Shining as Peacemakers: Embracing Radical Hospitality

 

Summary

In our journey through the "City on a Hill" series, we have explored the transformative power of the Gospel and its implications for our lives as believers. We have been called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, as Jesus proclaimed in Matthew 5:13-16. This call is not a passive suggestion but a divine mandate to actively engage with the world around us, to bring out the God-flavors and God-colors in our communities.

We have delved into the spiritual disciplines that shape us to shine brightly in a world often characterized by darkness. These practices—community, scripture, vocation, worship, prayer, fasting, silence, and solitude—are not mere religious activities but the very rhythms that align our hearts with the heart of God. They are the means by which we become a beacon of hope, a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden.

As we close this series, we confront the challenge of political polarization, a reality that threatens to divide us and obscure the light we are meant to shine. Yet, in the face of such division, we are reminded that our allegiance is not to a political party or nation but to the Kingdom of Heaven. Our identity is rooted in being a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for God's own possession.

The practice of hospitality emerges as a powerful antidote to the isolation and enmity that so often pervade our society. True hospitality is not about entertaining friends but about extending loving-kindness to strangers, creating space for change and reconciliation. It is about embodying the peacemaking nature of Jesus, who dined with tax collectors and sinners, extending the Kingdom's invitation to all.

As we reflect on the transformative journey of this series, we are called to action. We are to be peacemakers, to make peace where there is none, to turn enemies into family. This is the essence of being children of God. We are to practice radical kingdom hospitality, inviting strangers into our lives and homes, breaking bread with those who are different from us, and embodying the reconciling love of God.

Key Takeaways:

- Being the salt and light of the world is an active calling that requires us to engage with our communities and bring out the God-flavors and God-colors in the world. This engagement is not optional but a divine mandate that reflects our identity as followers of Christ. [39:03]

- Spiritual disciplines such as community, scripture, vocation, worship, prayer, fasting, silence, and solitude are essential for our growth as believers. They are not just religious activities but the means by which we align our hearts with God's heart and become beacons of hope in a dark world. [43:09]

- In the face of political polarization, our ultimate allegiance is to the Kingdom of Heaven. Our identity as a chosen race, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation supersedes any earthly political affiliation, and we are called to shine as peacemakers in a divided world. [59:11]

- Hospitality is a powerful tool for reconciliation and peacemaking. It is not about entertaining but about extending loving-kindness to strangers, creating space for change, and embodying the love of Jesus who dined with the marginalized and extended the Kingdom's invitation to all. [01:20:23]

- As we conclude the "City on a Hill" series, we are called to action as peacemakers and practitioners of radical kingdom hospitality. This involves making peace where there is none, turning enemies into family, and inviting strangers into our lives to experience the community that life in Christ brings. [01:32:33]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV)
> "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus mean when He calls us the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world"? (Matthew 5:13-16)
2. What are the spiritual disciplines mentioned in the sermon that help us shine brightly in a dark world? ([42:01])
3. How does the sermon describe the role of hospitality in the life of a believer? ([01:20:01])
4. What is the significance of Jesus dining with tax collectors and sinners according to the sermon? ([01:04:01])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How do the spiritual disciplines like prayer, fasting, and solitude help us align our hearts with God's heart? ([42:01])
2. In what ways does political polarization challenge our identity as a chosen race and a royal priesthood? ([01:00:01])
3. Why is hospitality considered a powerful tool for reconciliation and peacemaking in the sermon? ([01:20:01])
4. What does it mean to be a peacemaker in the context of the sermon, and how does it relate to our identity as children of God? ([01:01:05])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are you actively engaging with your community to bring out the God-flavors and God-colors? What specific actions can you take this week to be the salt and light in your neighborhood? ([39:01])
2. Consider the spiritual disciplines mentioned in the sermon. Which one do you feel most drawn to, and how can you incorporate it into your daily routine to grow closer to God? ([42:01])
3. In the face of political polarization, how can you ensure that your primary allegiance remains to the Kingdom of Heaven rather than any earthly political affiliation? ([01:00:01])
4. Think about a time when you practiced hospitality. How did it impact you and the person you extended kindness to? What steps can you take to make hospitality a regular practice in your life? ([01:20:01])
5. Identify someone in your life who holds different beliefs or opinions from you. How can you extend an invitation to them for a meal or a coffee to foster understanding and reconciliation? ([01:20:01])
6. Reflect on the concept of being a peacemaker. What are some practical ways you can make peace in your family, workplace, or community this week? ([01:01:05])
7. How can you create a welcoming and loving environment in your home that reflects the peace and hospitality of Jesus? What changes might you need to make to achieve this? ([01:26:25])

Devotional

Day 1: Engage as Salt and Light
Engagement with our communities is not a passive endeavor but a divine mandate for every believer. As followers of Christ, we are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, actively bringing out the "God-flavors" and "God-colors" in our surroundings. This means that our faith should not be confined to the walls of the church but should spill over into every aspect of our lives, influencing our actions and interactions. By living out our faith in tangible ways, we become a visible testament to the transformative power of the Gospel, drawing others to the hope and love found in Christ.

The world can often seem like a place of darkness, and it is easy to become overwhelmed or to retreat into our own safe spaces. However, we are called to step out in faith, to season the world with the love and grace that we have received. This is how we fulfill our role as the salt that brings taste to a bland world and as the light that guides those lost in darkness towards the truth.

Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV)
"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house."

Reflection: How can you actively bring out the "God-flavors" in your community this week? [39:03]


Day 2: Disciplines That Illuminate
Spiritual disciplines are the means by which believers can align their hearts with God's heart and shine brightly in a world that is often shrouded in darkness. These practices—community, scripture, vocation, worship, prayer, fasting, silence, and solitude—are not just religious obligations but the rhythms that shape our lives and mold our character. By engaging in these disciplines, we open ourselves up to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit, allowing us to grow in faith and become beacons of hope to those around us.

The journey of spiritual growth is a continuous one, and these disciplines serve as the tools that help us navigate this path. They are the channels through which we can experience the presence of God, understand His will, and respond to His call. As we commit to these practices, we find that our lives begin to reflect the light of Christ more clearly, drawing others to discover the source of our hope and joy.

1 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV)
"Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."

Reflection: Which spiritual discipline can you more fully embrace this week to align your heart with God's? [43:09]


Day 3: Allegiance to the Kingdom
In a world where political polarization can easily divide, it is crucial to remember that our ultimate allegiance is to the Kingdom of Heaven. As believers, our identity is rooted in being a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for God's own possession. This identity transcends any earthly political affiliation and calls us to live as peacemakers in a divided world. Our commitment to the Kingdom of Heaven should inform our interactions and decisions, guiding us to act in ways that promote unity, love, and reconciliation.

The challenge is to not allow the divisions of this world to dictate our relationships and communities. Instead, we are to shine as examples of Christ's love, which breaks down barriers and brings people together. Our role is to embody the peace of the Kingdom, demonstrating through our lives that there is a higher power at work—one that unites us in a common purpose and hope.

Philippians 3:20 (ESV)
"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."

Reflection: How can you demonstrate your allegiance to the Kingdom of Heaven in a politically charged environment? [59:11]


Day 4: Hospitality as Reconciliation
Hospitality is a powerful expression of the Kingdom of Heaven, one that goes beyond mere social gatherings to embody loving-kindness towards strangers. True hospitality creates space for change and reconciliation, reflecting the peacemaking nature of Jesus who welcomed the marginalized and extended grace to all. By practicing hospitality, we open our hearts and homes to those who are different from us, breaking down walls of isolation and enmity.

This radical kingdom hospitality is not about comfort or convenience; it is about stepping out in love and inviting others into our lives. It is an act of obedience that mirrors the heart of God, who invites us all to His table. As we extend hospitality, we participate in the reconciling work of Christ, offering a foretaste of the inclusive and loving community that awaits us in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Hebrews 13:1-2 (ESV)
"Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

Reflection: Who is one "stranger" you can extend hospitality to this week? [01:20:23]


Day 5: Peacemakers in Action
As we conclude the "City on a Hill" series, we are called to be active peacemakers, turning enemies into family and making peace where there is none. This calling is at the heart of what it means to be children of God. It requires us to take bold steps towards reconciliation, inviting strangers into our lives and homes, and breaking bread with those who are different from us. By doing so, we embody the reconciling love of God and offer a glimpse of the community that life in Christ brings.

Being a peacemaker is not a passive role; it is an active pursuit of peace and unity. It involves listening, understanding, forgiving, and loving in the face of conflict and division. As we practice this radical hospitality and peacemaking, we become instruments of God's grace, transforming enmity into friendship and reflecting the unity and love that is found in the body of Christ.

Romans 12:18 (ESV)
"If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."

Reflection: What is one step you can take today to make peace in a relationship where there is conflict? [01:32:33]

Quotes

- "In a culture that wants us to make enemies out of our families, Enter Jesus who teaches us how to create a new multi-ethnic, multi-generational, multi-cultural, multi-class family of God." [53:35] (Download | )

- "As a church on a hill we can't afford to alienate half of Canada just because we hold a different political view. We cannot afford as Jesus followers to make politics our idol and politics our king when it's Jesus who wants to sit on the throne." [59:11] (Download | )

- "Hospitality is not to change people but to offer them space where change can take place. It's not to bring men and women over to our side but to offer freedom, not disturbed by dividing lines." [01:20:53] (Download | )

- "Jesus, as far as we know, didn't own a home or property to invite people into. And yet, every table he sat at, he was the host. Because he cared more about bringing people together and making peace than he did about being right." [01:08:01] (Download | )

- "To make peace where there is none, to bring two enemies together around a table to create an open space of listening and love and repentance and reconciliation and forgiveness and to turn our enemies into family is the best way we can make peace as Jesus followers." [01:02:45] (Download | )

- "Jesus's meals with publicans and sinners was an expression of the mission and message of himself. The very act of him breaking bread with publicans and sinners was this is what I bring." [01:15:13] (Download | )

- "We shine as a city on a hill in tight knit loving relationships through the spiritual discipline, the spiritual practice of community. For every counter culture response to the challenges in this world is a spiritual rhythm or a spiritual discipline that we can learn and grow in together." [42:05] (Download | )

- "In a culture of political polarization we shine as a city of peacemakers through the practice of hospitality. Kingdom hospitality." [01:19:21] (Download | )

- "Jesus invites us here as a part of the people of God. Come to this table humbly. Not because you've earned a place here but because you need mercy and you need his help." [01:11:27] (Download | )

- "Jesus says hey I see you and I see you follow me and they do. And you know what's wild? What happened to their politics? What happened to their opposing views? Scripture doesn't say it's silent." [01:18:51] (Download | )

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?