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The Forgotten Ministry of Hospitality

Do Not Neglect to Show Hospitality

Hebrews 13:2 — “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

The author tells us that we should be hospitable to strangers. This is not a surprising instruction. But his reason is a little bit unexpected. The reason he gives is that by showing hospitality to strangers we might actually be doing it for angels. We can learn many things from this verse. We learn through implication that angels can appear as people. It means that we might meet angels face to face at any time and have no idea that we are face to face with an angel. This shows us that God is actively at work in the world.

Angels are serving God for His sake, not for any credit of their own. They don’t care if they are ever recognized or thanked. They are on a mission. In a similar manner, we too should serve to please God, not to get recognition.

Application — Show hospitality to strangers. Normally we think of showing hospitality to people we know, but here it tells us to do it for people we don’t know. How? Basically, we are to be like the Good Samaritan, who helped those who needed it. This could include giving a seat to someone who needs it, helping a beggar, helping an old lady carry a stroller or suitcase, or perhaps even opening our home (discretion should be taken so that one’s family is always safe.)

— From our Bible study on Hebrews 13:1-8

Hospitality Required of Church Leaders

1 Timothy 3:2 — “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.”

A leader should care for the sheep. It is not just a job or a title. His service does not begin at 10 AM and end at 11:30 AM each Sunday. You can get a glimpse into the heart motivation of a person by noticing if he is hospitable. If he routinely opens his home to others, then it shows a kind, caring, and compassionate heart. It shows that he is a people person.

At the same time, it allows him to minister far more effectively because he is sharing his actual life. Hospitality indicates a time investment which is above and beyond a responsibility. A church should seek out leaders who care for the flock in this kind of self-sacrificing way.

But if a person views his home as private and keeps others away, you may rightly wonder why. At the very least it can hint that the person is not open or caring. And it could hint at worse problems at home, which are kept hidden.

— From our Bible study on 1 Timothy 3:1-7

Elders will have many opportunities to show hospitality. They can open their homes to the people of the church and those in need, invite newcomers for meals, etc.

— From our Bible study on Titus 1:1-8

Show Hospitality Without Grumbling

1 Peter 4:8-9 — “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”

Show hospitality to the people around you. This is an opportunity to spread Christ’s love. As a result, we should not hold back or complain. Do not have a house guest and then complain to your wife or friends about how long they stayed, how much they ate, or the mess that they made. Instead, be a servant to help them feel at home. Everyone can show hospitality to others, even if you don’t have your own home.

Application — List out some ways that you can show hospitality to others in your current situation.

— From our Bible study on 1 Peter 4:1-11

Prepare a Guest Room for Me

Philemon 1:22 — “At the same time, prepare a guest room for me.”

Paul hoped to visit Philemon in person. Hospitality to visitors was ingrained into the culture. It would be unthinkable to allow a visiting missionary like Paul to have to scrounge the town for accommodations.

This simple statement shows us the intimate nature of fellowship during the New Testament church. Believers were family, and they acted like it. The terms “brother” and “sister” were not empty titles.

Application — How can you show hospitality to your spiritual family today in the twenty-first century? Write down several specific ways (try to focus on things you don’t already do).

— From our Bible study on Philemon 17-25

Lydia Opens Her Home

Acts 16:14-15 — “One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.’ And she prevailed upon us.”

Lydia’s heart had already been prepared by the Lord. She was ready, immediately believing in Jesus and being baptized. Lydia had a significant influence on her family, who also believed.

After being saved, she didn’t wait to jump in and serve. She immediately offered her home to the mission team. They accepted, and she hosted them. Perhaps Lydia was gifted in hospitality. We can learn an important lesson from Lydia. Every believer should serve and use their gifting to build up the body. You don’t have to go to seminary first or even read the entire Bible. Even new believers can begin serving.

The Holy Spirit gifts believers according to His will. Paul was gifted in teaching. Lydia was gifted in hospitality. Both used their gifts for the good of others. Lydia benefited from Paul’s teaching and Paul benefited from Lydia’s hospitality. God puts each person where He wants them to build up one another for the good of the whole body.

Application — Be like Lydia. Don’t wait to serve God until a better time in the future. Think about what resources, gifts, or abilities you have. How can you use those right now for serving the body of Christ?

— From our Bible study on Acts 16

The Philippian Jailer’s Meal

Acts 16:33-34 — “And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.”

I love what happens next. The jailer gave medical treatment to Paul and Silas. Their wounds were cleaned. Paul then baptized the man and his family. After that, the jailer takes Paul into his home and gives him a nice meal. Isn’t it beautiful?

Paul gave what he had to this family. In turn, this family gave what they had to him. God gives different resources, gifts, talents, and opportunities to different members of the body of Christ. Paul had a gift for preaching and teaching. The jailer had the opportunity to be hospitable and take care of a servant of God. Both of them used their gift to serve one another.

Reflect — How can you serve the body of Christ? What unique resources, opportunities, or giftings do you have?

God has given you a gift for a reason. Identify what you are good at by serving. And then do that more for the purpose of serving others in the church and community.

— From our Bible study on Acts 16

Hospitality and Healing on Malta

Acts 28:7-8 — “Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him.”

God continued to care for Paul and his companions even in the midst of their trials. Publius was a local chief. He had no obligation to take care of prisoners and treat them so well. But he did. Why? Somehow God moved him to do so. God cares for us in many ways. He providentially moves in weather patterns, ocean currents, and even people’s hearts. All of these are in His hands, and He turns them where He wishes.

Reflect — Share about a time when God providentially worked behind the scenes on your behalf.

Paul, meanwhile, did not isolate himself with self-pity regarding his “bad luck.” He wasn’t focused on himself at all. Shipwrecked on Malta, he was still ministering to others. He was praying for and healing many people, surely while sharing the gospel with them.

Someone once wisely said, “Never put a good trial to waste.” When we face rock bottom, it is easy to turn inward with a “woe is me” attitude. Let’s learn from Paul’s example and continue to reach out to serve others.

— From our Bible study on Acts 28

I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me

Matthew 25:35-36 — “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”

King Jesus will praise the sheep for their selfless behavior. Note the types of things He praises them for: feeding the hungry, showing hospitality to strangers, visiting the sick or prisoner. All of these things are acts of kindness shown to people who very likely cannot repay you. What is more, they are acts of kindness demonstrated in largely private places like prisons and hospitals and your own home. He does not commend them for their great singing voices on the stage in church, for their public acts of charity, or for their sermons delivered to thousands of people.

Application — We should willingly serve those who cannot give anything in return. We should willingly serve secretly when no one or almost no one will know.

Matthew 25:40 — “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'”

God is invisible. Thus it is sometimes difficult to know how we love someone whom we cannot see. How do we give to someone who is not tangible? The answer is right here. We serve God by serving those around us. We love God by loving those around us. Simply put, this is the way God has designed for us to show our love for Him.

Application — What will you do this week to apply what you have learned today? Is there anyone in need you can serve purely out of love for Christ?

— From our Bible study on Matthew 25:31-46

Serving Guests Even When It’s Inconvenient

Matthew 8:14-15 — “And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him.”

The fever must have been very serious since it caused her to be bed-ridden and not able to get up and show the normal hospitality one would have expected from her. Jesus showed compassion for Peter’s mother-in-law. God does not always heal us, but He does care when we are suffering.

We can learn a good example from her as she immediately begins to serve others. She was not focused on self even after her sickness, but she was focused on serving her guests. She was being a good host and was exercising hospitality. We too should show hospitality to others.

Application — Jesus cared for the sick and we should too. What can you do for those who are sick? What do you like people to do for you when you are sick?

— From our Bible study on Matthew 8:14-22

Jesus Himself Prepares Breakfast

John 21:9-14 — “When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.”

Jesus already had food waiting. He provides the fish and then He provided a meal. Jesus prepared breakfast for them. Then He “gave it to them.” He was always the servant. Jesus was never a domineering leader. He didn’t boss them around as slaves. He lowered Himself to cook for them and serve them. Jesus taught them how to show hospitality and serve.

I believe that God uses food to bring us together, teach us about His provision, help us learn to serve, and for enjoyment. We also can show hospitality to others and invite them to our homes to share a meal. There is almost nothing which says “friendship” like sharing a meal.

Application — Be like Jesus. Make breakfast for your family. Bring the family meal back. Use this time well to strengthen your connections with each other. Talk. Put down your electronic devices. Make your family meal times electronic free.

— From our Bible study on Breakfast with Jesus

We hope you enjoyed this Bible study on hospitality. May God use His Word to speak into your life and give you strength to follow it. Please take some time to reflect on the questions below and consider leaving a comment with your key takeaway or insight.

Reflection Questions

• Give some examples of hospitality. Do you normally show hospitality to friends or strangers?
• What are some ways we can show hospitality to strangers? Should we invite them to our home?
• Is home a private place or a place to open up to others?
• What does hospitality look like?
• How can you serve the body of Christ? What unique resources, opportunities, or giftings do you have?
• Why is hospitality important for church leaders?
• Reflect on someone who has shown hospitality to you. What did it look like and what did it mean to you?