life together: show hospitality to one another (romans 12:1-2, 10, 13; 1 peter 4:8-10)
DESCRIPTION
The practical, tangible way that we love one another is by showing hospitality to one another. The message was given on August 11, 2013 at New City Church in Calgary by Pastor John Ferguson. For more info, go to www.NewCityChurch.ca.TRANSCRIPT
Today’s Scripture: Romans 12 & 1 Peter 4
Pages 947 & 1016 in our guest Bibles.
What people really want is “a cozy social atmosphere above all
else… For those seeking a refuge from the world, the cup of
coffee they bought was just the price of admission….”
What people really want is “a cozy social atmosphere above all
else… For those seeking a refuge from the world, the cup of
coffee they bought was just the price of admission….”
“Starbucks is selling hospitality.” ~ Tim Chester, A Meal with Jesus
BE DEVOTED to one another
LOVE one another
SERVE one another
ENCOURAGE one another
PRAY for one another
WELCOME one another
“SHOWHOSPITALITY
TOONE ANOTHER”
Romans 12 & 1 Peter 4
I appeal to you therefore, brothers,
Romans 12:1
by the mercies of God...
I appeal to you therefore, brothers,
Romans 12:1
by the mercies of God, to presentyour bodies as a living sacrifice,
is your spiritual worship. holy and acceptable to God, which
Do not be conformed to this world,
Romans 12:2
but be transformed by the renewalof your mind, that by testing you
what is good and acceptable andmay discern what is the will of God,
perfect.
Love one another with brotherly
Romans 12:10
affection. Out do one another inshowing honor.
Contribute to the needs of the saints
Romans 12:13
and seek to show hospitality.
=“...seek to show hospitality.”
Literally: “to strive after / to pursue”=
“...seek to show hospitality.”
Literally: “to strive after / to pursue”
NIV: “...practice hospitality.”
NLT: “Always be eager to show hospitality.”
Geneva: “...giving yourself to hospitality.”
=
Above all, keep loving one another,
1 Peter 4:8
earnestly, since love covers a multi-tude of sins.
“There is nothing in this world like self-
sacrificing, genuine, Christian love to
encourage, inspire, comfort, and build
others up.
“But how, in practical, down-to-earth terms,
do we show more genuine, Christian
love and community? One clear answer is
hospitality.”
Above all, keep loving one another,
1 Peter 4:8-9
earnestly, since love covers a multi-tude of sins. Show hospitality to one another....
“Hospitality involves WELCOMING,
CREATING SPACE, LISTENING, PAYING
ATTENTION, and PROVIDING.
Meals slow things down. Some of us don’t like that. We like to get
things done.
“But meals force you to be PEOPLE ORIENTED instead of task oriented.
Sharing a meal is not the only way to build relationships, but it is
NUMBER ONE on the list.”
The practical, tangible way that we love one another is by showing hospitality
to one another.
I don’t think most Christians today under-
stand how essential hospitality is to fanning the flames of love and
strengthening the Christian family. Hospitality fleshes
out love in a uniquely personal and sacrificial
way.
Through the ministry of hospitality, we share our
most prized posses-sions. We share our
family, home, finances, food, privacy, and time.
Indeed, we share our very lives. So, hospitality is
always costly.
Through the ministry of hospitality, we provide friendship, acceptance, fellowship, refreshment,
comfort, and love in one of the richest and
deepest ways possible for humans to
understand.
Unless we open the doors of our homes to one another, the reality of the local church as a
close-knit family of loving brothers and
sisters is only a theory.
1
KILL THEEXCUSES
excuses
image: mastertoolman
Carl F. H. HenryTheologian & founding editor of Christianity Today
“CHRISTIAN HOSPITALITYis a matter of
OBEDIENCE to God.”
Offer your home to God2
Pursuehospitality
intentionally.
3
Pursuehospitality
intentionally.
3
“Do not neglect to show hospitality....”
~ Hebrews 13:2
Do for onewhat you wish you could do
for everyone.
Expand your horizons.4
image: tiarescott
“He said also to the man who had invited
him, ‘When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or
your brothers or your relatives or rich
neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and
you be repaid.
~ Jesus of NazarethLuke 14:12-14
“ ‘...But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be
blessed, because they cannot repay you. For
you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
~ Jesus of NazarethLuke 14:12-14
What if ?
mastertoolman: http://www.flickr.com/photos/67722260@N03/6166077234/
tiarescott: http://www.flickr.com/photos/80403443@N00/39390433/
flickr images courtesy of:
other:Photos.com: Tijana Prodanov / 156888735