WELCOMING
WEEK FIVE: HEARTS
Hospitality is not just a practice. It's also a posture. While opening our homes and sharing meals are the primary way to show Christian welcome, there are also many ways to make others feel welcomed and "at home" in our day-to-day living.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 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.’”
Matthew 25:34-40
IMAGINE.
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How can you welcome others outside of your home?
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PRACTICE.
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Reflect on how Jesus was able to extend the welcome of God without a home of His own. Look for opportunities this week to show hospitality and welcome to others. Here are some ideas:
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Visit those who are sick or in prison.
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Welcome someone who is new to a setting.
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Offer someone a ride in your car.
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Host meaningful conversations.
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Make and deliver food to someone.
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Call someone that you haven't heard from in a while.
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Invite someone on an outing.
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MORE.
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Eat: Continue the practice of sharing meals with others from the past two weeks. Who else could you invite to the table?
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Study: Read Luke 19:1-10. What are the ways that Jesus shows welcome to Zacchaeus in this story?
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Teach: If you have kids, how can you begin to teach them about hospitality? How can they help you to welcome others and learn to do it on their own?