hospitality

Core Practice #4: SHARE OUR LIVES WITH THOSE OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH

]Always be eager to practice hospitality.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬

Core Practice #4: SHARE OUR LIVES WITH THOSE OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH

We will regularly share what God has given us (time, food, home, relationship, etc.) with at least one person who isn’t following Jesus. (Romans 12:13)

Hospitality comes from the Greek word Philoxenia, which means showing love to strangers. We are all called to demonstrate the welcoming heart of the Father through tangible acts of love, such as sharing what we have with others (a meal, a room, a cup of coffee, etc.). Jesus’ life is a model of hospitality for us to follow. Just like Jesus, we must be intentional to spend time eating and drinking, mourning and celebrating, and creating a safe space for those who are outside the family of God to feel loved, ask questions, and be introduced to Jesus through shared life experiences.

Fights Against: COMFORT & ISOLATIONISM

Our Western culture paints a picture of our home as a “castle” (a place that we retreat to and that is protected from the outside world), as opposed to a gift that we are called to steward for God’s Kingdom. And while we are called to be in community with other Jesus followers, we are not called to sequester ourselves, and live life exclusively in a Christian “bubble.” These are just a few examples of how our desires for isolation and comfort are often at odds with Jesus’ call to share the Gospel and make disciples.

Although there is a personal cost to hospitality (comfort, time, money, personal space), it recalibrates our lives to Jesus’ mission of seeking and saving the lost, and creates a bridge to invite strangers to become neighbors, and neighbors to join the family of God.

Supportive Prayer Style: ASKING

We ask God to give us His heart for those who are lost, to highlight at least one person that is not following Jesus, for an opportunity to connect (grab a coffee/come over for dinner/go on a walk/meet at a restaurant), for guidance in our conversations, for building trust in the relationship, for the person to feel loved, and for fine-tuned ears that are sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to share our story of meeting Jesus and following Him in His Kingdom.

Reach Practices:

Meet your neighbors, and learn their stories (background, current aspirations/needs, etc.)

Open up your home to someone in need of temporary housing

Consider fostering, adoption, or partnering with organizations such as Safe Families, or International Students Inc.

Resources:

Hospitality:

A Meal With Jesus, Tim Chester The Gospel Comes With A House Key, Rosaria Butterfield

The Gospel Comes With A House Key, Rosaria Butterfield MC Hospitality Teaching

MC Hospitality Teaching