This is Part 3 of our Spring Leadership Lesson Series: Radical Hospitality. As we lead our groups and ministries, we must strive to forcefully advance the Kingdom of God through strategic evangelism, exponential discipleship, and sacrificial service. Hospitality is on the front lines of such an advance.
When I look at these stories, I see three things that we must be willing to enter into if we are to extend hospitality to others: the courage to enter uncertainty, the initiative to welcome the stranger, and the sacrificial investment of personal resources.
At NCC, we have a core value that “playing it safe is risky,” and that core value finds great expression within the practice of hospitality. In every single Biblical story, hospitality-givers embrace uncertainty.
In Matthew 25:35, Jesus declared “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” One of the key Greek words for hospitality, philoxenia, is built from two words: Phileo, meaning the love and affection between friends. And Xenos- meaning stranger.
The Good Samaritan certainly reached out to the stranger and redefined the image of “neighbor.” Rahab, Ananias, and others welcomed those who were strangers into their homes and hearts and took responsibility for them.
Finally, hospitality requires that we invest our resources. Abraham and Sarah provided food and shelter to the three strangers that came to their house. The widow of Zarephath gave Elijah the very last bit of her food. The Shunemite woman gave Elisha a room in her house. The Good Samaritan gave two days’ pay to care for the beaten Jew.
Our resources, whether they are time, finances, houses, material possession, do not belong to us; they belong to God. We are merely stewards or managers of God’s stuff. God has commanded us to “practice hospitality,” so certainly God desires that some of his stuff be invested in others.
Let’s bring this down to the NCC leader level.
- How courageous are you to enter uncertainty? What uncertain relational situations are currently facing your ministry or group? How do you view them through the lens of Biblical hospitality?
- How often do you initiate the welcoming of strangers? Do you have strangers in your small group or ministry? How can you personally welcome the stranger at weekend gatherings? How can you welcome the stranger into your small group?
- How can you invest personal resources into extending hospitality?
Next week, we will look at the provision of God in hospitality.
I thought I would comment on one of the Questions in #2-
In our small group, there are 10 people from 2 different NCC locations. 8 of those people have been attending NCC for 8 months or less (including us)! So, we are all strangers to each other in a manner of speaking. Even the 2 who have been NCCers for 4 years can’t really know anyone else because they are all new.
Do you have strangers in your small group? YES!!!
So, what does that mean? It rocks! It’s a testament to the fact that our small group program works. I heard Pastor Mark make the comment recently that our Annual Survey showed that 45% of NCC attendees have been attending for less than one year. That’s basically, 1 of every 2 people sitting in the seats. So, at hand-shaking time, it’s fairly likely that we are shaking a stranger’s hand. They are much more likely to connect to a hand, a name, and an invitation then to just “show-up” at the Hospitality table.
How can you invest personal resources into extending hospitality? My personal experience is that I can best invest my personal resources through both being available and through encouragement. I have time and skills to bring to the table and I extend hospitality each and every time I can FIND A NEED and fill it. It doesn’t have to be big stuff or time consuming. Kinda vague, you might say, but it’s because everyone’s need is something different. But, let me give you one practical example: in this new small group of “strangers”- one is about 7 weeks from delivering her second child. They have lived in the area for about 6 or 7 months and been attending NCC for less time than that. I discovered (by asking) that she had no plans for a baby shower because they don’t really know anyone here. [Translation: we don’t know anyone well enough that they would offer to throw us a shower] So, another small group member and I are throwing her a baby shower. It doesn’t have to be pricey or take more than a couple of hours. She can invite the moms from her daughter’s preschool that she knows and some folks from her husband’s work along with our small group members. We are inviting men and women and making it a “Baby Celebration” where gifts are Optional! It’s just a great opportunity to be a support and encouragement to them as they navigate life and connect with others. It helps them feel valued and to me, I guess that’s what hospitality is all about.
Sharon
February 29th, 2008
Sharon- great insights! I LOVE the fact that you are throwing a group member a Baby Celebration! That’s awesome! I love hearing the stories of community and transformation coming from our small groups!
Heather Z
February 29th, 2008