The Culture of Hospitality

The Olympics are over, and the New Zealand team came home with a record 20 medals, what an amazing effort! I wonder what the standout for you was. For me, it was the joy on the faces of the competitors whether they gained a medal or not that was so apparent. They were just so thrilled to be there and compete. 

The joy of the Lord in our lives is so important for us to keep “running the race set before us”. This theme came up at a workshop for Leaders Felicity and I attended last Saturday (10/8) at St Andrews church in Matamata. The topic was “How does God lead us so we can make wise decisions” led by Daryl Hemopo (KCML).

During the workshop we were asked to go away and pray for 10 minutes for our church and see what picture came to mind. The Lord laid on my heart Joy and this tied in with another part of the session about having a catch word for your church. Felicity and I both thought that Hospitality was a theme that kept coming up. 

St Peters has a wonderful culture of hospitality, and the catch phrase Eat, Meet and Greet is one we have been praying and sharing about. There are so many areas of our church where this applies, and a great tool for mission that needs to be validated.  

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality (Romans 12:13).  

Our church should be encouraged for their witness around hospitality. A repeat workshop is being held at the Bethlehem Community church this Saturday (17/8). I would recommend this very practical session.

Joy is one of the most prominent themes of the Bible. From the very beginning, God’s plan for mankind has been to bring us joy and peace. The Bible teaches us that joy is a gift from God, and that it is something to be celebrated and shared with others.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23). 

Hospitality is known as entertaining and welcoming in guests or visitors. It is a genuine way to show love for others! Jesus tells us in in Matthew 25:40 that whatever we do for the least of people, we do for him. 

 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.  Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms (1 Peter4:8-9) 

All the best for this Saturday’s table of 8 dinners and a big thankyou to the hosts.