Hospitality is a powerful tool. There is something about eating with people and sharing your life with them that turns strangers into friends.

Hospitality and preachers

  1. This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
  2. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 1 Timothy 3:1-2

It's also in Titus 1.

  1. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
  2. But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Titus 1:7-8

I want you to notice that one of the biblical qualifications for being a pastor is being "given to hospitality" and "a lover of hospitality."

That phrase could be translated as "generous to guests" or "fond of guests" and the idea is that a pastor has to be someone who likes to use hospitality. You have to be someone who can open your life up to others.

Now, this is a qualification. This isn't optional. If you want to be a pastor - you have to be hospitable. If you can't be hospitable, then you can't be a pastor. It's a requirement just like being "the husband of one wife" and being "apt to teach."

I've heard it said many times:

A shepherd should smell like the sheep.

As a pastor you need to be spending serious time with your people. Not just at church, but in day to day life. Hospitality is one way you do that.

But it's not just for pastors. It's an expected part of being a Christian.

Hospitality in the church

Let's look at some other scriptures:

  1. Let brotherly love continue.

  2. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:1-2

  3. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

  4. Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
  5. Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

  6. Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Romans 12:10-13

  7. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

  8. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 1 Peter 4:8-9

Notice that in each of these passages its telling Christians to exercise love in the church and then, in explaining how to use love in the church it says "use hospitality" - if you want to love people, open your table to them.

It's like the Bible is saying you need to love people, and you don't just love people with your words in a church service, you love people by spending time with people, by eating with people, by opening your homes to people.

I once heard a preacher say:

Love is spelled T-I-M-E.

That's true in your home and it's also true with hospitality. You show people you love them by spending time with them.

Our homes can be hospitals and incubators. In our homes, we help each other heal and we help ideas take root.

If you want to share the gospel with anyone who will lose family and homes, the gospel must come with a house key.

People aren't looking for a friendly church, people are looking for friends.

  • Have meals with people regularly.
  • Have meals with people who aren't in your church.
  • Have meals with your church family.
  • Utilize your church and your family to have meals.

Tips

  • Plan ahead.
  • Make a list.
  • Start with your neighbors.
  • Don't forget the holiday season. (Difficult for some people.)
  • Collect and file simple inexpensive recipe ideas.
  • Be interested in people's lives.
  • Be creative in activities for guests.
  • Teach on hospitality in the church.
  • Pray that God would give you joy in serving.

When you bring people into your home, you can show them what a true Christian home looks like.