Hospitality Starts in the Heart!

Letter

Building One Another

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11

Hospitality Starts in the Heart!

Dear Friend,

Consider the differences between friendliness and hospitality.

Friendliness shows warm interest and goodwill to another person.

Hospitality is the welcome reception of a guest.

They are very different concepts, yet we often confuse them although they ask different questions.

Friendliness asks, “How are you? What’s happening?” Then, “See you around.!”

Hospitality asks an entirely different question, “Will you come into my life?” Please join me on Zoom, in my group, in my home, for a meal or something else we are doing (whatever is wise during pandemic restrictions).”

You can be friendly without being hospitable! You can be warm and pleasant in a conversation in church, shopping mall, or office, but have no intent of actually including that person in your personal life.

Hospitality goes beyond friendliness to friendship, it starts in the heart - and opens a door into your life!"

"Lord, help me to be friendly and hospitable. Build my church into a hospitable church as well as a friendly church."

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.” Matthew 25:35*

Joy to you - Stan

Scripture from the ESV

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Show Notes

Can you think of moments when others were friendly to you but your relationship never went beyond simple chit chat?
What is an experience or two in your life in which you recall being invited in - into a group, a home, to a meal or something else?

For more information on the difference between friendliness and hospitality, see Twelve Dynamic Shifts for Transforming Your Church. Chapter 4.

For more information on hospitality, listen to Episode 30 of BuildingOneAnother: "Making Room for Love" - https://www.buildingoneanother.com/episodes/make-room-for-love

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash‍