Seeing and Loving Others: A Call to Hospitality

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Divine Hospitality

In a world filled with differences, the act of hospitality becomes a divine gesture that transcends boundaries. By offering space to the seaside Jewish community for their High Holy Days, we embody the belief that all are children of God, deserving of love and respect. This act invites us to embrace diversity and unity in our faith journey, recognizing that while our paths may differ, our destination remains the same. Hospitality is not just about opening our doors but also our hearts, creating a space where everyone feels seen, known, and loved. [12:29]

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

Reflection: Who in your life can you extend hospitality to today, and how can you make them feel truly welcomed and valued?

Day 2: The Legacy of Noticing

Bunny Mayer's life serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of noticing and addressing the needs around us. Her attention to detail and commitment to action challenge us to be vigilant and proactive in our communities. By being attentive to the small but significant needs of others, we honor her legacy and ensure that no one feels overlooked or invisible. This legacy calls us to be present and engaged, transforming our communities through acts of kindness and service. [14:02]

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4, ESV)

Reflection: What is one small need you have noticed in your community that you can address this week, and what steps will you take to meet it?

Day 3: Compassion Beyond Exhaustion

The story of Jesus feeding the multitude illustrates the importance of seeing, knowing, and loving others, even when we are weary. Despite his exhaustion, Jesus noticed the hunger of the crowd and acted with compassion, challenging us to look beyond our own needs. By trusting in God's provision, we can empathize with others and transform our memories of need into acts of love and service. This story invites us to be the hands and feet of Jesus, distributing his love and provision to those around us. [45:45]

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)

Reflection: When you feel exhausted, how can you still show compassion to those around you, trusting in God's strength and provision?

Day 4: Resilience in Community

Stories of resilience and community in the face of natural disasters highlight the strength and resilience of people coming together. These narratives remind us of the importance of being present for one another, offering support and love in times of crisis. By embodying the spirit of Jesus' love, we can create a community that stands strong in the face of adversity, supporting each other through both the storms and the calm. [53:17]

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)

Reflection: How can you be a source of support and strength for someone in your community facing a crisis today?

Day 5: Called to See and Love

We are invited to ask ourselves who God is calling us to see, know, and love in our daily lives. By doing so, we become the hands and feet of Jesus, distributing his love and provision to those around us. This calling challenges us to transform our world with acts of kindness and compassion, ensuring that everyone feels seen, known, and loved. As we go forth, let us remember that we are seen, known, and loved by Jesus, and let us extend that same grace to others. [58:02]

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: Who is God calling you to see and love today, and what specific action can you take to show them His love?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound themes of hospitality, community, and the power of seeing and loving others as Jesus does. We began by acknowledging the shared space we offer to the seaside Jewish community for their High Holy Days, a gesture that embodies our commitment to hospitality and recognizing that we all worship the same God, even if our paths differ. This act of hospitality is a testament to our belief that everyone is a child of God, deserving of love and respect.

We also took a moment to remember and honor Bunny Mayer, a beloved leader in our community who recently passed away. Her legacy of noticing and addressing the needs around her serves as a poignant reminder of our theme today: noticing needs. Bunny's life encourages us to be attentive to the details and to act on them, just as she did.

The heart of our reflection centered on the story of Jesus feeding the multitude, illustrating the importance of seeing, knowing, and loving others. Jesus, despite his exhaustion, noticed the hunger of the crowd and acted with compassion. This story challenges us to look beyond our own needs and to trust in God's provision, enabling us to see and respond to the needs of others. We are called to remember our own experiences of need and to use them to empathize with others, transforming our memories into acts of love and service.

We also shared stories of resilience and community in the face of natural disasters, highlighting how people come together to support one another in times of crisis. These stories remind us of the power of community and the importance of being present for one another, even in small, everyday ways.

As we move forward, we are invited to ask ourselves who God is calling us to see, know, and love in our daily lives. By doing so, we become the hands and feet of Jesus, distributing his love and provision to those around us. Let us go forth, knowing that we are seen, known, and loved by Jesus, and let us extend that same grace to others.

Key Takeaways

1. Hospitality as a Divine Gesture: Our act of offering space to the seaside Jewish community for their High Holy Days is a powerful expression of hospitality, reminding us that we are all children of God, deserving of love and respect, regardless of our differences. This gesture invites us to embrace diversity and unity in our faith journey. [12:29]
2. Legacy of Noticing Needs: Bunny Mayer's life exemplifies the importance of noticing and addressing the needs around us. Her attention to detail and commitment to action challenge us to be vigilant and proactive in our communities, ensuring that we do not overlook the small but significant needs of others. [14:02]
3. Seeing, Knowing, and Loving Like Jesus: Jesus' compassion for the hungry crowd teaches us to see beyond our own needs and to trust in God's provision. By remembering our own experiences of need, we can empathize with others and transform our memories into acts of love and service. [45:45]
4. Community Resilience in Crisis: Stories of people coming together during natural disasters highlight the strength and resilience of community. These narratives remind us of the importance of being present for one another, offering support and love in times of crisis, and embodying the spirit of Jesus' love. [53:17]
5. Called to See and Love Others: We are invited to ask ourselves who God is calling us to see, know, and love in our daily lives. By doing so, we become the hands and feet of Jesus, distributing his love and provision to those around us, and transforming our world with acts of kindness and compassion. [58:02]
** [58:02]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[12:29] - Embracing Hospitality
[14:02] - Remembering Bunny Mayer
[15:45] - Prayer and Reflection
[17:29] - Feeling Invisible
[43:51] - Story of Bev
[45:45] - Jesus' Compassion
[46:36] - Wilderness Experience
[47:45] - Trusting God's Provision
[49:24] - Understanding Others' Needs
[50:31] - Jesus' Love and Abundance
[51:56] - Seeing and Loving Others
[53:17] - Community in Crisis
[55:14] - Acts of Kindness
[58:02] - Called to Action
[59:05] - Communion and Unity

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

In the story of Jesus feeding the multitude, what actions did Jesus take to address the needs of the crowd? How did he demonstrate compassion? [45:45]
How did the sermon describe the community's response to Bunny Mayer's passing, and what does this reveal about the community's values? [14:02]
What examples were given in the sermon of people coming together during natural disasters, and how did these stories illustrate community resilience? [53:17]
How does the act of offering space to the seaside Jewish community for their High Holy Days reflect the theme of hospitality discussed in the sermon? [12:29]

Interpretation Questions

What does the story of Jesus feeding the multitude teach about trusting in God's provision and looking beyond our own needs? How can this trust impact our ability to serve others? [47:45]
How does the legacy of Bunny Mayer challenge individuals to notice and address the needs around them? What might be some barriers to noticing these needs? [14:02]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that personal experiences of need can be transformed into acts of love and service? How can remembering our own experiences help us empathize with others? [48:39]
How does the sermon encourage individuals to see, know, and love others in their daily lives? What practical steps can be taken to embody this calling? [51:56]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt invisible or overlooked. How did that experience shape your understanding of being seen and loved by Jesus? How can you use this understanding to see others who might feel invisible? [44:51]
Consider the act of hospitality shown to the seaside Jewish community. How can you practice hospitality in your own life, especially towards those who may have different beliefs or backgrounds? [12:29]
Think about a need you have noticed in your community. What steps can you take to address this need, following the example of Bunny Mayer? [14:02]
How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God's provision, allowing you to focus more on the needs of others rather than your own? What specific actions can you take this week to practice this trust? [47:45]
Identify a person in your life whom you feel God is calling you to see, know, and love more deeply. What practical steps can you take to understand their needs and show them love? [51:56]
Reflect on the stories of community resilience shared in the sermon. How can you contribute to building a supportive and resilient community in your own context? [53:17]
How can you transform your personal experiences of need into acts of service and empathy towards others? What is one specific memory you can draw upon to help you empathize with someone else's situation? [48:39]

Sermon Clips

1) "It's hard when you feel invisible. It's hard when you feel like no one sees. And yet, Jesus sees. We notice that in our story today. There is a movement in the United Methodist Church to make disciples. And it's called See All the People. And it has three movements. See all the people, including those who might be invisible to others. Know them. Get to know them and know their needs. And then love them. See, know, and love. And that's exactly what Jesus did in this story. Did you notice in this story that no one told Jesus that they were hungry?" [45:45] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "Because I think all of us can think about a time when we've been in the wilderness. Where the things that normally feed us and give life to us are no longer there. And it feels dry like a desert. And that's exactly where these people were. And yet, Jesus is able to get out of his own exhaustion from healing all of these people. In order to see them. And I think he's able to see them because he trusts enough that God is going to take care of his needs. I think that's part of what needs to happen with us when we're called to see other people." [47:45] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "But Jesus also knows what it's like to be hungry. Earlier in the gospel of Mark. He had been sent out into the wilderness to be tempted. And he had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights we're told. I would be a little hangry by then. But Jesus trusted that God was going to take care of him. And yet he understood what it was like. He remembered what it was like to be hungry. And so part of knowing is remembering our own experience. It may not be the exact same experience. But we've had similar experiences. So to remember what that feels like. Is so important." [48:39] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "And so Jesus had this memory. He knew what it was like to be hungry. But then he could imagine what it was like. For those who were gathered around him. And then we're told that he loved them. He had compassion on them. And he didn't want them to go away hungry. And so. He turns to his disciples. Who by the way. Have food. So Jesus didn't even need to worry about this. Because he had enough food for himself. And for his disciples. But he turns to them and says. What do you have? And they said." [50:31] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "And so. If you ever feel invisible. I want you to know. That Jesus sees you. Jesus knows what you're going through. And Jesus loves you. And wants to provide for you. And so once we know that. And once we trust. Jesus provision for us. And Jesus love for us. Then we can ask ourselves the questions. Who is it. That God wants us to see? Who do we encounter every day? Who is in our sphere of influence. That God wants us to see. And to really see. And then how is God inviting us to know them? To understand what their needs are." [51:56] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "And so each one of us. Is called to do something simple like that. And when we do. We will change our world. We will show the world. That there is indeed hope. Because Jesus lives. Not only forever in heaven. But Jesus lives. In every single one of us. Amen. As we just sang, Jesus invites to this table everyone, calls all of us children of God, and reminds us that this is a table of justice and of joy. And today we do remember that Christians around the world are celebrating this meal together." [59:05] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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