Biblical Hospitality. In a world that is so full of hate and division, it’s important to remember what the Bible tells us about hospitality. By being hospitable to one another and to strangers, we can help to create a more loving and accepting world. This is especially important today, when there are so many people who are feeling lost and alone. By reaching out with kindness and warmth, we can make a real difference in the lives of others. Learn how to practice Biblical hospitality in the message Biblical Hospitality Today
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I went to my UPS store a couple of weeks ago and got in a conversation with the owner. He asked me how I was doing and I told him about how I’m enjoying visiting people on their work sites. He’s from China and told me the town that he’s from never sleeps, but in your neighbourhood you know everybody and their business. You share food and meals and you take care of each other when they’re sick. Since moving to Edmonton he doesn’t know his neighbours and so he sees why the service I get to do is so valuable. I told him about another friend from Ethiopia. He said they don’t have doctors or psychologist or coaches, they have coffee. And coffee takes four hours. If you have coffee a couple times a day, all your problems find a solution. We both agreed that in Edmonton we drive home and park in our garage and don’t really see our neighbours until spring, we need to make our own communities.
Don’t worry, I heard what he was saying. He’s the reason I still have my mailbox at that UPS store.
Today we’re going to look at Biblical Hospitality.
Can I pray?
In a world that is so full of hate and division, and snow and garage doors – it’s important to remember what the Bible tells us about hospitality.
By being hospitable to one another and to strangers, we can be blessed by blessing others and be refreshed by refreshing others. Others need to be blessed and refreshed. This is especially important today, when there are so many people who are feeling lost and alone. By reaching out with kindness and warmth and real friendship, we can make a real difference in the lives of each other and others.
We need to treat strangers as family. That’s a big part of Biblical hospitality. But the Bible also tells us to to be hospitable to one another without complaining. (1 Peter 4:9)
What is hospitality?
PHILOXENOS Strong’s Number: 5382
Given to hospitality, generosity towards guests, love towards strangers.
Why practice Biblical hospitality?
We are told to show hospitality to strangers
Hebrews 13:2 HCSB Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.
PHILOXENOS is also used to describe how we’re to treat one another.
Romans 12:13 HCSB Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.
We practice hospitality because that’s what God wants us to do. He has created us to be in community. We need to know we matter to each other.
Define the problem
We live in a world where winter roads and cold weather keeps us from naturally getting together. We’ve been in isolation for so long, it’s strange to get back to opening up our house. We don’t know what someone would like or what nut will kill someone else. Some people are vegans, some are vegetarian some are pescatarian or practices paleo and still others have religious requirements for food and drink. What pronouns do people want to be referred by?
It’s not so easy to get together as it once was.
Does this really matter?
We also live in world where people are lonely and alone. Biblical hospitality is the natural God-given solution to this epidemic of loneliness in our world.
We need to practice biblical hospitality with one another and strangers.
What you need to know
Secret for all the “One Another” Commands in Scripture to treat everyone as a friend. If you consider each other as friends, you will naturally do all the one another commands that we find in scripture. This is especially true when we talk about showing hospitality to one another.
How to Practice Biblical Hospitality Tool
BEFRIEND
B – Be Intentional
E – Embrace Generosity
F – Follow Compassion
R – Remember to be positive
I – Invest in Honour
E – Embrace strangers as family
N – Nourish friendship by accepting hospitality
D – Depend on Grace
B – Be Intentional
Biblical hospitality comes from love.
1 Peter 4:8-9 HCSB Above all, maintain an intense love for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
Love = Agapeo (the love that is a decision)
We make a mistake when we think hospitality is gift. Some people want to have others around. It’s their personality, not a spiritual gift. Even people who like having people over will tell you it takes work. It’s not always easy. You have to put yourself out.
I can’t find PHILOXENOS in the imperative. It’s an adjective and a noun. It means we’re never commanded to practice hospitality. It’s an invitation to a way of life. I think that’s kind of cool.
Hospitality is not a gift. In scripture it’s assumed we would be hospitable. Even if it was a gift, we’d have assumed responsibility to show hospitality to each other (1 Peter 4:9) and strangers (Hebrews 13:2).
Tip:
Biblical hospitality is intentional hospitality.
Intentional Hospitality is kind and sensitive to others’ needs. It focuses on what guests want, so they feel at home rather than just providing a place for them to come without any regard. It welcomes the guest into your space and welcomes them into your life. Being intentional with your guest creates an atmosphere that will nurture your guest and make them feel like they belong.
Do I intentionally practice Biblical hospitality?
E – Embrace Generosity
Biblical hospitality is an attitude of generosity.
Proverbs 11:25 NLT The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
Biblical hospitality can be uncomfortable for us. We want to make the other person comfortable. This means we serve food that they will eat and provide drink that they will enjoy.
We need to decide how generous we can be.
Need an example?
What if you don’t drink alcohol but know your guest likes to imbibe?
I don’t drink but when we had our neighbours over, we had a bottle of wine for him. After we got to know them better, I explained why don’t drink alcohol and why I have no problem if he wants to.
Tip:
Biblical hospitality doesn’t have to be elaborate to be effective, but it does need to be generous. We need to be generous with our time and generous with our attention.
Am I being generous with my time and my home?
F – Follow Compassion
Biblical hospitality means we follow where our compassion takes us.
Matthew 9:36-38 HCSB When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
We all have the need to be seen, to be heard, to be known, to be honoured and respected. When we are led by compassion it’s so easy to provide this to others.
Tip:
Be led by compassion, not guilt or shame. The difference is obvious. Guilt or shame will lead you to feeling busy. Compassion fills you with love.
Have I turned off my compassion or am I led by it?
R – Remember to be positive
Biblical hospitality builds everyone up.
Romans 1:11-12 HCSB For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.
Have you ever experienced untouchable hospitality? Untouchable is defined as inaccessible, unapproachable, inconvenient, unattainable, unavailable, and unreachable.
Have you ever gone for coffee with someone and they keep checking their phone? Have you ever come in for a visit right during a fight? Have you ever felt you were putting someone out having you there?
I tend to be in theses situations more than most people I talk with. Take my advice when it happens…
My policy is “I came. I saw. I made it more awkward.” Sometimes that’s just what you need to turn those situations around.
If you’ve felt people felt that towards you, you know you never want to have others feel that.
You can’t be that way when you practice biblical hospitality.
Ephesians 4:29 NLT Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Tip:
When we refresh others, we are refreshed. When we bless others we get blessed.
Am I building the others up?
I – Invest in Honour
Biblical hospitality creates safe space for others to be the themselves.
1 Peter 2:17 HCSB Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the Emperor.
How do you honour when you want to show hospitality?
4 Tips:
1. Get to know your guest even before they walk through your door. This way you have something to talk about when they arrive. It also saves you from being blindsided.
2. Make your home welcoming with a place to sit and talk and welcome them – learn the names of their family members.
3. Talk about them more than yourself. Ask questions. Don’t be drilling with your questions, but ask questions to learn about your guest.
4. Find out ahead of time a food item that they love and try to have that prepared for them.
My wife is so good at this. She’ll ask about allergies and preferences. I tend to stick to coffee.
Am I honouring the ones I show hospitality to?
E – Embrace strangers as family
Biblical hospitality treats strangers as family.
Luke 14:12-14 HCSB He also said to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers, your relatives, or your rich neighbours, because they might invite you back, and you would be repaid. On the contrary, when you host a banquet, invite those who are poor, maimed, lame, or blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Have you ever had someone invite you to be part of their family? It’s usually not so much in those words. I’ve had a couple of Muslim men address me as “My brother” and that’s been amazing for me. I want others to know they’re part of my family as well.
Listen to this story I found on showing hospitality to strangers.
Biblical Hospitality: What Happened When Our Christian Family Stopped Inviting Our Church Friends to Dinner By Sara Barton http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sara-barton/biblical-hospitality-what_b_8908102.html
Tip:
Do all things in love. Don’t do it to look good. Don’t do it to have great stories. Do it in love.
The question we can ask ourselves is:
Is what I’m doing rooted in love for God and for others?
N – Nourish friendship by accepting hospitality
Biblical hospitality allows others to serve us.
Mark 2:15 HCSB While He was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were also guests with Jesus and His disciples, because there were many who were following Him.
When Jesus sent His disciples to the towns of Judea, He basically told them “find a person of peace and let them serve you.” It’s a secret to reaching those who want to connect with us.
We know it’s easier to give than receive (Acts 20:35), and often the most awkward thing to do it accept an invite into the unknown.
Sometimes it’s a response to reciprocity. When you have someone over, they want to have you over. Sometimes it’s out of the blue. Pay attention to when it’s out of the blue. Let them serve you.
Tip:
Don’t expect anyone to be a perfect host, try to be a perfect guest. Talk about them and their family and interests.
How to we graciously receive hospitality?
In the New Testament, Jesus practiced hospitality and he received it. He practiced hospitality when he fed the 5,000 and 7,000. He received hospitality when He ate with sinners and tax collectors.
Accepting their hospitality was not just about sharing a meal, it was a way of identifying with them and making them a part of his community—a point the Pharisees both understood and reviled.
Am I accepting hospitality offered to me?
D – Depend on Grace
Biblical hospitality builds trust and breaks down walls.
1 Peter 4:10-12 HCSB Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, it should be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, it should be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
Grace is God’s empowering for us to do what we can’t do on our own. He empowers us to accomplish every good work prompted by faith.
When you invite people into your space, you build trust, respect and break down walls. This kind of vulnerability paves the way for lasting community one tiny stepping stone at a time. He empowers you to accomplish every good work prompted by faith. 2 Thessalonians 1:11
Tip:
Know how to know you’re practicing biblical hospitality
How do you know you’re showing biblical hospitality? You do it without complaining.
1 Peter 4:9 HCSB Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
Am I doing this on my own strength or relying on God’s empowerment?
Practice Biblical Hospitality Tool
BEFRIEND
B – Be Intentional
Biblical hospitality comes from love. 1 Peter 4:8-9
Do I intentionally practice Biblical hospitality?
E – Embrace Generosity
Biblical hospitality is an attitude of generosity. Proverbs 11:25
Am I being generous with my time and my home?
F – Follow Compassion
Biblical hospitality means we follow were our compassion takes us. Matthew 9:36-38
Have I turned off my compassion or am I led by it?
R – Remember to be positive
Biblical hospitality builds everyone up. Romans 1:11-12
Am I building the others up?
I – Invest in Honour
Biblical hospitality creates safe space for others to be the themselves. 1 Peter 2:17
Am I honouring the ones I show hospitality to?
E – Embrace strangers as family
Biblical hospitality treats strangers as family. Luke 14:12-14
Is what I’m doing rooted in love for God and for others?
N – Nourish friendship by accepting hospitality
Biblical hospitality allows others to serve us. Mark 2:15
Am I accepting hospitality offered to me?
D – Depend on Grace
Biblical hospitality builds trust and breaks down walls.1 Peter 4:10-12
Am I doing this on my own strength or relying on God’s empowerment?
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