The Ministry of Christian Hospitality

Introduction

“With great power comes great responsibility.” - Uncle Ben (Spiderman)

These verses specifically about being just with all people

With great theological understanding comes great theological responsibility

Our understanding of God’s covenantal structure of redemptive history and His sovereign rule in salvation should fuel an “organic culture” of outreach and evangelism at RBC.

There is a secondary lesson that is a distinction between those brought out of Egypt (saved) and those still in Egypt (lost)

What do I mean when I say “organic culture” of evangelism?

We are part of a better Exodus

Evangelism cannot be scheduled to a marked day on a calendar

Evangelism cannot be restricted to a start and end time on that calendar day

The Gospel should take a primary position in our mind and our mouth that we are always ready and looking for opportunities to share it

We must think of the Gospel as part of who we are including being woven into the fabric of our everyday lives

Not only that, but our priority of the Gospel should be evident in the next generation.

Tonight I want to focus on one practical way we can move toward an organic culture of evangelism at RBC

The Ministry of Christian Hospitality

Luke 14:7–24 ESV

7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” 12 He said also to the man who had invited him, “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. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” 15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’ ”

Luke

To Whom should we show Christian Hospitality? (12-14)

Those that do not fulfill any ulterior motives

First, let’s look at verses 12-14

Those that need to hear the Gospel

We have the greatest treasure for the poor…the only source of healing for the cripple and lame…the only source of sight.

When we do not seek an earthly blessing God grants us a heavenly one.

How do we show Christian Hospitality?

Exalt our guests and humble ourselves

Exalt Christ and His ultimate humility

Philippians 2:6–8 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Phil 2:

Why should we show Christian Hospitality?

Because the Banquet of Our Lord has been opened to us and there is still room in His house

The original invitees have gone back on their word to attend His banquet

Their excuses show they do not care about their offense of the Host

Their refusal allows our reconciliation

We have a great wedding feast in store

Revelation 19:6–9 ESV

6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

Rev.

Our neighbor’s first taste of this feast could happen at our table

Who has a house? Is there a table in this house? Have all your neighbors sat at this table?