Around the Table, Part 4

Hospitality, from a biblical perspective, is much more than serving the needs of those on the outside. It is an invitation to sit at our table, to share in relationship, to be a part of our family.

Graves Into Gardens
Elevation Worship

Holy is Our God
Austin Stone Worship

Stronger
Hillsong Worship

Touch of Heaven
Hillsong Worship

The Fourth Mark
A disciple is one who engages in biblical community.

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Hospitality
Love of the stranger, the outsider, or the other.

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Leviticus 19:33-34
When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not wrong him. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

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Emperor of Rome
“Why do we not observe that it is their benevolence to strangers, their care for the graves of the dead and the pretended holiness of their lives that have done the most to increase Christianity? For it is disgraceful that, when no Jew ever has to beg, and the impious Christians support not only their own poor but ours as well, all men see that our people lack aid from us.”

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Matthew 25:31-40
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

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Dustin Willis and Brandon Clements
“Hospitality is a theology of recognition where, through simple acts, we convey the truth that wayward sinners are made in the image of God, where we say to those who might doubt their worth and purpose, “I see you! You are welcome here…pull up a chair.”

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Practices for the Week
1. Share your stuff
2. Share space with a stranger
3. Share a meal with a stranger