There are many commands throughout the Bible to love our neighbors, show hospitality, and be a friend to strangers. Why is this such an important part of following God? In this message, we explore the "why" behind God's command to practice hospitality. The message focuses on Deuteronomy 10:12-22, where God teaches Israel to care for the orphans, widows, and foreigners that will be residing in their new homeland inside the Promised Land. What we find is a powerful call to love our neighbors that is rooted in God's compassionate character, our empathy towards our fellow man, and a desire to pay God's blessings forward after everything he's done for us.
God Loves Outsiders, And So Should You
October 31, 2021 • Deuteronomy 10:12–22
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Come to the Table
November 21, 2021 • Bryan Fojtasek
When Jesus sat down to have dinner with the Pharisees, he took the opportunity to teach them something about the kind of people God is inviting to his table. It's not just the religious experts and wealthy leaders of the community, but the poor, the outcasts, even the strangers on the road that God is inviting in. The lesson for us is clear: God has invited us to his table, even though we don't deserve it, and we need to make room for everyone else that God is inviting to be part of his Kingdom.
As I Have Done For You
John 13:1–17
A third reason why Christians are called to practice hospitality is because of the example that Jesus himself gives us. In John 13, Jesus shows us the full extent of his love by washing his disciples feet, an important customs that symbolized the moment when a stranger became a guest. Jesus often served as a gracious host, both to his friends (like in John 13), as well as strangers (like when Jesus fed the 5,000 in Matthew 14). After washing the disciple's feet, Jesus tells us that we will be blessed when we follow in his footsteps.
The Least of These
November 7, 2021 • Bryan Fojtasek
A second important reason why Christians are called to practice the ministry of hospitality is found in Matthew 25:31-40. Jesus teaches us that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for him. Welcoming strangers, feeding the sick, clothing the hungry--when we care for others, Jesus receives that as if we were doing it all for him personally.