A Caring Community With a Global Vision to develop every person into a fully devoted follower of Christ
 

The Hospitality Principle

Luke 10:25-37, Leviticus 19:33-34; & Hebrews 13:1-3
Rev. Jeff French

Considering the Scripture:

Read Luke 10:25-37. How does the Samaritan show hospitality ("the love of strangers")? How does this fulfill God’s command to love our neighbor as our self? How could the Samaritan’s example and the great commandment be a challenge to live out in your life? What are you currently doing that fits with this command? What might you have to change?

 

Read Leviticus 19:33-34 and Deuteronomy 10:17-19. What is the Old Testament requirement regarding hospitality? Why does God require this of the Israelites? (see Lev. 19:34 & Deut. 10:19) Can you think of a time when you were the stranger? How might this motivate you to hospitality?

 

Can you think of any examples in Old Testament where providing and caring for others was inconvenient or even dangerous? (i.e., Genesis 18:1-8 or 19:1-10) What difficulties do you face in seeking out and showing care for strangers? How might you overcome them?

 

Read Hebrews 13:1-3. What is the motivation for hospitality according to these verses? Why do you think one of the scriptural requirements for overseers/bishops was hospitality? Why could this be a requirement for anyone in leadership within the church?

 

What benefits do you receive living out hospitality? How does this bless people who we show hospitality? How could this make them more receptive to you, your faith, and the church? What are some easy steps for you to ramp up your hospitality factor? How can you practice hospitality within the church?

Additional passages to consider:

Matthew 25:34-40, 1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:8, Romans 12:9-13, & 1 Peter 4:7-11

 

Message Outline:

 

I. The Call to Hospitality

 

II. The Hospitality Principle

 

III. Hospitality in Our Lives

 

Action Points:

  • Recognize God’s call to hospitality ("love of strangers")
  • Look for opportunities to show love and care to strangers
  • Warmly welcome and help newcomers in our church

 

Quotes to Consider:

"To practice hospitality is to recognize that our possessions are gifts from God, meant to be shared. To practice hospitality is to do what God asks of us." Anonymous

"There is an emanation from the heart in genuine hospitality which cannot be described, but is immediately felt and puts the stranger at once at his ease." Washington Irving

"Hospitality should have no other nature than love." Henrietta Mears

"I am presently completing the second of a three year survey on the hospitality or lack of it in churches. To date, of the 195 churches I have visited, I was spoken to in only one by someone other than an official greeter and that was to ask me to move my feet."
singer John Charles Thomas

"The men and women who make the best boon companions seem to have given up hope of doing something else. They have, perhaps, tried to be poets and painters; they have tried to be actors, scientists, and musicians. But some defect of talent or opportunity has cut them off from their pet ambition and has thus left them with leisure to take an interest in the lives of others. Your ambitious man is selfish. No matter how secret his ambition may be, it makes him keep his thoughts at home. But the heartbroken people-if I may use the word in a mild benevolent sense-the people whose wills are subdued to fate, give us consolation, recognition, and welcome."
John Jay Chapman