Show Hospitality to One Another
Notes
Transcript
Hospitality
Hospitality
1 Peter 4:7-10 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
Let’s pray
What is hospitality?
Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible defines it this way: “benevolence done to those outside one’s normal circle of friends”
Why hospitality?: Biblical support
Can you think of any stories in the Bible that show hospitality?
Holman Illustrated Dictionary says this about hospitality in the Bible: “Hospitality probably grew out of the needs of nomadic life. Since public inns were rare, a traveler had to depend on the kindness of others and had a right to expect it. This practice was extended to every sojourner, even a runaway slave (Deut. 23:15–16) or one’s archenemy.”
Lev. 19:33-34 “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. 34 You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with 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.
Melchizedek blessing Abram in Gen 14
Isaac being promised by God in Gen 18
In the NT, Romans 12:13 says, “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”
Hebrews 13:1-2 compares it with showing brotherly love. “ Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
2. Who to be hospitable to?
a. Everyone with a focus on believers.
i. Galatians 6:10, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Obviously, we are to do good to all people, because all people are made in the image of God. But, we, as believers, are in God’s family, his household. We are grafted into his kingdom by his amazing grace. Thus, let’s show that grace to other Christians as well.
3. Who are we NOT to be hospitable to?
a. unrepentant believers
But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
b. teachers of false doctrine
having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
4. Why be hospitable?
a. It is not for the purpose of being repaid or receiving earthly things.
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.
b. being hospitable is a blessing (now to those who receive it) and in the future for God’s eternal glory.
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.”
So to paraphrase verse 14. Will you trade momentary honor here for eternal glory there?
c. It teaches us to love like Jesus did: With NO hint of self-interest. This is a gift, not an exchange. Does your heart treat it that way?
5. Connection to the Gospel
a. We were grafted in to God’s kingdom (Rom. 11). God brought us, the gentiles the strangers, into His kingdom. Even more, all people were born into sin and naturally are strangers from God’s kingdom because of His holiness and perfection. BUT GOD sent Jesus to die for our sins and trade his momentary honor for eternal glory. As a result we are called to repent of our sins and obey His commands.
Think of this verse in light of the topic of hospitality.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Will you eat with Jesus?
6. Conclusion
a. Illustration
Famed father of the Reformation, Martin Luther, considered hospitality to be of central importance to the growth and health of the Body of Christ and its members. He and his wife, Katie, were legendary for their open door hospitality. “For the great house was always full to the brim,” cites Luther historians, Preserved Smith, Ph.D and Herbert Percival Gallinger, Ph.D.
Many of the conversations held in his home and around his table were recorded in Luther’s work Table Talk.
APPLICATION
In his book The Hospitality Commands, Alexander Strauch concludes of Luther’s hospitable efforts:
Martin Luther proved that the table is a splendid pulpit from which to teach God’s truths and disciple God’s people. … If you want new Christians to grow, open your home and share your love and knowledge with them. Your home is the best tool you have to enhance loving Christian community. Your local church can become a friendlier, more loving community if you—and others you know—consistently open your homes to one another.
I know this current time of the pandemic seems to make hospitality difficult. There are still many ways you can serve others in that way.