HOSPITALITY
Dear Foothills Family,
Biblically speaking, hospitality is a sacred duty. Hospitality is treating both strangers and friends alike (see Matthew 24:34-46). Christian hospitality opens churches, homes and hearts. It is welcoming one another into our church, into our homes, and into our lives.
Romans 12:13 - "Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality."
1 Peter 4:9 - "Show hospitality to one another without grumbling."
A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH
In the ancient world, travel was perilous. Inns were notorious for vice, and as gathering places for brigands. The local "inn" often served as a brothel. Christian hospitality opened homes and churches to travelers from the very earliest days of the movement. Hospitality was a major factor in the quick spread of the Gospel.
Beginning in the fifth century many Christian churches opened and operated safe places of refuge for travelers (hostels and eventually "hospices"). These provided living opportunities for cultivating Christian friendship and spreading the good news of Christ's Gospel. The hospital and hospice movements eventually grew out of this early Christian initiative. The New Testament writers used a very special Greek word – philoxenia. It is a compound of two words – philos, which means "kind affection" or "love" and xenos, which means "stranger" or "foreigner." It is translated as the English word "hospitality." Christian hospitality is any direct and personal act of welcoming love, care, or provision given by Christians to guests or strangers, whether Christian or not.
THE TWO GUESTS WHO COME TO OUR CHURCH
1. A True Stranger. The first type of guest is a true stranger, perhaps a non-Christian who's been brought to church by a family member or friend. Occasionally, they may be on their own, responding to the gentle tug of the Holy Spirit in their life. Jesus said, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them" (John 6:44). Jesus befriended the lost, ate in their homes, and loved them well. He was outrageously hospitable. We are called to be just as hospitable!
2. A Fellow Christian. The second type of guest is a fellow Christian who, for whatever reason, is looking for a new church home. It's just as important to be generous with our welcome! Jesus told his disciples: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34). We may not know everything that is troubling a fellow believer when they step through our door, but we have an opportunity to bring them comfort and peace, and to remind them of God's unfailing love.
Foothills is a warm, welcoming, genuinely caring faith community. We are committed to ensuring no one feels overlooked, uncomfortable, or unimportant when they visit our church. However, it takes all of us, working together, to show our character to visitors and there are several different areas where we can show our hospitality.
It begins with our church website. And while the communications team is responsible for maintaining the website we can all use it and make suggestions for improvements and corrections.
We have devoted greeters but all of us can be on the lookout for new faces and welcome them.
We want to integrate hospitality with everything we do! Each ministry’s plan should include a strategy for ensuring the active art of Christian hospitality.
IT'S UP TO US!
Jesus said it best when He said: "Do to others what you would have them do to you" (Matthew 7:12). That's really the key to successful Christian hospitality. If you were visiting our church for the first time, what would make it the best possible experience? Think on that, and then take it from there!
With Love, your pastor,
Duff
