We Are Called To Hospitality

This fall, we are exploring what the Bible says about who we are as God's people, focusing on the images of Kingdom of God, Family of God and Body of Christ. As God's people, we are members of God's family. As family members who relate to our neighbours, we are called to extend hospitality (Rom. 12:13). In its original language, hospitality means "love of strangers." In Mark 6, we see Jesus inviting His disciples to be part of His miraculous act of hospitality to the crowd. To extend the hospitality of God's family... We Are Challenged to See People as God Sees Them (vs. 34-36) Jesus saw beneath the faces of the crowd to their place of deep need, resulting in compassionate action. The disciples only saw the surface and had little sense of being further inconvenienced to act. Godly hospitality begins as we see people through Christ's eyes of compassion. We Are Invited to Share What God Has Provided (vs. 37-38) While the disciples focused on what they lacked, Jesus simply asked them to bring forward what they had. In Alpha's "Life Shared" course, John Tyson defines hospitality as "opening up our hearts and lives and inviting other people in." We are simply to provide time and space for relationships to develop. We Trust God to Make His Presence Known and Multiply our Efforts The language used to describe Christ's miracle (take, thank, break, give) connect this miracle to the Lord's Table. It is the presence of Jesus that alone multiplies our efforts and touches true need. We are offered this amazing opportunity to share the presence of Christ with a hungry world and trust Christ to impact lives. Discussion/Reflection Questions - What do you think of when you hear the word "hospitality?" How can true hospitality be a key component in reaching beyond our church walls to those who do not yet have a relationship with Jesus? - Why might we fail to see the people around us as Christ sees them? - What are some of the excuses that keep you from intentionally reaching out to those around you? What might it look like to simply open up your heart and life and hospitably share what you have with those around you? - What is one act of hospitality you can prayerfully plan between now and Christmas?