Bible ReadingMatthew 10:40-42 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
[27:41] [29:23] [29:40] [29:45] [34:12] [34:17] [38:05]1 Kings 17:8-16 “Then the word of the Lord came to him, 'Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.' So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, 'Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.' And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, 'Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.' And she said, 'As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.' And Elijah said to her, 'Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’' And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.”
[31:29] [32:12]2 Kings 4:8-17 “One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. And she said to her husband, 'Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.' One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested there. And he said to Gehazi his servant, 'Call this Shunammite.' When he had called her, she stood before him. And he said to him, 'Say now to her, ‘See, you have taken all this trouble for us; what is to be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’' She answered, 'I dwell among my own people.' And he said, 'What then is to be done for her?' Gehazi answered, 'Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.' He said, 'Call her.' And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway. And he said, 'At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son.' And she said, 'No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant.' But the woman conceived, and she bore a son about that time the following spring, as Elisha had said to her.”
[32:21] [32:56]Joshua 2:1-14 “And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, 'Go, view the land, especially Jericho.' And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. And it was told to the king of Jericho, 'Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out all the land.' Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, 'Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.' But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, 'True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.' But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out. Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof and said to the men, 'I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father's house, and give me a sure sign that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.' And the men said to her, 'Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the Lord gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.'”
[33:14] [33:45] [34:00]Observation questions- In Matthew 10:40-42, what different kinds of people are mentioned as being received, and what reward is connected to each one?
- What are some concrete acts of welcome shown in the stories of the widow of Zarephath, the woman of Shunem, and Rahab?
- Before Jesus says, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me,” what kind of mission has he already sent the twelve into, and what hardships are they told to expect? [28:31]
- What are some simple, practical examples of welcome that were described besides inviting someone to live in a home? [35:59]
Interpretation questions- Jesus says that receiving his disciples is receiving him, and receiving him is receiving the Father. What does that show about how closely Jesus identifies with those he sends? [35:02]
- The widow, the Shunammite woman, and Rahab all welcomed God’s servants in different situations. What do these examples suggest about the kind of faith that often stands behind true hospitality?
- Jesus gives attention even to a cup of cold water. Why might he choose such a small act to make his point about reward and faithfulness? [38:05]
- Hospitality can become partnership in ministry, even for those who are not the ones traveling or preaching. How does that broaden the way Christians should think about serving Christ? [36:11]
Application questions- Who are the “disciples” in this season of life that might need welcome from this group or from each household—mission workers, visiting believers, college students, church guests, pastors, traveling servants, or discouraged Christians? What might receiving them actually look like? [39:31]
- A cup of cold water is small, but Jesus says it matters. What is one small act of care that feels almost too ordinary to count, but that could refresh another believer this week? [34:12]
- Christian welcome is more than politeness. Where is there room in personal life to grow from being courteous to being truly openhanded with time, space, meals, or attention? [30:03]
- Some believers cannot go everywhere or do every kind of ministry, but they can still become partners in it. What is one ministry, missionary, church, or Christian worker that could be supported more intentionally through giving, hosting, encouraging, or making space? [40:13]
- Welcoming Christ’s people can be joyful rather than grudging. When does hospitality start to feel like a burden, and what might help turn it back into a glad response to God’s welcome? [38:45]
- Jesus sent his people out into difficulty, and that means some disciples arrive tired, needy, or worn down. How might this group become better at noticing believers who need rest, food, prayer, or practical help? [28:22]
- God has welcomed, loved, and blessed his people. Which of those truths—being welcomed by God, loved by God, or blessed by God—would most help someone here become more generous in welcoming others? [41:44]
