Hospitality for a change

Hospitality and Christian Embassies

Let brotherly love continue.

Introduction

A Biblical household?

What is hospitality?

How important is it?

Is it a gift that some have and others do not?

What examples do we have of hospitality?

How does it affect church relationships?

A Biblical household

A biblical household becomes strong by fulfilling its four primary responsibilities:

1. Home Education

2. Family Business

A Biblical household

3. Ministry Hospitality

4. Community Leadership

A Biblical household

A church is a “household.”

God is our “Father.”

Christ is the “firstborn.”

Leaders are “older brothers.”

We are all “brothers & sisters.”

What is hospitality?

Hebrews 13:1,2 Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.

xenos ~ stranger or guest

philoxenia ~ love of the stranger/guest

What is hospitality?

Hospitality fleshes out love in a uniquely personal and sacrificial way. Through the ministry of hospitality, we share our most prized possessions. We share our family, home, finances, food, privacy and time.

What is hospitality?

“Through the ministry of hospitality, we provide friendship, acceptance, fellowship, refreshment, comfort, and love in one of the richest and deepest ways possible for humans to understand.”

How important is it?

Exodus 22:21; 23:9; Also you shall not oppress a stranger: for you know the heart of a stranger, seeing you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Leviticus 19:10,33,34 ; And you shall not glean your vineyard, neither shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.

How important is it? ...

Deut 10:18,19; He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and loves the sojourner, in giving him food and clothing.

Isaiah 58:6,7; Matthew 22:2-10; 25:34-46; Luke 14:12-14; Romans 12:13; 1 Timothy 3:2; 5:10; Titus 1:7,8; Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9,11; 3 John 1:5-8

Is it a gift?Hospitality is a commandment.

I Pet 1:9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Hospitality is an expression of love for one another.

Is it a gift? .

App:Have I ever invited someone over to my home that I did know very well?

What examples do we have• Pharaoh to Abraham Genesis 12:16

• Melchizedek to Abraham Genesis 14:18

• Abraham to the angels Genesis 18:1-8

• Lot to the angel Genesis 19:1-11

• Abimelech to Abraham Genesis 20:14,15

• Sons of Heth to Abraham Genesis 23:6,11

• Laban to Abraham’s servant Genesis 24:31

• To Jacob Genesis 29:13,14

• Isaac to Abimelech Genesis 26:30

• Joseph to his brothers Genesis 43:31-34

• Pharaoh to Jacob Genesis 45:16-20;

• Jethro to Moses Exodus 2:20

• Rahab to the spies Joshua 2:1-16

• Man of Gibeah to the Levite Judges 19:16-21

What examples do we havePharaoh to Hadad 1 Kings 11:17,22

David to Mephibosheth 2 Samuel 9:7-13

Widow of Zarephath to Elijah 1 Kg 17:10-24

Shunammite woman to Elisha 2 Kings 4:8

Elisha to the Syrian spies 2 Kings 6:22

Job to strangers Job 31:32

Martha to Jesus Luke 10:38; John 12:1,2

Pharisees to Jesus Luke 11:37,38

Zacchaeus to Jesus Luke 19:1-10

Simon the tanner to Peter Acts 10:6,23

Lydia to Paul and Silas Acts 16:15

Publius to Paul Acts 28:2

Phoebe to Paul Romans 16:2

Onesiphorus to Paul 2 Timothy 1:16

Gaius 3 John 1:5-8

church relationships

Hospitality should be actively pursued.

Rom 12:13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.Given ~ dioko ; strive for, pursue, vigorous effort, enthusiasm, eager

Conclusion

We are “Ambassadors for Christ!”

Making Christian disciples is our “mission!”

Our home is an “embassy compound!”

Our family and close friends are our fellow “embassy staff!”

Our incomes are God’s provision for the “embassy budget.”