Discussion guide
Discussion It is God’s promise to you that as you continue to adventure together It is God’s promise to you that as you continue to adventure together and seek His wisdom in your relationship, He will reveal himself to you in beautiful ways. Cozy up and dive into what God has in store for you through some honest discussion, reflection and prayer. Be sure to have your bible handy. If you don’t have access to one, check out the Bible Gateway app available on your Apple or Android device. When you think of Hawaiian hospitality, your imagination might take you to a beautiful tropical setting with festive music playing as you’re being adorned with a lei, and a warm welcoming . That sounds like somewhere I’d like to be!... Now picture for me, a regular Friday night at home. It’s been a long week and you’re both ready to melt into the couch and enjoy some much anticipated silence. Right about when you feel the tension starting to melt away, you answer a knock at the door to find your busy-body neighbors inviting themselves inside for a visit. On a hospitality scale of “slam the door” to “warm and loving embrace”, how are you inclined to respond to this situation? How are we as believers called to respond biblically? Now I haven’t read any stories of Jesus throwing luaus for his followers, but, He did give us several great examples of how we are called to practice hospitality in our everyday lives.
“Aloha”
Hebrews 13:2 encourages us to act, saying “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” We see that God sent special messengers all throughout the bible to speak to his children. As we study the life of Abraham (Gen 18:1-3), we learn of the three men that appeared to him as he was sitting under the oak tree with the news of his coming child. Lot (Gen 19:1-2) eagerly welcomed two men (warriors of the Lord) into his home as they appeared at the gates of Sodom, later to spare his life from the fallen city. A messenger of the Lord appeared to Gideon (Judges 6:11-24) reminding him not to lose heart, empowering him in the Holy Spirit when he was being pursued by his enemies. Can you recall a time when God sent someone in your life with a word of encouragement, discernment, or accountability? Are you grateful that they acted on that calling? When God stirs in your spirit to reach out to a friend, or presents you with an opportunity to show hospitality (like the example above), are you moved to heed His calling? Romans 12:13 says that we are to practice hospitality; to “pursue the love of strangers” (Heb. 13:2). If we want to demonstrate obedience to our heavenly Father, this means that we must step out of our comfort zones. Biblical hospitality paints a much more radical picture than simply opening our homes to our circle of close friends. We are meant to spread God’s love to those who do not know Him as well - to be His hands and feet. Hospitality is a matter of the heart, not a matter of how closely you can replicate the cover of a Better Homes & Gardens magazine. It is about welcoming someone into your life regardless of their walk of life, about being quick to listen and slow to speak, about stewarding what God has given you. It is about pointing the focus back to the grace and mercy of the Lord from whom everything you own has been given for this purpose. It is about giving to those in need, knowing that you can introduce them to the One in whom their soul can find rest.
Luke 10:38-42 tells us the story of sisters Mary and Martha. “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Do you feel that Martha was treated unfairly? Do you think that Jesus should have had Mary get up and help her sister? We are so often stuck on auto-pilot as we move throughout the day. My response to Jesus and his group of 70 plus disciples (Luke 10:1) would have been very similar to Martha’s! We see things that need to be done on surface level and we fail to recognize what is most important. In the King James translation of verse 42, Jesus states “But one thing is needful...”. The entire purpose of this message can be summed up in those 5 words. Jesus wanted Martha to understand that true hospitality is not about appearance or boastful service. Mary recognized that in that moment, nothing was more important than sitting at her masters feet, and listening to what He had to say. Do you sometimes find yourself being swayed to place appearance before humility when welcoming people into your home? 1 Peter 4:9 says “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” Is this a difficult passage for you to live by? Why, or why not?
Prayer & Reflection Take a few minutes together to quickly assess your heart. Do you open the doors of your home as Martha did? Willing and eager to serve, but sometimes failing to see that only “one thing is needful”. Or, do you find joy, as Mary did, humbly sitting at the feet of Jesus, ready to welcome strangers with an open embrace and an attitude of love? If there is not already a calling on your heart to show hospitality to a specific person in your life, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Mt 7:7) Heavenly Father, Let us not be so distracted by petty things that we miss the opportunity to be Your hands and feet to the world. Give us eyes to see the needs of those around us. Give us ears to listen when we are inclined to act in selfishness. Give us a heart of understanding and courage to welcome even those that oppose us, that You may shine through us. Lord, empower us to step out of our comfort zones to embrace all who You will put in our path. We believe as we seek to honor You in this way that You will grant us many opportunities and the grace by which to act on them.
Amen