Gospel Hospitality

Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective.

One of the marks of a church ought to be “loving hospitality.”

Listen to what Paul says in his letter to the Romans. In chapter 12 he is beginning to lay out how the gospel of Jesus transforms the way we live. What does it look like when Jesus gets a hold of one’s life? He says:

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. (Romans 12:9-13 NASB)

This “hospitality” is not what we think. It is not impressing others with your well-kept home or your fine selection of food and wine. If that were the case, very few of us could do it. Rather, it is sharing your life and stuff with one another. It is making others feel as at home in your home and with your stuff, as you do. It is letting others, particularly your fellow Christians, into and beyond the margins of your life. It is welcoming them and caring for them, so that the body of Christ grows in love (Ephesians 4:16).

Now, this is exactly what you see in the description of the early church in the book of Acts:

And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. (Acts 2:44-45)

And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. (Acts 4:32)

Such radical hospitality grows naturally in those who’ve experienced Jesus’s radical hospitality for themselves. But more often than not, this radical hospitality grows as a process. Therefore, be patient with yourself, and certainly with others!

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

~ Romans 12:9-21 (NASB)

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