Biblical Hospitality | Genesis 3:1-15 & Romans 5:6-11
This message was preached at Sherwood Community Friends Church on May 12, 2024. You can watch the video in full by clicking below.
We are going to use our imaginations today. Close your eyes or keep them open… your preference.
Scenario 1
You come up to a house to visit for a shared meal with new friends. As you knock on the cherry-stained oak door, you hear a voice from inside urging you to come in. You turn the knob and enter the house. As you step over the threshold, the aroma of cinnamon, vanilla, and a savory stew subtly nudge you further in. As you take your shoes off by the door and walk into the living room in front of you, you feel the soft carpet under your toes.
Waiting for your host to greet you, you take a look around. One wall is covered with well-curated photos, showing family and friends, both from today and yesterday. Another simply has a large abstract painting. A vase with a fresh bouquet of tulips is on the end table next to the most comfortable leather sofa.
As you start to sit down, your host comes around the corner and exclaims, “Excuse me! What do you think you are doing sitting down? Don’t you know you are supposed to go and wash your hands first and then come into the kitchen with me? Don’t just sit there. Get moving!” Nervously, you jump to your feet and follow the orders barked at you by the host.
The sharpness of your host continues through the evening. As you keep an eye on the clock, the seconds seem to be moving backward as you eagerly wait for an appropriate time to bolt.
Scenario 2
You roll up to the home with the most unkempt lawn on the block. Weeds everywhere. In fact, most houses you’ve passed are in clear need of repair. As you walk up the sidewalk, you notice the paint chipping off the exterior. Through the screen door, you can see your host bustling about with a laundry basket. They are seemingly unprepared for your arrival. You hesitate for a moment, wondering if you can make it back to your car before they notice.
They see you before you can make your decision and give a shout, “Well come on in! The door is open!” As you make your way through the doorway, you notice the stale smell and the flat, aged carpet. It leaves you hoping to leave your shoes on. You wonder if you can find a way to leave early, but reluctantly you stay.
Your host comes back, gives you a warm embrace, and says, “Well come on over. Feel free to leave your shoes on. Let’s go sit over at the table. Would you like something to drink?” As you graciously accept a cool glass of iced tea, the conversation seems to carry itself. By the time you leave, you don’t even notice the laundry basket in the corner or the odd stale smell that was so pungent when you walked in. Rather, you find yourself wishing you could linger longer in this warm presence.
If you had your eyes closed, you can feel free to open them. Often when we think of mothers, we think of home and warmth and clean and safe. We think of hospitality.
Some might think that hospitality is a gift, and sure, there might be some who are more pre-disposed to extending a hospitable environment moreso than others.
But, my hope today is that each one today leaves here challenged today with this question: Do others feel that I welcome them as the Father welcomes me?
By looking at Creation, Christ, and our Call, we won’t be able to resist the acknowledgment that hospitality is at the very heart of the Father and respond with hospitality in turn.
Creation
“In the beginning, God created.”
God created the heavens and the earth. He divided the land from the sea. He spoke redwoods and roses and rivers into existence. He breathed the sun, moon, and stars into the sky.
And God created humanity. But he didn’t just create you and I to be vagrant wanderers or tenacious warriors, barely living on the brink of survival.
God created a welcoming home for us.
Genesis 1:29-30 “Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.”
Do you picture it? God creates Adam and Eve and he brings them close.
He’s opening up his refrigerator, his cabinets, his pantry and saying “Look! It’s all for you! Welcome to my home!”
Unfortunately, we were not very good guests. We opened up a door that wasn’t ours to open.
Genesis 3:1-10 “Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. 3But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”
4“No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5“In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.”
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”
God had created this most holy of places in Eden but we were no longer welcome guests to commune with him there. And we knew it. That’s why they were hiding.
Yet God did not smite us in Eden.
Instead, God came looking for Adam and Eve, calling for them in the Garden. “Where are you?”
Now, as the story goes on, He did address them sternly, as one must when setting boundaries.
But God did not keep their wrongdoing as a reason to hold a grudge against them. Instead, he met them in their shame by making them proper clothes from animal skins, as we see in verse 21.
You might ask… But why not let them stay in the Garden if they were forgiven? Isn’t that what God does? Mercy? Forgiveness?
God removed Adam and Eve from the Garden so they would not eat from the tree of life and live eternally separated from Him because of their sin. There would have been no opportunity for a restored relationship.
You see, God’s heart was always for us to be drawn back to him. To be fully restored in relationship with the Father and for us to find joy in what He has to offer us.
Throughout the Old Testament, we see God pursuing the Israelites in the same way he pursued Adam and Eve in the Garden. He gave them victories, the Promised Land, and his hesed love, faithful love. But time and again, they choose their own ways with their own gods, rejecting God their Father. They continued to violate the boundaries. They opened the closed doors.
As much as this broke his heart, this abandonment and rebellion by the Israelites was no surprise to God.
Back in Eden, God assured us there would be one who would follow that would destroy the serpent.
Genesis 3:15 “I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Who is this?
Christ
Jesus.
When Jesus walked this earth, his presence brought hospitality, a warm welcoming presence that made people feel safe and seen, just as God intended it in Creation.
At the well, Jesus puts at ease the guarded Samaritan women. He responds to her sharpness and jabs with grace and clarity and confidence. He sees into her soul, her brokenness and her shame. And he even reveals himself to her as the Messiah.
How about Zacchaeus, the wealthy tax collector who was so desperate to see Jesus that he climbed a tree? Jesus sees him as he is walking in town and says that he is having dinner with him of all people. If you don’t know, tax collectors were known as cheats and sinners at that time, which is how he became wealthy. Yet Jesus chose him to see that day, and that day Zacceaus and his home became followers of the Way.
Or what about Martha, who is so consumed with everything being perfect for the meal that she forgets she’s in the presence of God Almighty. When she chastises her sister Mary for not helping and even asks Jesus to intercede for her to get her to work, Jesus responds with such loving correction. He reminds Martha that what Mary is doing is what it’s about. Presence. Curiosity. Peace. This was his invitation for Martha to join them in the other room.
God sent Jesus from the heavens to come into our human frailty in the ultimate act of hospitality. To see us in our struggle. To walk in our shoes. To weep and laugh and struggle as you and I do. He fought for us to be welcomed into the Father’s presence.
Romans 5:6-11 “For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 7For rarely will someone die for a just person — though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. 10For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.
Jesus Christ is the bridge that spans the gap to the Father. This is not only figuratively!
The temple in Jerusalem had several sections. The most sacred was the Holy of Holies. In fact, it was so sacred that only one person could enter it once a year to offer sacrifices to the Lord. To shield those in the inner sanctuary from the powerful presence of God, thick and heavy curtains, spanning about three feet, divided it from the inner sanctuary and the rest of the temple.
Yet, Jesus’ death removed our separation from God’s presence on the cross. The Way was now open!
Mark 15:37-38 “Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed his last. 38Then the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”
Our Calling
So what is our place in all of this? It all sounds quite radical - to lay down our life for someone else as the ultimate bridge for relationship. You might be thinking to yourself:
But Lisa…I’m not God. I can’t do what Jesus did. Does He even expect radical hospitality from me towards others?
I dare say…yes. Paul says in
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 “From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! 18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
As I read through 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, it strikes me how much the context influences my understanding of scripture. We often quote verse 17 about becoming a new creation as a self-affirmation, declaring my old life is no longer who I am in Christ. And indeed, this is a true statement.
But, looking at this verse through the lens of investing in relationships for the sake of bridging people to the Father brings a new insight.
God recognized the chasm between Himself and us, so he sent Christ to us as the bridge to restore our relationship with Himself. We were unable to bridge the chasm ourselves.
Likewise, as Christ's ambassadors, we are to similarly walk those who are on the side of the chasm without God the Father to the bridge, who is Christ, so that they can be in a restored relationship with the Father.
If you have found your way to Christ, then you have access to God and could spend your days simply communing with him. I’ve heard people express how their faith is about them and God.
However, this mindset keeps us from connecting others with Christ, who leads them to the Father. If we see them how Christ sees them, our hearts will break for those who are missing out on the immense love of the Father. We won't be able to help ourselves as we implore, as Paul did: "Be reconciled to God."
And why would anyone choose to listen to us? Everyone is selling something today it seems. is this anything different? Or hear us as we try to lead anyone to Christ? It’s through our hospitality.
Hospitality opens up all we have to others at the risk they will not only actually take everything you offer but even that they might hurt you in the process.
Hospitality pursues after the ones who are hiding, to call them out of their shame. “Where are you?” Hospitality seeks reconciliation.
Hospitality asks curious questions, invests in who they are and puts them at ease in our presence. It builds trust in the relationship.
Hospitality brings peace, life-giving hope, and the Love of the Father.
Obstacles to Hospitality
Let’s talk for a moment about some of the obstacles that get in the way of us demonstrating hospitality modeled after the Father.
People
The first is people. Let’s be real! People are quirky and difficult and different and odd. Not us though, right? {wink wink}
There is an enemy that seeks to isolate us and pull us apart from others. But we must fight against the proclivity many of us have to retreat into our personal bubbles, often as a result of past hurts, traumas, and conflicts.
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
Now, this doesn’t mean that we are doormats. Boundaries are healthy and a topic for another sermon. But, our bend should always be to extend grace, fight for unity, and invite others to be with us for the sake of investing in who they are and seeing them as God created them.
Culture
Our culture inundates us with busyness and self-gratification. We are constantly met with competing schedules for children's activities, vacations, and demanding work schedules. There is an endless source of entertainment, from Netflix to TikTok to YouTube to Facebook and endless other streaming services. There are these boundaries of who we are or aren’t supposed to associate with.
Yet, as Dustin Willis and Brandon Clements says, “Biblical hospitality is the polar opposite of cultural trends to separate and isolate…Biblical hospitality chooses to engage rather than unplug, open rather than close, initiate rather than sit idly.”
Jesus was radical and counter-cultural. He resisted capitulating to the whims and opinions of the influencers. Instead, he spoke across racial divides with the Samaritan woman. He ate at the home of the thief tax collector. He extended an invitation to the busy homemaker to sit with him.
Jesus didn’t let culture define whether or not he engaged. He engaged anyway.
Inadequacy
I think I’ve made my point quite clear - it doesn’t matter how many dishes are in your sink, what your lawn looks like, or if you know how to cook. It’s all about our presence. If you are struggling with inadequacy to show hospitality like the Father to others, then seek me or Pastor Robert out after the service. We would love to pray with you and for you. You are made in the image of God, and if he is a hospitable God, and you are made in his image, then that means you have it in you too.
Just as with our examples at the beginning of this message, it isn’t about perfection and details. It doesn’t have to be grand. Simple and sustainable is the key.
Skye Jethani: “We’ve fallen into the conventional thinking that a big mission demands big tactics, but we forget that in the economy of God’s kingdom, big does not beget big. It’s precisely the opposite. The overwhelming message of Jesus’ life and teaching is that small begets big.”
Silent Reflection
We are going to go into a time of Silent Reflection now. You may want to ponder how God has welcomed you.
Ponder Do others feel that you welcome them as the Father welcomes you?
Or maybe you don’t feel very welcomed by God. If that’s you, then see us after the service. As a church, we want you to know you are welcomed and loved, not only by us, but by God the Father.
Conclusion
What other word resembles “hospitality”?
Hospital. They share the same Latin root hospes, which means to be a host or take care of guests.
In a hospital, doctors and nurses are bringing back to life the unwell. And that’s exactly what our hospitality does for those who do not know the love of the Father.
Hospitality, being present with people, to care for them and to be curious about them takes effort.
But Paul reminds his audience in Corinth that he became all things to all people so that some might be saved. That same Paul was chased out of so many synagogues, threatened with death, by the ones who claimed to follow God devoutly because he preached the radical ways of Jesus.
That radical way? Jesus came only for us. There was no benefit for him to come here. We are the beneficiaries of the incarnational love of Jesus. We have received grace upon grace the fullness of this gift. And it is out of the fullness of this gift that we must continue to show up to make His name known, no matter how many foes are stacked up against us. We come in the name of Jesus Christ alone. It’s the love of the Father that we hope others will see in us as we invest in their lives.
And what does that hospitality of the Father look like in the final days? We will dwell with the Lord in a new earth.
Revelation 21:1-4 1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
3Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. 4He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
This is the Good News of Jesus Christ. That we will be able to experience this life-giving hospitality of the Father one day. A life-giving place with no grief, crying, or pain.
In the meantime, we are the bridge-builders to reconcile others with the Father. And if our Father is the definition of hospitality, then it seems to me that the best way we can show others to Christ is through hospitality after the Father’s heart.
I’ll ask it again: Do others feel that you welcome them as the Father welcomes you?
Book Recommendation
The Simplest Way to Change the World
3 Ways to Engage
Prayer Walks in your neighborhood. Who is God leading you to invest in?
Coffee (it’s not always about the coffee)
Be curious and ask questions. Come from a place of genuine interest in getting to know others.
