So, the fact that we can’t find good photos of men serving at Thanksgiving proves the point of this blog post. So, post a photo on social media of a man practicing hospitality over the holidays and tag us in it! Let’s see men living out hospitality!

A Thanksgiving Challenge…

Men, I wonder if we may need to step up our game in the area of hospitality.

This is one of those areas of leadership that many of us have probably simply become passive on and even surrendered to our wives and/or other women in our lives. I’m guilty of thinking of hospitality as a feminine attribute. We even expect to hear from ladies that they have the ‘Gift of Hospitality’.

Now, I’m not suggesting that we run to the kitchen tomorrow and take over cooking the Thanksgiving meal (unless that’s your deal). But I am suggesting that, as we enter this season of celebrations, parties, gifts and gatherings, perhaps some of us guys (me included) need to think more about following Jesus’ model of hospitality.

Truly engage/serve others instead of simply moving from the table to the recliner.

Here are some thoughts about hospitality in general and specifically Biblical hospitality. This is by no means exhaustive but may get all of us thinking about how to live and love more like Jesus this season!

hos·pi·tal·i·ty

noun – the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.

adjective – relating to or denoting the business of housing or entertaining visitors.

In the New Testament, the Greek word translated “hospitality” literally means love of strangers. www.gotquestions.org/Bible -hospitality

Jesus extended hospitality…

• He fed the hungry. (Matt. 14:13-21)
• He healed the sick. (Matt. 8:1-16)
• He provided wine for the wedding. And it was high quality wine! (John 2:1-11)
• He welcomed the children. (Matt. 19:14)
• He washed the feet of his disciples. (John 3:1-17)
• He welcomed sinners and tax collectors. (Luke 15:2)
• He spent time with folks that were undesirable. (John 4:4-26)
• He cooked breakfast for his disciples. (John 21:1-14)

He received hospitality from others…

• Some provided food for him. (Matthew 1-:9-10)
• Mary washed his feet. (Luke 7:36-50)
• Matthew invited him to a party. (Matt 9:10)
• Zacchaeus allowed Jesus to invite himself over.  (Luke 19:1-10)
• He asked the Samaritan woman to give him a drink. (John 4)

He celebrated hospitality in his teaching…

• The good Samaritan. (Luke 10:25-37)
• Love your neighbor as yourself – (Matthew 12:30-31)
• Let others see your good deeds – (Matthew 5:16)
• Whatever you did for one of the least of these… (Matthew 25:34-40)

Here are a few more thoughts…

• In the Old Testament, we’re reminded to welcome strangers (sojourners) and care for them as our own. (Leviticus 19:33-34)
• Paul encouraged both Timothy and Titus to look for hospitable men as they set apart leaders for the church. (1 Timothy 3, Titus 1)

Questions for Discussion:

• Why in our culture has hospitality become a feminine virtue?
• Are men capable of being hospitable?
• What does it look like for a man to be hospitable?
• Who has been the best example of a hospitable man that you have known?

Hospitality starts at home, with family. Are you and have you been hospitable to your family? Do you represent Christ well with your hospitality? How could you change that?

Is your wife the hospitality leader in your home? How can you support, encourage and partner with her for even greater kingdom impact?

Is your home closed to guests? Why? What would it look like to change that?

Perhaps there are reasons you don’t want to leverage your home as a tool for hospitality. That’s OK, remember that Jesus is our model and he said, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Luke 9:58

How can you leverage hospitality beyond your home?

Four Practical Ways to Show Christian Hospitality – Tony Merida; LifeWay

Strategic Hospitality – John Piper; Desiring God