peter’s sermon still preaches to us today. It still preaches to those in the room this morning who are far off. This morning, if you feel far from God, Peter is preaching to you today. He is telling you that Jesus has been made Lord and Christ by God the Father.

And what that means is Jesus is over all the universe and he is Christ, meaning the promised Messiah, that would come and if you will believe in him repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Spirit, then you will know what it is to no longer be far off, but to be brought near.

Jesus says, if you will allow, I am going to get a WHOLE lot closer to you. In fact, I'm going to make my home in your heart. I am going to make my home in the very core of who you are.

Ephesians 3:17–19 - 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

So, if you feel far from God, today could be the day that you trust in Jesus, repent of sin, receive the Holy Spirit, and know what it is to be brought near through Christ. My prayer is THAT for you this morning.

The remaining verses in Acts record for us the organic aftermath of people receiving the gospel.

Acts 2:42–47 “42 And they devoted themselves to (What?) the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Not only were they together and sharing all their things, they recognize, “Man there's people who have need greater than I do. I don't need this stuff I got Christ. I've been reconciled to the father. What is this stuff? I'll sell it so that I can give to others.

Now, we don't have record of Peter getting up and saying, “All right everybody, time to sell your stuff and give your money to everyone else. What we see is this is the organic response. Meaning the fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in this community when they reconcile to God. They recognize they've received the lavish grace of God and it produces in them generosity.

Verse 46.

46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

So I hope you don’t miss this. What we have here before us is the natural organic response when people finally, with the prompting of the Holy Spirit, understand,

Who Jesus is.

and the enormity of What He has done on our behalf

What we see in Acts 2 and verses 42-47 are a people who are responding to the Good News with radical devotion and radical hospitality.

So we see that there is very direct connection between the gospel and this business of hospitality.

When they heard the Gospel preached by Peter...

The early Believers shared the word together.

They shared prayers together.

They shared meals together.

They shared their days together.

They shared their homes together.

They shared their resources together.

They shared their very lives together.

And how did they do it? With glad Hearts.

Their hospitality toward each other was a testament. It was a picture, it was a revelation to those around them, of what it looks like when the gospel penetrates our hearts and draws others to Christ.

I want to give you a definition for biblical hospitality today.

It is this. Sharing what God has given to us to make others feel the way God has made us feel. Biblical hospitality is sharing what God has given to us, with others to make others feel the way God has made us feel.

What has God shared with us? Oh man! Everything right? God owes us nothing and has given us everything. This is why James says “Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father”

The breath in your lungs.

Your life.

Your days.

Your family.

Your friends.

His Son.

His indwelling holy spirit. He's given us his grace ,his love his Mercy, his forgiveness, his kindness, his glory, his provision. To bring us near. He gave us all this to bring us near. And if you've received that to where it penetrates your heart, there's no comparison to what that feels like. Amen?

It's one thing to kind of understand it in your head, but when it like those in Acts chapter 2, Cuts you to the heart, that is a profound feeling. When you recognize the things that God has done for you and the way that makes you feel. When we realize the things that God has done for us, don't we genuinely feel overwhelmed with gratitude when it hits our heart. We feel overwhelmed with gratitude because of the great love with which he loved us in that while we were still sinners Christ died.

That's enough of itself right there for us to offer our lives as a Living Sacrifice isn’t it?

It's what Paul would preach in Romans 12:1-2

Rom 12:1-2 ESV - 1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

And even though forgiveness of our sins is all the reason that that we need to respond appropriately, he's given us so much more than that hasn't he? He didn't stop at wiping clean our sin debt, but he gave us life. He gave us friends. He gave us family. He gave us a church family. He gave us skills and talents and Gifts. He gave us so much more. We owe him everything.

And He has given us a mission. We are to take that lavish grace of God that has been poured generously out onto us to overflowing proportions, right? And we scoop it up and we become vessels to then take that lavish grace of God given to us and pass it on to others to make others feel the way that God has made us feel. Amen?

And not only do we do that, but we do it with glad and generous hearts, not with grumbling and complaining.

Folks, the number one thing I hear about this church from people who have come recently, is that they find the people of this church to be very friendly and welcoming. I don’t know if you realize this or not, but THAT IS hospitality. And as well as we do that here, compared to what the Lord has done for us, I reckon we should be doing a WHOLE lot more.

I am convinced this morning, that if we make Jesus like hospitality a priority, we will continue to see the Lord add to our numbers day by day. Because people like to be where they feel welcome and cared for. And nobody did that better than Jesus.

The church is called to be a community of hospitality, a people who open their hearts, their homes, and their lives to others, because Christ has welcomed us.

So we have touched on what hospitality is? Is it Important? I will give you that one. it IS VITALLY Important, and the why, the reasons it’s important? We will look into 4 reasons why hospitality is important. It is important because it is...

Rooted in the very character of God

It is something both Jesus and the early church Modeled Radically

Hospitality has a tendency to confronts Our Modern Individualism

And it absolutely Reflects the Gospel

First...

1. Hospitality is Rooted in the Character of God

All through Scripture we see that God is portrayed as welcoming:

In Genesis 18, a very interesting passage, you should go home and read it this afternoon, God appears to Abraham through three visitors. Abraham runs to meet them, washes their feet, and prepares a meal. Hospitality happening all over the place! but here we see not just hospitality—it's a picture of how God meets with us in our openness to others. God likes to hang out where Christian hospitality is taking place.

In Psalm 23:5, we read, “You prepare a table before me...”—Here, God is the host who welcomes us even in the presence of enemies.

Jesus says in John 14:2, “In my Father’s house are many rooms... I go to prepare a place for you.”

The heart of God is hospitable. The cross itself is the ultimate act of hospitality—Jesus making room for us at God’s table. We will be observing a reminder of this in a little while.

So...Hospitality is Rooted in the Character of God. Next, when we study the life and ministry of Jesus in scripture we clearly see that...

2. Jesus and the Early Church Modeled Radical Hospitality

Jesus welcomed people that others, in particular the religious leaders of His day, rejected:

I think about the story of...

Zacchaeus, the tax collector: “I must stay at your house today.” (Luke 19:5)

The woman at the well, an outsider, whom He met with dignity (John 4)

Children, whom the disciples tried to keep away (Mark 10:14)

Sinners and tax collectors, whom He dined with (Matthew 9:10)

In Jesus’ world, eating with someone was a deep sign of acceptance. Jesus didn’t just preach about love—He extended it at the table. And the church is called to do the same.

Speaking of the church,

We just saw how the first Christians lived this out as they responded to the Gospel.

“They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” (Acts 2:46)

They opened their homes. Shared meals. Took care of the poor. Welcomed strangers. There were no lonely people in the early church because hospitality wasn't a program—it was their way of life.

Hebrews 13:2 even says,

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

So...Hospitality is Rooted in the Character of God. We see Jesus and the early church model radical hospitality. Next...

3. Hospitality Tends to Confront Our Modern Individualism

We live in a closed-door culture. Garage doors go down, curtains get drawn, and we retreat into our personal space. For many of us who are far to busy, our homes become that place of refuge and rest. And there is nothing wrong with that unless we become selfish about it. As people called to live in the Kingdom, we must never lose site of the fact that the Kingdom calls us outward.

True hospitality says:

“You don’t have to look like me to belong here.”

“You don’t have to think like me for me to care about you.”

“You don’t have to have it all together before I invite you in.”

It pushes back against fear, busyness, and selfishness. It says, “There’s room at my table. There’s space in my place of refuge for you.”

So...Hospitality is Rooted in the Character of God. We see Jesus and the early church model radical hospitality. Hospitality confronts our individualism and self centeredness, and finally...

5. Hospitality Reflects the Gospel

Romans 15:7 isn’t a suggestion—it’s a command. And it says:

“Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you.”

As Gospel people, as Kingdom People, How can we do this? Let me give you a few...

Practical Ways We Can Be a Community of Hospitality

Greet people warmly at church – especially the newcomer or outsider. We do this pretty well but let’s not leave it to somebody else. If you are a regular attender here, be on the lookout for visitors and do your part to make them welcome. If not before the service, Sean gives us all an opportunity to do that every Sunday.

Invite someone into your home – a meal or coffee can be deeply healing.

And on that note, if the excuse you are using is I don’t really have a home or my home is not suitable for guests. Let me remind you the the most hospitable person to ever walk the earth had no plce to lay His head. Jesus spent His ministry as a homeless person yet He found a way to host in other people’s homes.

Make room in your conversations – look for those standing alone and invite them in.

Practice presence – being fully available is an act of hospitality.

Lead with curiosity, not judgment – ask questions, seek understanding.

Welcome those who are different – diversity always makes the table richer.

Hospitality is more than entertaining—it’s embracing, and it can happen in small, quiet ways.

Conclusion:

We are going tom observe the Lord’s Supper together this morning. If you need the elements go ahead and grab one. They are all around the room.

So as we observe this together, let’s be mindful that:

Christ welcomed you in your sin.

Christ welcomed you when you were far off.

Christ welcomed you without requiring you to earn it.

That’s the foundation of our hospitality. We don’t welcome others because they deserve it—we welcome others because we’ve been welcomed.

Jhn 13:1-17 ESV - 1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" 7 Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." 8 Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." 9 Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" 10 Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you." 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "Not all of you are clean." 12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

So one of Jesus final acts with His closest followers was to demonstrate radical hospitality. The Messiah, taking on the role of a servant. Pretty radical. Then later in Matthew 26:26 Jesus institutes this ordinance that we still observe in the church today.

Mat 26:26-29 ESV - 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body."

27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

And with that, Jesus promises hospitality will be front and center in the Kingdom of God.

Table Prepared

Imagine if you will, the church becoming known not just for what it stands against, but for how well it welcomes.

Imagine a place where the lonely find family, the hurting find healing, the overlooked are seen, and the stranger becomes a friend.

That’s what the Kingdom of God looks like.

Because one day, we will all gather at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9)—an eternal feast prepared by Jesus Himself. Until that day, we’re called to reflect that future by welcoming one another now.

Call to Action:

So as I close, I want to invite you to ask yourself:

Who is God asking me to make space for?

Where in my life can I create room for others?

What step of hospitality will I take this week?

Don’t wait for perfect conditions—open the door, set the table, make the call, offer the seat. Amen? Let’s pray.

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, Thank You for welcoming us when we were outsiders. Thank You for making room for us at Your table. Teach us to reflect Your heart. Break down the walls we build around our lives and open our hearts to others. Help us to become a community of radical hospitality—a place where the lonely are seen, the stranger becomes family, and Your love is felt in every word and gesture. May our welcome bring You glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.