No Higher Calling Podcast
Given to Hospitality
Romans 12:10-13 “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope;patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.”
Hospitality provides a wonderful opportunity to blend home and ministry. We all live busy lives, but there is such a reward that comes from obedience to God in this area. Over the past few years of the No Higher Calling Podcast, the topic of hospitality has been addressed from many angles. Find all of the NHC hospitality episodes in one place! I pray that these conversations are a blessing to you and that they challenge you to take the next step obeying God’s command to be “given to hospitality.”
Blessings of Hospitality
Obedience brings blessing. This is a principle found all throughout Scripture. In the New Testament, God commands His people to be “given to hospitality.” Obedience in this area brings abundant blessings!
In this episode, we discuss blessings that come from ministering to others through hospitality.
-The blessing of influencing others for Christ
-The blessing of cultivating relationships
-The blessing of fellowship, laughter, and encouragement
-The blessing of teaching moments for our children
Scriptures Referenced:
Proverbs 17:22; 18:24; Acts 18; Romans 12:13; Hebrews 6:10
Hosting a Meal Train
There are time when the need for hospitality calls for us to minister from our homes instead of in our homes.
What is a “meal train”? It is simply when someone is in charge of organizing multiple meals for a person/family in need. In this episode, I share practical tips on how to make this go smoothly (especially for the one hosting/organizing the meals) and to be the greatest blessing to the recepients.
We have been so encouraged and helped by those who have provided meals for us during times of new babies, the unexpected loss of my brother, and sickness. If you have been on the receiving end of this aspect of hospitality, you know the immense blessing this can be!
Hospitality Helpers
One of my favorite aspects of making hospitality a big part of our home and ministry is getting my children involved. They have become wonderful hosptiality helpers! Through intentional training, they have learned how to greet others with kindess and welcome, how to do a quick tidy and clean of the home, how to prep dinner, how to remember manners through meal time, how to engage in conversation with people of all ages, and more!
In this episode, I pull some thoughts from the Hospitality Guide I put together (find at www.nohighercalling.org/shop) and give practical ideas on how to get your children involved in hospitality no matter what their age!
Do you practice hospitality on a regular basis? Do you involve your children? I’d love to hear how you get your family involved in this wonderful Gospel opportunity!
Small Steps to Hospitality
Romans 12:13 says to be, “given to hospitality.” I believe that the area of hospitality is one of the greatest means we, as Christians, have to be a light for Christ. Whether it is ministering to fellow believers or witnessing to the lost, inviting people into your home to share a meal and fellowship will bless your heart.
In this episode, I share small steps to showing hospitality. Maybe inviting someone into your home for a meal feels very daunting. Maybe you don’t know where to start- what do you cook? what do you talk about? how do you teach your children to use their manners? We start with the basics- showing hospitality to your family and using everyday dinners to teach your family how to prefer others. (Rm 12:10 “in honour preferring one another;”) From there, we discuss other simple ways to incorporate hospitality into your family life.
Hospitality On-the-Go
When we think of hospitality, we usually think about inviting people into our homes for a meal. While that encompasses much of the ministry of hospitality, there are ways we can serve the Lord in this way FROM our homes, not just IN our homes.
What do I mean by hospitality on-the-go? This encompasses making meals for people who are in need of encouragement, help, or support, and then taking it to their home for them to enjoy at their convenience. On this episode, I share some tips to make this aspect of hospitality easy on you and the person you are seeking to encourage and bless!
Holiday Hospitality
It can feel daunting to extend hospitality in the Christmas season with all the busyness that time of year brings. But the holidays provide a wonderful opportunity to use hospitality as an avenue to share the gospel with those God’s placed in our realm of influence. I give the challenge determine to minister in this way, and I share various ways that your family can engage in holiday hospitality.
Hospitality to the Traveler
We’ve looked at many different aspects of hospitality on the No Higher Calling podcast, but this episode does a deep dive into extending hospitality overnight. Being on deputation for the past 2 years and traveling all over the eastern United States, I have learned many good tips, and several things to avoid, as our family has gained experience as the traveler.
Hebrews 13:2 says, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” The original language translates strangers as travelers and angels as those who share the message of the gospel. God commands us to remember to extend hospitality to those who travel, often in ministry capacities.
Once the foundation of the biblical command to show hospitality in this area is established, I transition into practical ways to be a blessing to those who are staying overnight in your home. These tips have been complied from our travels, and from other missionary ladies who have shared what has and hasn’t been helpful for their families.
Topics include:
-What is helpful to have in a guest room
-Things to think through as you host guests overnight (sleeping arrangements, laundry accessibility, dietary needs)
-How to communicate schedules, meals, etc
-Cleaning and decluttering for hosting guests
There is such a reward in obedience to Christ, especially in this area of extending hospitality. Get your entire family involved. Watch God give blessings and rewards to each family member as you work together to serve and bless others.
Simplified Hospitality
Hospitality should not be a daunting task. It is something God has called believers to. Whatever God asks of us, He always equips us to do. So, why do we feel like showing hospitality is so difficult? It is because we have gotten our eyes off of Christ’s intentions for hospitality and onto the world’s version. When you look to the world’s standard, all of the sudden your house is too small, not chic enough, food not fancy enough, conversations not impressive enough.
Marcie Fowler joins Brettnay in this episode as they debunk myths as to why many women think that hospitality is unattainable. Marcie’s mission is to help women in this area and to provide advice to help simplify hosting while keeping your focus God’s focus.
Hospitality in the Home
Proverbs 31:26-28 “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.”
When we think of the word hospitality serving others outside the walls of our home is often the first thing to come to mind. While this is such an important aspect of hospitality, we must not neglect demonstrating a servant’s heart towards those closest to us- our husbands and children. The Proverbs 31 woman’s children bless her and her husband praises her. Why? I believe it is because she “looketh well to the ways of her household.” Do we look well to the ways of our household? Brettnay discusses personal examples of ways she’s failed at this, and ideas as to how we can better serve and sacrifice of ourselves for our husband and children.
The Heart of Hospitality
In Romans 12:13, we see that God has commanded believers to be given to hospitality. What is true Biblical hospitality? Is it having a spotless house, trendy décor, and a gourmet meal? Hospitality is opening our hearts and homes to others with the goal of pointing them to Christ and refreshing their souls through the means of meeting their physical and spiritual needs.
These are some topics Brettnay addresses in this episode. . .
1. The heart of hospitality
2. Keeping your motives focused on Christ
3. The difference between hosting and entertaining
4. Preparing your home to be a blessing
5. Hospitality and the Gospel
