Today’s Scripture: Romans 12 & 1 Peter 4

Pages 947 & 1016 in our guest Bibles.

What people really want is “a cozy social atmosphere above all

else… For those seeking a refuge from the world, the cup of

coffee they bought was just the price of admission….”

What people really want is “a cozy social atmosphere above all

else… For those seeking a refuge from the world, the cup of

coffee they bought was just the price of admission….”

“Starbucks is selling hospitality.” ~ Tim Chester, A Meal with Jesus

BE DEVOTED to one another

LOVE one another

SERVE one another

ENCOURAGE one another

PRAY for one another

WELCOME one another

“SHOWHOSPITALITY

TOONE ANOTHER”

Romans 12 & 1 Peter 4

I appeal to you therefore, brothers,

Romans 12:1

by the mercies of God...

I appeal to you therefore, brothers,

Romans 12:1

by the mercies of God, to presentyour bodies as a living sacrifice,

is your spiritual worship. holy and acceptable to God, which

Do not be conformed to this world,

Romans 12:2

but be transformed by the renewalof your mind, that by testing you

what is good and acceptable andmay discern what is the will of God,

perfect.

Love one another with brotherly

Romans 12:10

affection. Out do one another inshowing honor.

Contribute to the needs of the saints

Romans 12:13

and seek to show hospitality.

=“...seek to show hospitality.”

Literally: “to strive after / to pursue”=

“...seek to show hospitality.”

Literally: “to strive after / to pursue”

NIV: “...practice hospitality.”

NLT: “Always be eager to show hospitality.”

Geneva: “...giving yourself to hospitality.”

=

Above all, keep loving one another,

1 Peter 4:8

earnestly, since love covers a multi-tude of sins.

“There is nothing in this world like self-

sacrificing, genuine, Christian love to

encourage, inspire, comfort, and build

others up.

“But how, in practical, down-to-earth terms,

do we show more genuine, Christian

love and community? One clear answer is

hospitality.”

Above all, keep loving one another,

1 Peter 4:8-9

earnestly, since love covers a multi-tude of sins. Show hospitality to one another....

“Hospitality involves WELCOMING,

CREATING SPACE, LISTENING, PAYING

ATTENTION, and PROVIDING.

Meals slow things down. Some of us don’t like that. We like to get

things done.

“But meals force you to be PEOPLE ORIENTED instead of task oriented.

Sharing a meal is not the only way to build relationships, but it is

NUMBER ONE on the list.”

The practical, tangible way that we love one another is by showing hospitality

to one another.

I don’t think most Christians today under-

stand how essential hospitality is to fanning the flames of love and

strengthening the Christian family. Hospitality fleshes

out love in a uniquely personal and sacrificial

way.

Through the ministry of hospitality, we share our

most prized posses-sions. We share our

family, home, finances, food, privacy, and time.

Indeed, we share our very lives. So, hospitality is

always costly.

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.

Unless we open the doors of our homes to one another, the reality of the local church as a

close-knit family of loving brothers and

sisters is only a theory.

1

KILL THEEXCUSES

excuses

image: mastertoolman

Carl F. H. HenryTheologian & founding editor of Christianity Today

“CHRISTIAN HOSPITALITYis a matter of

OBEDIENCE to God.”

Offer your home to God2

Pursuehospitality

intentionally.

3

Pursuehospitality

intentionally.

3

“Do not neglect to show hospitality....”

~ Hebrews 13:2

Do for onewhat you wish you could do

for everyone.

Expand your horizons.4

image: tiarescott

“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.

~ Jesus of NazarethLuke 14:12-14

“ ‘...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.”

~ Jesus of NazarethLuke 14:12-14

What if ?

mastertoolman: http://www.flickr.com/photos/67722260@N03/6166077234/

tiarescott: http://www.flickr.com/photos/80403443@N00/39390433/

flickr images courtesy of:

other:Photos.com: Tijana Prodanov / 156888735