PRACTICING HOSPITALITY

 MARCH 23, 2023

ROMANS 12:9-13

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Hebrews 13:1-2

13 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.


In our Worship Service last Sunday we reflected on Christian Hospitality as an important aspect of sharing God’s love. A fellow worshipper, following the service, wondered about the practical outcome of desiring to show God’s love. What ways or actions might we build into our lives that can show God’s love?

Today I want to suggest a few possibilities. 

Before I do, let me just say, I believe a key part of discovering our “love way” is by listening to those around us, it may be that in conversation you will hear a need that you can help meet. Each of us may show love in different ways, based on interests or personalities or ability or resources, I pray that God will help us develop our loving lifestyle.

Sharing the Love of God through acts of Hospitality is truly an important Biblical emphasis, whether we are entertaining angels or not, hospitality is a great way to show God’s love to one another.

Here are some examples of actions that show God's love through hospitality, that I thought of. You may think of other examples, I hope that you will.


Show God’s Love by Hosting Others

Opening up your home, or inviting someone for a outing, or to grab a cup of coffee or Tea, is a way that you can show God’s love to others and serve others as well.

Of course, many people have opened their homes for special events, or small groups. Anytime you invite others into your home, into your space, you are showing God’s love because God has done the same for us, God welcomes us to abide with him, and to “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Show God’s Love by Cooking and Sharing a Meal

You can invite others over to your residence for a home cooked meal or pick up something on the way home and drop it off at a neighbor’s house, or friends or a work colleague, that you know are in a hard place. Whatever you are led to do, giving someone a meal is a great way to show hospitality and show God’s love to others.

Show God’s Love by Providing Transportation

You may be reading the above ways to show the love of God and think, well, my house/apartment is too small, I’m a lousy house keeper, or I’m a terrible cook. No worries! Do you have a vehicle?

You can serve and love others by giving them a lift. For example, someone who currently doesn’t have a car, would be blessed and no doubt feel cared for to receive the offer of a ride to an appointment, or to the grocery store, or to church. It may seem like a small gesture, but being chauffeured around is always appreciated.

Show God’s Love by Inviting Others into Your Life

A wonderful gesture of love and care is to invite others to do life with you. It means inviting them to experience life with you, and for you to participate in theirs.

The important thing we need to remember is that Christian hospitality is about making an intentional effort, and going out of our way to make sure the other person feels included, loved, and valued. For that is how God sees them, too. 

By showing hospitality to them in this way, we act as the hands and feet, even the face of God to others, we are being a beautiful example of God’s love and reminding the person that they are loved by God.