Taking Hospitality Seriously

"I am firmly convinced that hospitality will be one of the most significant spiritual gifts needed to lead our culture back to God."


φιλόξενος is the Greek word for hospitality. It is the combination of two words: 1) φιλό which means love, and 2) ξενος which means stranger. Thus, you get the concept of the word, "to love the stranger."

In the Bible we are commanded to:

"Show hospitality towards others without grumbling" 1 Peter 4:9

"Remember to show hospitality to strangers for in doing so we might be entertaining angels" Hebrews 13:2. 

These are all action-oriented concepts. Hospitality is something we do.  Jesus modeled it regularly, and also enjoyed the hospitality of others. 

You can do hospitality wherever you are. You can love the "stranger" on your way to work who needs to merge. You can practice hospitality by regularly inviting a co-worker to lunch, paying for the person next to you who is fumbling for change in their empty pocket, or by keeping your office door open more and always be willing to talk between 11:30 and 12.  (those conversations might naturally overflow into a lunch!) You can offer to pick your son's friends up for practice once a week or arrange to take a meal to a neighbor in need.  You don't just have to view hospitality is waiting for others to come to you. You can take hospitality to others wherever you go. 

Once you start practicing hospitality during the day, consider how you could practice hospitality when you get home at night.  Maybe it means spending time with your "stranger" neighbor, or taking them a random gift. Maybe in your own home you have become a "stranger" with your spouse or child or live-in parent. How can you begin to rebuild the relationship? Practice hospitality. Show some love! Do an extra chore, write an extra note of encouragement, spend time one on one playing a game together. Have a cup of hot chocolate before bed. Say "yes" to the other person's requests for a week. Don't make a big deal about it, just do it quietly. 

When you practice hospitality regularly, something happens. 

You shift from DOING to BEING. 

When that shift happens in the hospitality realm, you move from practicing hospitality to being called hospitable.


Why not let that shift happen in the same realms? You don't have to bounce around to different places for that shift to happen.
You can become more hospitable just by being intentional at home.
You can become more hospitable just by being intentional at work place.
You can become more hospitable just by being intentional at your gym.
You can become more hospitable just by being intentional at your local school.
You can become more hospitable just by being intentional at your favorite restaurant.
Find the places you frequent most and start being intentional about practicing hospitality.




Next we will explore what it means for whole groups to practice hospitality (loving the stranger) and become more hospitable.

Want to do some Disaster Relief?

Are you looking for a way that you could serve with a group? You could spend a day or two doing disaster relief with IDES (International Disaster & Emergency Services) by visiting here.

Or, consider serving with Samaritan's Purse. We served with two different teams in Joplin last year in the wake of the devastating tornado damage. It was a great way to serve.

And of course, if you know somebody who was affected by the tornados in Joplin, then ask them if there is anything you and some friends could do to help.

Start making your plans today! Get outside!  As you do, please read this great article in Reject Apathy entitled "The Right and Wrong Ways to Help" by Linda Coroleuski.

BLESS YOU!

You may already serve in the community a lot. Do you help at a local school? Serve in a neighborhood association? Do you coach a team, serve with your work place, or sit on a community board?

You are already in place. It's just time to BLESS those around you. 

BLESS is an acronym that describes how we can love those around us. BLESS stands for:

B--Begin with prayer

L--Listen to the lives of those around you

E--Eat with them

S--Serve them in some way

S--Share the message of Christ when the time is appropriate

So, once you are in place, think intentionally how you can BLESS those around you. 

What is 12?

12 days this year... 3% of 2012... Serving those outside our church...

Could you serve for 12 days this year outside the walls of the church?
Perhaps your connection group decides to serve once a month.
Perhaps your family takes a weekend once a quarter to go serve together.
Perhaps you decide to go on a mission trip.
Perhaps you decide to make serving others a permanent part of your walk with Christ.

You won't drift into a lifestyle like this.
Something INTENTIONAL has to happen.

Start with 12...
let us know how you are spending your 12 days outside by emailing your story to john@southsidechristian.com