Biblical Hospitality (Part 1)

THE HABIT OF HOSPITALITY

THEME: Hospitality is an essential Christian virtue that is both commanded and commended throughout Scripture. Sadly, however, many Christians fail to practice hospitality. Hospitality is one of the most practical ways to build closer relationships with people in our church and one of the most effective tools to build bridges to people in our community for the sake of the gospel. Consequently, we all need to have a proper understanding of what “hospitality” means and what it looks like and we all need either to get into the habit or to maintain the habit of “practicing hospitality.” This significant subject can be broken into TWO PARTS:

1. THE BIBLICAL EXPLANATION OF HOSPITALITY

     A. HOSPITALITY DEFINED

     B. HOSPITALITY DEMONSTRATED

2. THE PRACTICAL EXECUTION OF HOSPITALITY

     A. HINDRANCES TO HOSPITALITY

     B. HINTS FOR HOSPITALITY

1. HOSPITALITY IN THE CHURCH

2. HOSPITALITY FOR FELLOWSHIP

3. HOSPITALITY FOR EVANGELISM

APPLICATION QUESTIONS

James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” These questions are designed to help you apply today’s message to your life. We encourage you to thoughtfully answer these questions and discuss your answers with others. For more information about joining a Grow Group that uses these questions as the basis for weekly discussion, prayer, and accountability, please call the church office at (936) 582-1977.

1. Have you ever heard an entire sermon on hospitality? What are some wrong assumptions you had about hospitality before hearing today’s message?
2. What are some reasons you have or excuses you make to avoid or neglect serving fellow believers or engaging unbelievers through biblical hospitality? Do you tend to be more passive or proactive when it comes to showing hospitality to others (cf. Rom. 12:13)?
3. Read Leviticus 19:33-34 and Ephesians 2:11-13, 19. What is the ultimate motivation for you to be hospitable? How should your salvation inspire you to practice hospitality? Why is an inhospitable Christian such a contraction?
4. Does your heart reflect the heart of God when it comes to hospitality? Why or why not? How does showing hospitality display the gospel and glorify God (cf. Rom. 15:7)?
5. How did the early church practice hospitality? Do you observe the same marks of hospitality in the leaders and members of our church (cf. 1 Tim. 3:2, 5:10, Titus 1:8, Heb. 13:1-2; 1 Pet. 4:8-9, 3 Jn. 5-8)? What is the most compelling example of hospitality in the Bible or that you have observed in the life of someone you know?
6. How does hospitality have the potential to radically change our church and our community? What are some practical steps you can take to either establish or maintain the habit of hospitality?
7. Thank God for lovingly pursuing you and graciously befriending you when you were stranger. Ask Him to forgive you for not practicing hospitality more regularly, willingly, and enthusiastically. Ask Him to help you develop and/or maintain the habit of hospitality in order to build relationships with fellow believers and build bridges to unbelievers for the sake of the gospel.

“I am convinced that only by studying the living, breathing, life-changing Word of God can we find hope for overcoming our fears, excuses, and apathy regarding hospitality. Only the power of the Word and the Spirit can convince us that hospitality is to be an essential part of healthy Christian living and can move us to act.”

Alexander Strauch, The Hospitality Commands, 33

“Ultimately, seeing the character of God as a hospitable God changed me. He’s pursued us ever since our first parents declared independence from Him, and the whole saga of creation from the garden to the new heaven and earth is a story of God’s hospitality to wayward sinners. The fact that I can in some small way put that cosmic story on display through saying, ‘Hey, would you want to come over for dinner?’ has been a complete game changer for me.”

Brandon Clements, The Simplest Way To Change The World: Biblical Hospitality As A Way Of Life