Redefining Family: Embracing Radical Hospitality and Justice

Devotional

Day 1: Radical Hospitality

True hospitality in the way of Jesus is outwardly focused and inclusive. It involves reaching out to those who are new, lonely, or different, rather than focusing inwardly on familiar faces and stories. This kind of hospitality breaks down barriers and creates a welcoming environment for all. Jesus' teachings challenge us to extend our love and care beyond our comfort zones, embracing those who might feel like outsiders. This radical hospitality is a reflection of God's love for all humanity, and it calls us to be proactive in our efforts to include and welcome others. [03:20]

Hebrews 13:2 (ESV): "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

Reflection: Think of someone in your community or church who might feel like an outsider. How can you reach out to them this week and make them feel welcomed and included?

Day 2: Community Beyond the Building

The community of Jesus extends beyond the church building. It involves looking outwardly both within and outside the church, ensuring that everyone feels included and valued. This outward focus is essential for a church that aims to embody the teachings of Jesus. By fostering a sense of belonging and community that transcends physical spaces, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all. This means actively seeking out opportunities to connect with others, both within our church and in the broader community, and ensuring that everyone feels valued and included. [06:53]

1 Peter 4:9-10 (ESV): "Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."

Reflection: How can you extend the sense of community and belonging beyond the walls of your church? What specific actions can you take this week to connect with someone outside your usual circle?

Day 3: No Outsiders in Jesus' Family

In Jesus' family, no one is an outsider. The term "haole" in Hawaiian culture illustrates how people without a sense of belonging were seen as outsiders. However, Jesus redefines family to include everyone who does the will of God, making everyone belong. This redefinition challenges us to see beyond traditional boundaries and to embrace a more inclusive understanding of family. By doing so, we can create a community where everyone feels valued and accepted, regardless of their background or circumstances. [08:32]

Ephesians 2:19 (ESV): "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God."

Reflection: Reflect on your own sense of belonging within your church community. How can you help others feel like they are part of Jesus' family, especially those who might feel like outsiders?

Day 4: Justice as Family

Justice, as Jesus defines it, involves seeing all people as family and working towards the Kingdom of God where everyone lives in harmony. This requires extending love to strangers, enemies, and those we find difficult to accept, which is a challenging but essential part of Christian life. By embracing this radical vision of justice, we can work towards creating a more just and equitable world, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. This involves not only addressing systemic injustices but also examining our own attitudes and behaviors towards others. [10:27]

Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Reflection: Think of someone you find difficult to love or accept. How can you begin to extend Jesus' love and justice to them in your thoughts, words, and actions this week?

Day 5: Historical Injustices and Wisdom

The exclusion of people of color from the benefits of the GI Bill after World War II highlights the need for Christians to be wise and shrewd in their efforts to build inclusive communities. The church should be a family that supports each other while continually seeking to include those who are not yet part of it. By acknowledging and addressing historical injustices, we can work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable community. This requires wisdom and discernment, as well as a commitment to justice and reconciliation. [16:50]

Proverbs 2:6-8 (ESV): "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints."

Reflection: Reflect on a historical injustice that has impacted your community. How can you, as a member of the church, contribute to healing and reconciliation in light of this history?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

The concept of family can evoke a wide range of emotions and thoughts, especially when viewed through the lens of Jesus' teachings. Jesus redefines family not by birth, marriage, or loyalty, but by doing the will of God. This redefinition challenges both those from loving families and those from dysfunctional ones. Jesus' family, or the new community of His followers, prioritizes hospitality, community, and justice. Radical hospitality in the way of Jesus means reaching out to those who are new, lonely, or different, rather than focusing inwardly on familiar faces and stories. This kind of hospitality is outwardly focused and inclusive, breaking down barriers that often exist in both biological families and church communities.

Community in the way of Jesus extends beyond the church building. It involves looking outwardly both within and outside the church, ensuring that everyone feels included and valued. This outward focus is essential for a church that aims to embody the teachings of Jesus. The story of the term "haole" in Hawaiian culture illustrates how people without a sense of belonging or genealogy were seen as outsiders. However, in Jesus' family, no one is an outsider; everyone belongs.

Justice, as Jesus defines it, involves seeing all people as family and working towards the Kingdom of God where everyone lives in harmony. This is a radical shift from the traditional understanding of family, which often focuses on those who are easy to love. Jesus calls us to extend our love to strangers, enemies, and those we find difficult to accept. This is not just a lofty ideal but a challenging, ongoing spiritual work.

The sermon also touches on historical injustices, such as the exclusion of people of color from the benefits of the GI Bill after World War II. These systemic injustices highlight the need for Christians to be wise and shrewd in their efforts to build inclusive communities. The church should be a family that supports each other while continually seeking to include those who are not yet part of it. This is the high calling of living as Jesus' family.

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Key Takeaways

1. Radical Hospitality: True hospitality in the way of Jesus is outwardly focused and inclusive. It involves reaching out to those who are new, lonely, or different, rather than focusing inwardly on familiar faces and stories. This kind of hospitality breaks down barriers and creates a welcoming environment for all. [03:20]
2. Community Beyond the Building: The community of Jesus extends beyond the church building. It involves looking outwardly both within and outside the church, ensuring that everyone feels included and valued. This outward focus is essential for a church that aims to embody the teachings of Jesus. [06:53]
3. No Outsiders in Jesus' Family: In Jesus' family, no one is an outsider. The term "haole" in Hawaiian culture illustrates how people without a sense of belonging were seen as outsiders. However, Jesus redefines family to include everyone who does the will of God, making everyone belong. [08:32]
4. Justice as Family: Justice, as Jesus defines it, involves seeing all people as family and working towards the Kingdom of God where everyone lives in harmony. This requires extending love to strangers, enemies, and those we find difficult to accept, which is a challenging but essential part of Christian life. [10:27]
5. Historical Injustices and Wisdom: The exclusion of people of color from the benefits of the GI Bill after World War II highlights the need for Christians to be wise and shrewd in their efforts to build inclusive communities. The church should be a family that supports each other while continually seeking to include those who are not yet part of it. [16:50]
### [16:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:28] - Jesus' Redefinition of Family
[03:20] - Radical Hospitality
[05:19] - Inclusivity in Church
[06:53] - Community Beyond the Building
[08:32] - No Outsiders in Jesus' Family
[10:27] - Justice as Family
[12:13] - Historical Injustices
[13:58] - The GI Bill and Exclusion
[15:19] - Redlining and Economic Disparities
[16:50] - Wisdom and Shrewdness in Building Community
[18:22] - Embracing the Church Family
[18:50] - Conclusion and Amen

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Mark 3:31-35 (NIV) — > "Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, 'Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.' 'Who are my mother and my brothers?' he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.'"

2. Matthew 25:35-40 (NIV)
> "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'"

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Observation Questions

What criteria does Jesus set for being part of His family according to Mark 3:31-35?
How does Jesus' definition of family challenge traditional views of family? [01:28]
What examples of radical hospitality are mentioned in the sermon? [03:20]
How does the term "haole" in Hawaiian culture relate to Jesus' teaching on inclusivity? [08:32]

Interpretation Questions

How does Jesus' redefinition of family in Mark 3:31-35 impact our understanding of community within the church?
In what ways does the concept of radical hospitality, as described in the sermon, align with the actions mentioned in Matthew 25:35-40? [03:20]
How can the church embody the principle that "no one is an outsider" in practical terms? [08:32]
What does it mean to see justice as a form of family, and how does this challenge our usual perceptions of justice? [10:27]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt like an outsider. How can this experience help you practice radical hospitality in your church community? [03:20]
Think about your current church community. What are some specific ways you can help extend the sense of belonging to those who are new or feel isolated? [06:53]
How can you personally contribute to breaking down barriers within your church that might make newcomers feel excluded? [05:19]
Identify one person in your life who might feel like an outsider. What steps can you take this week to make them feel included and valued? [08:32]
How can you work towards justice in your community by seeing all people as family, especially those who are difficult to love? [10:27]
Reflect on the historical injustices mentioned in the sermon. How can you be wise and shrewd in your efforts to build an inclusive community today? [16:50]
What specific actions can you take to ensure that your church is a place where everyone feels they belong, regardless of their background or history? [18:22]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for outreach

1. "Radical hospitality in the way of Jesus will have you seeking to sit with a person you don't know who looks new or who looks lonely or who doesn't know what to do, before you go catch up with your friends. Radical hospitality in the way of Jesus will have you drinking heaven only knows what with people you never thought you would mix with, the likes of which you never thought you would hang around with." [03:20] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "For Jesus, no one is haole. No one is an outsider. No one doesn't belong. We are family in that way. And in the way of opposites so common to Jesus. For us, we make real family by looking outward at who's not in. To make family as the people of Jesus, we look outside ourselves to see who's not yet in." [10:27] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Jesus is calling us to see all people as family, and that sounds lovely, but it is hard work, hard spiritual work. So we see our people and all people as our family." [12:13] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The powers and the principalities work against God's vision for us and we need to know that we need to know what God is calling us to do and we need to know what we're up against Jesus said you need to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves and most of us are a little lost but we need to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves and most of us are a little lost but we need to uncomfortable with the Jesus who wants us to be wise as serpents but it's important that we do this that we are assertive that we are aggressive that we are wise that we are even shrewd about building community inside this room and outside the building" [16:50] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "If we live out of the desire for Jesus to open our eyes to people who need our help then yes and if we want to have the sense of belonging that God offers us no matter who we are where we've been or where our journey has taken us then yes we are a family I'm glad to be a part of this family I'm glad to be a part of this family I'm glad to be a part of this family I'm glad to be a part of this particular group of God's family in this season of my life and I hope you are too amen" [18:22] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for members

1. "The family of Jesus, the new community on the way of Jesus, the people who have joined his band of change makers in the way of Jesus, have three priorities. Three priorities. One is hospitality, the other is community, and a third is justice. Jesus sets only one criteria. For a family, and it's not birth, it's not marriage, it's not loyalty, it's doing the will of God. Anyone who does the will of God belongs to the family." [01:28] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "In short, families are inwardly focused. That is not okay for the people of Jesus. Hospitality is outwardly focused, isn't it? Radical hospitality in the way of Jesus will have you seeking to sit with a person you don't know who looks new or who looks lonely or who doesn't know what to do, before you go catch up with your friends." [03:20] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Another thing that the family of Jesus is about is about community. We talk about that, here, as ministry beyond the building. So it's a church that is living in the community as a family of Jesus, is looking outside the building, but it's also looking outwardly in the building. I know that doesn't sound right, does it? It means as a group, we're also looking outward at our larger community, but we are also looking at the growing community here." [06:53] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Jesus told us that any decent person cares about their family, and we don't really get credit for loving the people who love us. What Jesus wants us to do is reach beyond that to strangers, to people outside, to people we don't like, and he means that so intently that we hear him say it a dozen different ways, a dozen different times, and it's the thing at which most of us really put up a barrier. It's the most difficult thing God asks us to do, which is to imagine that someone we don't like, someone we maybe even hate, maybe someone we think is beyond despicable, and to imagine that they are a member of our family." [12:13] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "So should we call our church family if it means we're closing the door to others of course not if it means we seek to live into God's high calling and we can't count on each other for support then yes if we live out of the desire for Jesus to open our eyes to people who need our help then yes and if we want to have the sense of belonging that God offers us no matter who we are where we've been or where our journey has taken us then yes we are a family" [18:22] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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