It’s Complicated Week 7 – David Nasser

Overview:

In this week’s teaching, Pastor David unpacked what it means to show hospitality to those around us. The internet’s intent to connect us together has left us more hostile to strangers and controversial to build relationships with them. The antidote to this hostility is hospitality. The word itself is rooted in two words to “love” and ”stranger”. The “love of the stranger” is the desire to get to know them and provide an opportunity and place of healing for others.  This is a biblical mandate we see in 1 Peter 4:8-9. It is an expectation for both men and women to exercise our gifts towards the strangers we encounter. As it becomes a way of life, availability and vulnerability will come with it. Opening your life and home can be entertaining, but it’s not entertainment. If it becomes more about being impressive, then the attempt becomes intimidating. Hospitality is about being interested in others, not making yourself interesting. Hospitality is also discerning. This means open doors, but also a door lock against false teachers who declare false essentials about the faith. These exercises exemplify the gospel and represent God’s kingdom here on earth. Hospitality is more than just fine china, but the opportunity for eternal change in the strangers we meet.

Verses:

Hebrews 13:1

“Let love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality.”

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.”

2 John 10-11

“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.”

1 Cor 5:11-13

“This is also the rare case for a believer in habitual, unrepentant, flaunted sin that has resulted in church discipline.”

Quotes:

“Jesus is the perfect picture of hospitality”

“Hospitality is a sign that a community is alive. To invite others to be with us is a sign that we aren’t afraid. And that we have a treasure of truth and of peace to share. A community that offers hospitality to strangers is a sign of contradiction. A sign of hope that love is possible  In a fractured and broken world” -Jean Vanier

“Hospitality must be shaped by God’s will, performed by God’s power, and aimed at God’s glory through Jesus Christ…. God’s hospitality is motivated by his unwavering commitment to the glory of his own name.” – John Piper

“Glory is the root and love is the fruit of hospitality.”

“Hospitality is not a suggestion, but a command in scripture. “

“Paper plates can be more powerful than fine china. Especially if our attempt to be impressive becomes intimidating.”

“Hospitality is not work, it is worship”

“Hospitality is a non-negotiable and what is non-negotiable for God must be non-negotiable for his people”

“The ultimate goal of hospitality is God’s glory”

“Because someone is valuable to God they are valuable to us”

“Hospitality is not just an open door, but a door with hinges and a lock.” – Edith Schaeffer

Questions:

1) When did someone show you radical hospitality? When was the last time you showed others hospitality?

2) How can we become the type of people who are hospitable rather than hostile?

3) What are some practical steps we can take to love people that society deems as strange or different?

4) How does hospitality exemplify the gospel?

5) How can we discern opening doors for strangers versus opening doors for false teachers?

6) Is there anything that the Spirit is prompting you to change in your daily routines to practice intentional hospitality?

7) What are some people that come to mind right now you can show hospitality to?