At the start of this New Year, I’d like to take a moment, as we continue to grow and mature as a church, to ask you an very important question: Hello. Have you been infected with hospitalityitis?
Ok ‘Hospitalityitis’ is not a real word, but it is a good description of someone who has been infected by a passion to live a hospitable lifestyle. In Romans 12:13 the Apostle Paul says “practice hospitality”. Hospitality is the spiritual gift of being able to welcome strangers and guests into your home and by so doing demonstrate something of the love and goodness of God. It is really important that we don’t confuse hospitality with providing Michelin Star quality food or having just the right ambience. Hospitality is the willingness and passion to do whatever you can within your means to make strangers and guests feel welcome in your home.
Have you got the gift of hospitality? Have you been infected with hospitalityitis? The best way to find out is to have a go! Over the next six weeks why don’t you make a deliberate effort to invite guests who attend one of our Sunday worship meetings or people in the church family that you don’t know very well over for coffee or dinner? Make this a spiritual exercise. Pray about it; think how you can welcome people well into your home. Finally, step out and start inviting people.
My hope and dream is that as a church community we will be ‘ravaged’ by hospitalityitis!
by Adam Bradley