Hospitality: What comes to mind? Do you picture a beautiful house complete with a gourmet meal, friends around the dinner table, and polite chit chat? Hospitality can be this, but it’s really much more.

By the way: I have a brand new FREE video series on hospitality! Take a journey through Scripture with me as we explore what the Bible has to say on hospitality, what hospitality can look like, and then dive into practical tips with a beginner’s guide to hospitality. You can access the first video instantly HERE!

Hospitality can look like:

• Inviting a non-Christian family out to pizza after the soccer game.
• Sharing a picnic at the park with the single mom down the street.
• Inviting that new couple at church over for Sunday brunch.

Hospitality can come in many forms but the ultimate purpose is this: To honor and obey God by serving those around us. As Christians we are called to practice Biblical Hospitality…and practice it with joy!

“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice’ (1 Sam 15:22). The words of John 14:15, 21-24 clearly identify that the primary evidence that individuals are Christians is their choice to obey their Father’s commands….I learned that to please my heavenly Father I need to respond to all of his instructions with an obedient spirit and not just pick those that appeal to me – and that includes my response to what his Word teaches about hospitality.” ~ Practicing Hospitality, Pg 22

Hospitality – A Biblical Command

Why should we be concerned about hospitality and practicing it? Because God commands that we practice hospitality – and we should obey!

“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” ~ Romans 12:13

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

“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” ~ 1 Peter 4:9 –

“First Peter 4:9 builds on the instructions to practice hospitality and reminds me that my attitude is of utmost important – I am to practice hospitality without complaining! This verse challenges me to conduct a heart search to discern what my attitude is and whether I am approaching this opportunity to minister enthusiastically (Colossians 3:23).” ~ Practicing Hospitality, Pg 23

Later this week I will go more in depth into what hospitality actually looked like practiced in both the Old Testament and the New. We will dive into Biblical examples and how we can learn from people such as Abraham & Sarah, Lot, Gideon, and more!

So What Does Hospitality Look Like?

So now we know that Biblical hospitality is commanded {and we will delve into that more} but what exactly does that look like? As I showed above, Biblical hospitality can take on many different forms.

The ultimate purpose of hospitality is to minister to those around us – both believers and unbelievers. Our hospitality is a form of ministry and is a way that we show love, care, concern, and how we can serve others!

“Hospitality from a Biblical perspective is to recognize that God is more interested in caring relationships than the mold behind the shower curtain…It need not matter if we live in a single-room apartment or a split-level ranch, the only real requirement is allowing God to use our lives and our possessions…Our homes and our lives are indeed the most powerful combination of ministry to our world.” ~ Hospitality with Confidence, Pg 9

Hospitality is not about showing off your house, your decorating skills, or your cooking abilities. It is not just having friends over to play games {although that can be an element of it}. It is not about you or your possessions – Hospitality is about God and how he uses you and your possessions to serve those you come into contact with – both friends and strangers, both believers and unbelievers.

Anyone – even the single gal in a dorm room – can show hospitality to those around them. It doesn’t take fancy china or expensive food. Hospitality is about investing in other’s lives and learning how you can best serve those around you.

We could have a revolution within our churches of believers reaching out into our unbelieving neighborhoods and inviting families over, new people to the church quickly getting plugged into church life, and Christians really genuinely caring and serving for one another – through the Biblical art of hospitality!

I am excited you are on this journey with me! We are going to begin tomorrow by diving into what God has to say and teach on Hospitality in the Old Testament tomorrow.

Read more in this series:

• Check out our brand new video series on hospitality: A Heart for Hospitality Video Series
• Biblical Hospitality Defined: The Art of Serving Others {You are here}
• Hospitality Through the Bible: Old Testament
• Hospitality Through the Bible: New Testament
• More to come! See all posts in the Joy of Hospitality series HERE!