In an individualistic society hospitality has often been looked at as an inconvenience. However, Paul instructs Timothy that it is essential to involve others in your life by showing them hospitality. Hospitality can be a tangible expression of love, care, evangelism and discipleship. Phillip Ryken notes, “Overseers are to have open homes as well as open hearts. Literally, they are to show “love for strangers”.[1] Thus, whether in the home or in the church the overseer much respond to strangers with warmth and care.Discuss: How do I respond to visitors at my door and at church? What are some practical strategies to engage strangers for Christ whether in the home or at church?
Hospitality will inevitably put more strain on the home. It will put more responsibility on your wife and it could even put your children at risk. The home must be a haven from strangers who could potentially harm your children and wife but it must also be a place where evangelism or discipleship can be done even around the kitchen table. Ryken writes,
“One of the great evils of contemporary culture is the fragmentation of the family. As Christians, we need to find our primary identity as brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. One of the best ways to establish these family ties is around the dinner table.” [2]
It is important to involve visitors in your “family time”. This allows them to be evangelized or disciple and encouraged as your family exemplifies a normal routine that is saturated with Gospel teaching.
On the other hand, the overseer must be careful to protect his family from predators who walk into the church with little concern for their soul and the people they encounter. Their concern is to take advantage of the innocent and consequently shake the faith of the church. The overseer must care for his people by protecting them from the wolves while at the same time caring for lost sheep. He must be a man of discernment.
Discuss: What are some basic things I could do to help my wife prepare for visitors? How might I protect them from wolves? What are some routine activities that my family should be doing even now?
Answer the following questions:
1. Do make it your aim to greet as many people as possible at church?
2. What have you done lately to meet the need of a fellow church member or a visitor?
3. Do you open up your home consistently in order to fellowship with people?
4. What are others means of hospitality that could be used to engage one another and the lost?
5. What are some contextualization problems that we could run into by fellowshipping with unbelievers?
6. Do you accept invitation to hospitality from others; even from the unbeliever?
Read: Dave Harvey, Am I Called? Discerning the Summons to Ministry. p.1-33
[1] Ryken, Phillip. 1 Timothy. (Phillipsburg, NJ: PandR Publishing, 2007) 114.
[2] Ryken, Phillip. 1 Timothy. (Phillipsburg, NJ: PandR Publishing, 2007) 115.