The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer. 8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:7-11
In the above passage, the Apostle Peter describes what we might call an end-time ethic. When the end of all things is near, he explains how Christians should live. The passage answers the question, “What characteristics and practices mark the lives of end-times saints?” When the end of all things is near, believers must…
- Stay vigilant in prayer. (v. 7)
- Keep their love constant. (v. 8)
- Practice hospitality. (v. 9)
- Serve others. (v. 10-11)
While this list is not comprehensive (Peter and other New Testament writers will have much more to say about Christian living in the last days), it does highlight some important biblical practices that believers today must seek to live out. In this article, we will focus on the role Christian hospitality plays in the life of a pastor who desires to start well in a new ministry assignment.
What is Christian Hospitality?
Christian hospitality is the practice of believers showing kindness, generosity, and love to others. It is seen when believers display a warm and welcoming attitude toward one another and toward outsiders. It is often reflected when a follower of Christ meets the practical needs of another.
When we think about hospitality, providing a meal to a hungry person may come to mind. Certainly, eating food together is a good and natural way for a Christian to demonstrate hospitality. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus invited the church members at Laodicea to repent of their lukewarm attitude toward Him by opening the door to Him so they could share a meal together. However, showing hospitality includes more than eating with others.
Marks of a hospitable pastor include:
- Welcoming – He seeks to create a welcoming environment in his home, church, and community. (Romans 15:7)
- Loving – He loves the Lord and therefore has a deep affection for God’s people and the outsider. (1 John 4:12)
- Connector – He seeks to connect people to Christ and to each other. (Acts 2:42-47)
- Generous – He has a willingness to share resources, possessions, and the gift of time with others, especially those in need. (Acts 20:35)
- Servant – Hospitable leaders serve their people well. (Matthew 23:11)
Why Hospitality Matters
Why is practicing hospitality important in your ministry as a pastor?
- Christian hospitality is an obedience thing. 1 Peter 4:9 and many other biblical passages let us know that demonstrating hospitality is a mandate for every believer, including the need to have a right attitude while you do it. No complaining!
- Hospitality reflects God’s love and the truth of the Gospel. Jesus said our love for one another is a powerful witness to the community that we belong to Him. (John 13:35)
- Your example of hospitality demonstrates its importance. As the old saying goes, ‘more is caught than taught.’ When the pastor is hospitable towards others, the people are more likely to view it as something valuable that they should embrace as well.
- Hospitality ministries give people a way to serve. One of the key roles of a Pastor is to lead others to serve. Some church members are especially gifted in showing hospitality. Ministries such as first impressions, greeting ministry, church fellowships, and other similar ministries provide gifted individuals in hospitality with an opportunity to serve.
- Hospitality meets practical needs. In your ministry, you will encounter many people with diverse needs. People with physical, spiritual, and emotional needs will be a constant reality. Showing hospitality is often where people begin to reveal the real needs in their lives, and it is in loving, hospitable actions that those needs are met.
Practical Suggestions
Practical ways you can show hospitality to church members and others:
- Serve your people. Be willing to do the menial and mundane tasks. Do not ask your people to do something you are not willing to do yourself.
- Open your home. Check with your wife first! Your home is one of the best places you have in which to demonstrate loving hospitality to your people. Encourage your people to open their homes to others as well.
- Celebrate hospitality. If you celebrate something, you are likely to get more of that thing. When you see someone showing hospitality, express your gratitude to them. Consider writing them a thank-you note or, if appropriate, giving them a shout-out from the platform, or displaying pictures of your hospitality team in action.
- Preach on hospitality. Show your folks from the Word what it means to demonstrate Christian hospitality and challenge them to look for ways to be hospitable every day.
- Connect hospitality to church growth. First-time guests to your church will likely make a decision to return based, in large part, on the welcome they feel from God’s people. Lead your people to practice hospitality in the pews so that every first-time guest feels welcomed and wanted.
- Make hospitality part of your evangelism strategy. Train your folks in an evangelistic strategy that includes being neighborly to the lost.
“When the end of all things is near,” Peter writes, “Be hospitable to one another without complaining” (1 Peter 4:7,9). A pastor who seeks to practice hospitality himself and teach his congregation to do the same will help deepen the love of God’s people for one another, which will increase the likelihood that the church will have a greater Gospel impact in the community and beyond.
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