Practice Hospitality
Acts 2:43-47
Heb 13:2
Matt 25:31-46
The effective church practices hospitality. In Romans 12 Paul commends the Roman Christians to practice hospitality. Yet what is that exactly how do we practice hospitality?
Do we:
1. Open our homes to take in strangers?
2. Do we work to meet needs in the lives of strangers?
I knew that hospitality is mentioned several times in the New Testament, and it was a subject to which I had never given much thought. Yet I was grateful that other folks at church on the "hospitality committee" stir the lemonade and put out the cookies every Sunday. Perhaps I could put some theology behind the lemonade and cookies.
The English dictionary defines hospitality as "the friendly treatment of guests or strangers; an act or show of welcome." That's not too far from how the New Testament Greek word (philo-xenia) breaks down—love of strangers.[1] Lemonade and cookies invite strangers to stay. A snack communicates to newcomers, "You are welcome here!" Great, this was going to be an easy sermon.
However the more we research it, the more we are going to see that hospitality is more than lemonade and cookies.
Romans 12:13 says
Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
So how do we do this? I intend to show us by using 2 stories.
STORY #1First meet Ruth, a typical housewife in a typical town in the USA. Ruth one morning receives a letter, a very simple letter, it is from Jesus, and it said: “I am going to be in the neighborhood tomorrow, and I would like to visit.”
Ruth first thought
Why would the Lord want to visit me? I am nobody special, I do not have anything special to offer, and even my pantry is bare. All she had in her purse was $5.40, maybe I can get a loaf of bread and some cold cuts
Interlude: Paul told Timothy that Elders were to be hospitable. Even the older women were to teach the younger to be hospitable.
Story #2
The Second story is about a man named Artaban, his is more famously known as the 4th or Other Wise Man.
Artaban is watchful for the signs of the coming of the King of the Jews. When he sees the sign he gathers up his 3 prize possessions to give to the King of the Jews, a sapphire, a ruby and an exquisite pearl. As he raced against time to meet up with the other 3 Wise men he was delayed and missed them at the meeting point, his horse was not ready to make the trip through the desert, so he used the sapphire to buy camels and provisions to go to meet the newborn King.
Upon his arrival in Jerusalem he is told that companions similar to him had just made their way to Bethlehem. As he arrived in Bethlehem he found soldiers were murdering mothers and children. He entered a house to get out of the way. In the house he met a young mother and her infant son. He stood then in the doorway, blocking it with his broad shoulders, a Roman Captain came to the door. Artaban offered the Captain a ruby to leave the house in peace. The captain took the ruby and ordered the soldiers to march on. Artaban was depressed, two of his gifts were gone, and he had only one more, the pearl. So he hid the pearl in his purse and held it close to his chest.
Interlude: The early Church practiced hospitality. In Acts 2:43-47 we see they shared everything and met from house to house. They used what they had so that others could have as well. This goes far beyond lemonade and cookies.
1st Story continued:
Ruth went to the local store to get some provisions for her meeting with Jesus. She picked up a loaf of French bread, a half-pound of turkey and half gallon of milk. This left Ruth with a grand total of 12 cents until Monday. Nonetheless she felt good as she headed home with her meager offerings tucked under her arm.
2nd Story continued
Artaban spent 30 years trying to find Jesus. During his journey he came across a leper colony. He saw the sick, the suffering and the dying. He had a vast medical knowledge, he told his servant to sell the camels and get provisions so he can take care of these people. He spent most of 30 years there taking care of the sick, the blind and the lame.
Hebrews 13:2-3
2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Again this kind of takes us further than lemonade and cookies.
1st Story
Ruth was headed home so absorbed by her meeting with Jesus that she did not notice two figures huddled in the alleyway. A man and a woman dressed in rags. Look lady, said the man, I ain’t got a job and my wife and I have been living on the street, and well, it is getting cold and we’re kinda hungry, could you help us, we’d really appreciate it. Ruth looked at both of them, they were dirty, the smelled bad, and frankly she was certain that they could do some kind of work if they wanted to. Sir I’d like to help but all I have is a loaf of bread and some cold cuts, and I am having a very important guest for dinner tonight. The man said, well okay lady, thanks anyway. The man put his arm around his wife and headed down the alley.
Story #2 cont
Artaban’s life was spent, he too was getting sick. One day one of his patients, a boy who had been born blind and another man who had been born crippled came to the camp. Only now the boy can see and the man can walk. They told Artaban about how Jesus had healed them with a touch of his or the power of his word. They told Artaban about how Jesus of Nazareth had raised a man from the dead. Artaban and his servant were certain, Jesus is the King of the Jews they were searching for and set out for Jerusalem to see him.
However, when they arrived in Jerusalem, the city was in turmoil. Jesus had been arrested and tried, they were now about to lead him to Calvary. Artaban approached the gate, a Roman guard stopped him. Artaban reached into his purse and took out the pearl. He offered to the guard as a ransom for Jesus. The guard took the pearl and let Artaban through. But by the time Artaban reached Calvary, Jesus spoke his last. It is finished. Artaban fell to ground. His servant helped him to his feet and took him to a room to rest.
Interlude: 1 Peter 4:7-11
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
Are you yet convinced that hospitality is more than Lemonade and cookies?
Story 1 conclusion
Sir wait, Ruth said. The couple stopped as she ran down the alley. Here take this, I’ll figure something else out for my guest. She handed them the bag. Thank you lady, yes thank you very much, the man’s wife said. Ruth can see she was shivering from the cold. You know, said Ruth, I have another coat at home, why don’t you take this one, and Ruth took off her coat and placed it on the woman’s shoulders. Then smiling, without her coat or anything to serve her guest, she walked home. Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her door, she was worried too, The Lord was coming and she had nothing left to offer Him. She fumbled through her purse for her keys, she noticed another letter in her mailbox. She took it out and read it.
Dear Ruth
It was so good to see you again, thank you for the lovely meal and thank you for the coat.
Love, Jesus.
Story #2
Three days later Artaban and his servant were making their way through Jerusalem, back to the camp. Artaban rested on a rock, suddenly Jesus appeared. Artaban said: “Master I have been searching for you for a long time. I had special gifts to give you, but now they are gone, I had to use them. I am sorry Master I have nothing to give your. Jesus replied
I have received all your gifts Artaban. Artaban asked, how Master I did not see you in the city or at the colony or in Jerusalem, how did you receive my gifts. Jesus replied: Artaban whenever you did this for least of these you did it for me. Artaban then knew his gifts were received.
Matthew 25:31-46
Whenever you did this for the least of these my brothers, you did it for me.
It is more than Lemonade and cookies it is meeting needs as we can, when we can and leave the results to God.
