Today we continue to explore “biblical hospitality. Why so much time on this subject? Well, when we think about hospitality it conjures up images of “tea parties”, bland conversations and creating a general atmosphere of coziness. And hospitality does include social gatherings and warm and fuzzy activities, I suppose.
However, when we examine the Bible carefully, we realize that biblical hospitality involves much more than that.
That’s why I am encouraging Stillnaz peeps to read the book: Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition by Christian Pohl.
“One time when Jesus went for a Sabbath meal with one of the top leaders of the Pharisees, all the guests had their eyes on him, watching his every move. Right before him was a man hugely swollen in his joints. So Jesus asked the religion scholars and Pharisees present, “Is it permitted to heal on the Sabbath? Yes or no?” They were silent. So he took the man healed him, and sent him on his way.
That’s why I am encouraging Stillnaz peeps to read the book: Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition by Christian Pohl.
“One time when Jesus went for a Sabbath meal with one of the top leaders of the Pharisees, all the guests had their eyes on him, watching his every move. Right before him was a man hugely swollen in his joints. So Jesus asked the religion scholars and Pharisees present, “Is it permitted to heal on the Sabbath? Yes or no?” They were silent. So he took the man healed him, and sent him on his way.
Then he said, “is there anyone here who, if a child or animal fell down a well, wouldn’t rush to pull him out immediately, not asking whether or not it was the Sabbath?” They were stumped. There was nothing they could say to that.
He went on to tell a story to the guests around the table. Noticing how each had tried to elbow into the place of honor, he said, “When someone invites you to dinner, don’t take the place of honor. Somebody more important than you might have been invited by the host. Then he’ll come and call out in front of everybody. ‘You’re in the wrong place. The place of honor belongs to this man, ‘Red-faced you’ll have to make your way to the very last table, the only place left. “When you are invited to dinner sit in the last place. Then when the host comes he may very well say, ‘Friend, come up to the front. That will give the dinner guests something to talk about!
He went on to tell a story to the guests around the table. Noticing how each had tried to elbow into the place of honor, he said, “When someone invites you to dinner, don’t take the place of honor. Somebody more important than you might have been invited by the host. Then he’ll come and call out in front of everybody. ‘You’re in the wrong place. The place of honor belongs to this man, ‘Red-faced you’ll have to make your way to the very last table, the only place left. “When you are invited to dinner sit in the last place. Then when the host comes he may very well say, ‘Friend, come up to the front. That will give the dinner guests something to talk about!
What I’m saying is, if you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face. But if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.” Then he turned to the host. “The next time you put on a dinner, don’t just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks".
"You’ll be and experience – a blessing. They won’t be able to return the favor, but the favor will be returned – oh, how it will be returned! – at the resurrection of God’s people.”
Strangers? What does it mean to be a stranger?
"You’ll be and experience – a blessing. They won’t be able to return the favor, but the favor will be returned – oh, how it will be returned! – at the resurrection of God’s people.”
You are welcome to join us!
Today @ 7:45, 9:15 and 11:00 am
Stillmeadow Church of the Nazarene
400 Stillmeadow Lane York, PA
717.764.4888
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