Radical Hospitality: Transforming Lives Through Love
Summary
In the early hours of a May morning in 2016, a series of unexpected events unfolded that would test the very essence of Christian love and hospitality. As I began my daily devotions, unaware of the chaos brewing across the street, I prayed for my neighbor Hank, a man who had become a fragile friend over time. Hank, a recluse with a troubled past, had been the subject of neighborhood gossip and fear, yet we had chosen to extend friendship and grace to him. That morning, however, the DEA surrounded Hank's house, revealing a meth lab operation that shocked our community.
Faced with this crisis, we had a choice: to retreat in fear and judgment or to step forward in love and understanding. We chose the latter, opening our home to neighbors, offering comfort, and seeking to make redemptive sense of the tragedy. In the midst of chaos, we gathered our community, shared meals, and prayed for Hank, embodying the gospel's call to love our neighbors, even when it costs us our reputation.
Our journey with Hank taught us that when Christians align themselves with Jesus, they relinquish the right to protect their own reputations. Loving the stranger often means becoming strange ourselves, losing some skin in the game. Yet, it is through this radical hospitality that we witness the transformative power of the gospel. Hank's story did not end with his arrest; it was a beginning. Through our continued support and prayers, Hank found faith in Christ, illustrating that the gospel changes not just individuals but entire communities.
In a world that often feels dangerous and desperate, hospitality becomes the frontline of evangelism. Our homes are not castles but incubators for gospel life, where we can share the love of Christ with those around us. As we navigate these post-Christian times, let us not be naïve or frightened but guided by the call to show hospitality, remembering those in prison and those who are mistreated, for we are all part of the body of Christ.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Power of Prayer and Devotion: Starting each day with prayer and devotion sets the foundation for how we respond to life's unexpected challenges. It is through prayer that we align our hearts with God's will, seeking His guidance and strength to love others as He loves us. [00:43]
2. Radical Hospitality: True Christian hospitality involves opening our homes and hearts to others, even when it is inconvenient or risky. It is through this radical hospitality that we can demonstrate the love of Christ and create spaces for healing and transformation. [15:38]
3. Loving the Stranger: Loving those who are different or difficult is at the heart of the gospel. When we choose to love the stranger, we become strange ourselves, losing the right to protect our reputations but gaining the opportunity to witness the transformative power of God's love. [14:29]
4. The Gospel's Transformative Power: The gospel changes not just individuals but entire communities. When we live out the gospel through acts of love and hospitality, we create opportunities for others to encounter Christ and experience His saving grace. [41:12]
5. Hospitality as Spiritual Warfare: In a post-Christian world, hospitality becomes a powerful tool for evangelism. By opening our homes and sharing our lives with others, we engage in spiritual warfare, breaking down barriers and inviting others to experience the love and truth of the gospel. [46:21]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:20] - A Morning of Uncertainty
- [00:43] - Devotion and Prayer
- [01:37] - Praying for Hank
- [02:18] - Meeting Hank
- [03:18] - Building a Fragile Friendship
- [04:44] - Hank's Struggles
- [06:37] - The DEA Raid
- [08:10] - Responding to Crisis
- [10:43] - Caring for Tank
- [13:40] - Reflecting on Friendship
- [15:38] - Hosting a Neighborhood Cookout
- [17:28] - Kent's Message of Love
- [20:42] - The Aftermath and Healing
- [22:12] - Practicing Radical Hospitality
- [23:28] - Worship in the Storm
- [27:53] - Preparing for Worship
- [30:42] - Singing Psalms Together
- [36:26] - Kent's Sermon on Mercy
- [41:12] - Hank's Transformation
- [43:49] - The Gospel's Communal Call
- [46:21] - Hospitality as Evangelism
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 5:7 - "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."
2. Hebrews 13:1-3 - "Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body."
3. Mark 10:28-30 - "Peter began to say to him, 'See, we have left everything and followed you.' Jesus said, 'Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.'"
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the initial reaction of the neighbors when they discovered the meth lab at Hank's house? How did the pastor and his family choose to respond differently? [08:10]
2. How did the pastor and his family demonstrate radical hospitality in the aftermath of the crisis with Hank? [15:38]
3. What role did prayer and devotion play in the pastor's response to the situation with Hank? [00:43]
4. How did the community's perception of Hank change after his conversion to Christianity? [41:12]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the sermon illustrate the concept of "losing the right to protect our own reputations" when we choose to love the stranger? [14:29]
2. How does the pastor's story about Hank reflect the transformative power of the gospel in a community setting? [41:12]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between hospitality and spiritual warfare in a post-Christian world? [46:21]
4. How does the pastor's approach to hospitality challenge traditional views of home as a private space? [46:21]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you had to choose between protecting your reputation and showing love to someone in need. How did you respond, and what would you do differently now? [14:29]
2. The pastor and his family opened their home to neighbors during a crisis. How can you practice radical hospitality in your own community, even when it feels risky or inconvenient? [15:38]
3. Consider the role of prayer in your daily life. How can starting your day with prayer and devotion better prepare you to face unexpected challenges? [00:43]
4. Think of someone in your life who might be considered a "stranger" or "difficult to love." What steps can you take to extend love and grace to them this week? [14:29]
5. The sermon describes hospitality as a form of spiritual warfare. How can you use your home as a place to share the gospel and build community? [46:21]
6. How can you support someone in your community who is going through a difficult time, similar to how the pastor's family supported Hank? [41:12]
7. Reflect on the idea that the gospel changes not just individuals but entire communities. How can you be a catalyst for positive change in your community through acts of love and hospitality? [41:12]
Devotional
Day 1: Aligning Hearts with God's Will
Starting each day with prayer and devotion is not just a routine but a powerful practice that aligns our hearts with God's will. It prepares us to face life's unexpected challenges with grace and love. Through prayer, we seek God's guidance and strength, allowing us to respond to others as He would. This alignment is crucial, especially when confronted with situations that test our faith and compassion. By beginning our day in communion with God, we open ourselves to His transformative work in our lives and the lives of those around us. [00:43]
"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life." (Psalm 143:8, ESV)
Reflection: How can you incorporate a moment of prayer and devotion into your morning routine to better align your heart with God's will today?
Day 2: Embracing Risky Hospitality
True Christian hospitality goes beyond mere politeness; it involves opening our homes and hearts to others, even when it is inconvenient or risky. This radical hospitality is a demonstration of Christ's love, creating spaces for healing and transformation. By welcoming others into our lives, we embody the gospel's call to love our neighbors, regardless of the cost to our comfort or reputation. This act of hospitality is not just about providing physical space but also about offering emotional and spiritual support to those in need. [15:38]
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." (Hebrews 13:2, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life might benefit from your hospitality today, and what specific steps can you take to extend a welcoming hand to them?
Day 3: Loving Beyond Comfort
Loving those who are different or difficult is at the heart of the gospel. When we choose to love the stranger, we often find ourselves stepping out of our comfort zones and risking our reputations. Yet, in doing so, we gain the opportunity to witness the transformative power of God's love. This love is not about convenience but about commitment to the well-being of others, reflecting the unconditional love that Christ has for us. By embracing this call, we become agents of change in a world that desperately needs it. [14:29]
"If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them." (Luke 6:32, ESV)
Reflection: Identify someone in your life who is difficult to love. What practical steps can you take to show them Christ-like love today?
Day 4: Community Transformation Through the Gospel
The gospel has the power to change not just individuals but entire communities. When we live out the gospel through acts of love and hospitality, we create opportunities for others to encounter Christ and experience His saving grace. This transformation is not limited to personal salvation but extends to communal renewal, as the love of Christ permeates relationships and social structures. By being faithful witnesses to the gospel, we participate in God's redemptive work in the world. [41:12]
"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." (Acts 2:42, ESV)
Reflection: How can you contribute to the transformation of your community through acts of love and hospitality this week?
Day 5: Hospitality as a Spiritual Weapon
In a post-Christian world, hospitality becomes a powerful tool for evangelism. By opening our homes and sharing our lives with others, we engage in spiritual warfare, breaking down barriers and inviting others to experience the love and truth of the gospel. This form of evangelism is not about grand gestures but about simple, consistent acts of kindness and openness that reflect the heart of Christ. Through hospitality, we create a welcoming environment where the Holy Spirit can work in the hearts of those we encounter. [46:21]
"Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." (Romans 12:13, ESV)
Reflection: What is one way you can use your home or resources to engage in hospitality as a form of evangelism this week?
Quotes
"I started my devotions that morning, as I had been doing for the past eighteen years, and as Ken and Floy Smith modeled for me, praying that the Lord would open my eyes to see wondrous things in His Word. I typically intersperse prayer with Bible reading and note-taking, and in the morning I pray in concentric circles." [00:38:25]
"I long for the Lord to grow me in holiness and to give me courage to proclaim Christ in word and deed as a living epistle and make me a more loving wife and mother and friend. I then pray for my family, the church, my neighbors, my nation, foreign missionaries and missions, and I thank the Lord that He is risen." [01:06:51]
"Well, we could barrack ourselves in the house, remind ourselves and our children that evil company perverts, and like the good Pharisees that we are always poised to become, thank God that we aren't like evil meth addicts. Or, we could envelop our home in our own version of yellow crime scene tape, giving the message that we are better than this, that we make good choices, and that we would never fall into this mess." [07:21:09]
"Who else but Bible-believing Christians can make redemptive sense of tragedy? Who else can see hope in the promises of God when the real lived circumstances look so dire? Who else knows that the sin that will undo me is my own, no matter how big my neighbor's sin may be? And where else but a Christian home should neighbors go to in times of unprecedented crisis?" [08:31:74]
"And what is that edge? It's this, when Christians throw their lot in with Jesus, we lose the right to protect our own reputations. When we love the stranger, we become strange. There is no way to love the stranger without losing some skin in this game." [14:39:00]
"Kent wrote the invitation, and it was short and to the point. 'Dear neighbors, let's meet for a cookout at the Butterfield's this Lord's Day starting at 3 p.m., we have a lot to talk about. I'll cook burgers and hotdogs, and we will serve sweet iced tea. Please bring lawn chairs. In Christ, Kent.'" [16:19:80]
"Kent described Hank as a mild-mannered recluse who helped us chop down some trees. Kent shared that Hank struggled with depression and had served time in the Army, and Kent warned us of the destructive power of gossip and of failing to forgive each other. And he reminded us that drug addiction makes slaves of men, and he said that we were each capable of all kinds of sin." [17:45:35]
"Kent explains that Hank is no longer the meth addict across the street. He is a Christian brother. It's hard to explain what happens in a community when the local drug addict, when the man easiest to despise and resent commits his life to Jesus. But I suspect you can imagine, it changes everything." [40:41:47]
"The gospel meets us as strangers and enemies to God, and the gospel delivers belonging in the family of God, and it promises a one hundredfold of these vital and intimate relationships to all who repent and believe and put their trust in Jesus." [42:40:57]
"The gospel comes with a house key and if it doesn't, you are only living half of the gospel. Gospel life is communal, it's covenantal. When the gospel comes with a house key, we put a nail in the coffin of our culture's obsession with individualism, which is the bedrock of modernity." [43:49:30]
"Hospitality is the frontline of evangelism in this post-Christian world. Let me put it clearly, your neighbor can't fire you from sharing the gospel as you pray before a meal, and it is after all your food he's eating. Hospitality is the new face of godly, spiritual warfare." [45:50:50]
"My prayer for all of us as we face this post-Christian world, my prayer is that we will not be naïve and that we will not be frightened, but instead we would let these verses, rooted in holiness guide our steps: 'Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.'" [46:48:76]
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