Hospitality
Convergence: April 3, 2007
Teacher: Jared Hazzard
Based on The Emerging Church by Eddie Gibbs
What is hospitality? Open door. Abundance. Pie. Friends. Fireplaces. Food. Certain cultures (Turks, Greeks, Spanish). Safety.
Read: Matthew 26: 17. What is the tone of this passage? Betrayal. Mournful. Gloomy. Confusing.
Before anything else, this was a meal: Jesus and his disciples eating together. Jesus chose the context of a meal for one of the most striking conversations he has with those closest to him. With full knowledge that betrayal was sitting at the table, Jesus chose intimacy and community. Throughout the gospels, Jesus often uses meals as significant teaching opportunities.(Mark 2:23+, Matthew 9:9-12, Matthew 9:14-15, Mark 6:30-44, Mark 7:1-22)
Jesus defended the sanctity of meal times. Hospitality is not simply about food, but these meals give a picture of Jesus: welcoming, connecting, and caring about physical needs.
When Jesus reappears to the disciples after his resurrection, they don't recognize him until the moment he breaks bread. In this intimate setting, he became familiar. After this, he keeps appearing when the disciples are eating. In John 21 he even prepares breakfast for them on the beach. These provisions take a ritualistic, sacred tone.
There is no salvation outside of community. [Reference discussion from February 8, 2007]
We often use mistaken definitions for the in/out of church and salvation. Jesus defined the in and out for us: if you fed my sheep you’re in; if you didn’t, you’re out (Matthew 25:31-46). Hospitality is a form and expression of our salvation. We are required to participate in the life-giving reciprocity of community.
Hospitality requires accessibility. Jesus wasn’t just inviting and leading these people: he was participating in their lives and inviting them to participate in his.
Who did Jesus attract? People who were unlovable, hurting, marginalized, commoners, fishermen, prostitutes, and enemies. Scum.
Oh man.
We don’t do a very good job of this.
Some emerging churches have defined hospitality as, “creating a safe place for all to worship”…a space for vulnerability without fear of being ostracized for gender, race, disabilities, doubts or orientation (Emerging Churches, Eddie Gibbs).
How hospitable are we? Are Thursday nights a good measure of this? We may come on Thursdays for teaching and growth, without necessarily inviting. Perhaps more indicative are the connections we build through are other communities of influence.
In John 8, Jesus tells the woman who has committed adultery two things: you are not going to be stoned…and you have to stop sinning.
When we trade convincing arguments for accepting relationships, we allow the Holy Spirit to do his job. Jesus only relied on apologetics with religious-types. Jesus’ behavior in the synagogue was revolutionary; his behavior outside was relational.
As a body, can we contain diverse perspectives while remaining committed in relationship?
We believe undoubtedly that Jesus is the perfect revelation of and route to God – but why would we deny the spirituality of other human beings? Remember: the separation of sacred and secular is a myth...humans are holistic beings.
We must acknowledge that we could be wrong. We do not have a monopoly on truth: our understanding of the Bible is a biased, filtered through our worldview. There are things that we can learn from other creeds, religions, and lifestyles. Profoundly spiritual experiences can happen outside the church. Consider this: in Athens, Paul saw conversions engaging in dialogue, using the words of their own poets. Why be afraid of being evangelized? If the truth is the truth, we have nothing to fear.
Sometimes we make ridiculous decisions simply because a community’s doctrine does not align with ours. During the Enlightenment we rejected the Jews and the Muslims to align ourselves with scientists…people who don’t believe in God. The thing is, a human beings actively seeking God are all on the same playing field.
So just offer a plate.
Well I had a dream I stood beneath an orange sky
Yes I had a dream I stood beneath an orange sky
With my brother standing by
With my brother standing by
I said Brother, you know you know
It’s a long road we’ve been walking on
Brother you know it is, you know it is
Such a long road we’ve been walking on
And I had a dream I stood beneath an orange sky
With my sister standing by
With my sister standing by
I said Sister, here is what I know now
Here is what I know now
Goes like this...
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, in your love, in your love
Well I had a dream
I stood beneath an orange sky
Yes I had a dream
I stood beneath an orange sky
With my brother and my sister standing by
With my brother and my sister standing by
With my brother and my sister standing by
--lyrics from "Orange Sky" by Alexi Murdoch
Teacher: Jared Hazzard
Based on The Emerging Church by Eddie Gibbs
What is hospitality? Open door. Abundance. Pie. Friends. Fireplaces. Food. Certain cultures (Turks, Greeks, Spanish). Safety.
Read: Matthew 26: 17. What is the tone of this passage? Betrayal. Mournful. Gloomy. Confusing.
Before anything else, this was a meal: Jesus and his disciples eating together. Jesus chose the context of a meal for one of the most striking conversations he has with those closest to him. With full knowledge that betrayal was sitting at the table, Jesus chose intimacy and community. Throughout the gospels, Jesus often uses meals as significant teaching opportunities.(Mark 2:23+, Matthew 9:9-12, Matthew 9:14-15, Mark 6:30-44, Mark 7:1-22)
Jesus defended the sanctity of meal times. Hospitality is not simply about food, but these meals give a picture of Jesus: welcoming, connecting, and caring about physical needs.
When Jesus reappears to the disciples after his resurrection, they don't recognize him until the moment he breaks bread. In this intimate setting, he became familiar. After this, he keeps appearing when the disciples are eating. In John 21 he even prepares breakfast for them on the beach. These provisions take a ritualistic, sacred tone.
There is no salvation outside of community. [Reference discussion from February 8, 2007]
We often use mistaken definitions for the in/out of church and salvation. Jesus defined the in and out for us: if you fed my sheep you’re in; if you didn’t, you’re out (Matthew 25:31-46). Hospitality is a form and expression of our salvation. We are required to participate in the life-giving reciprocity of community.
Hospitality requires accessibility. Jesus wasn’t just inviting and leading these people: he was participating in their lives and inviting them to participate in his.
Who did Jesus attract? People who were unlovable, hurting, marginalized, commoners, fishermen, prostitutes, and enemies. Scum.
Oh man.
We don’t do a very good job of this.
Some emerging churches have defined hospitality as, “creating a safe place for all to worship”…a space for vulnerability without fear of being ostracized for gender, race, disabilities, doubts or orientation (Emerging Churches, Eddie Gibbs).
How hospitable are we? Are Thursday nights a good measure of this? We may come on Thursdays for teaching and growth, without necessarily inviting. Perhaps more indicative are the connections we build through are other communities of influence.
In John 8, Jesus tells the woman who has committed adultery two things: you are not going to be stoned…and you have to stop sinning.
When we trade convincing arguments for accepting relationships, we allow the Holy Spirit to do his job. Jesus only relied on apologetics with religious-types. Jesus’ behavior in the synagogue was revolutionary; his behavior outside was relational.
As a body, can we contain diverse perspectives while remaining committed in relationship?
We believe undoubtedly that Jesus is the perfect revelation of and route to God – but why would we deny the spirituality of other human beings? Remember: the separation of sacred and secular is a myth...humans are holistic beings.
We must acknowledge that we could be wrong. We do not have a monopoly on truth: our understanding of the Bible is a biased, filtered through our worldview. There are things that we can learn from other creeds, religions, and lifestyles. Profoundly spiritual experiences can happen outside the church. Consider this: in Athens, Paul saw conversions engaging in dialogue, using the words of their own poets. Why be afraid of being evangelized? If the truth is the truth, we have nothing to fear.
Sometimes we make ridiculous decisions simply because a community’s doctrine does not align with ours. During the Enlightenment we rejected the Jews and the Muslims to align ourselves with scientists…people who don’t believe in God. The thing is, a human beings actively seeking God are all on the same playing field.
So just offer a plate.
Well I had a dream I stood beneath an orange sky
Yes I had a dream I stood beneath an orange sky
With my brother standing by
With my brother standing by
I said Brother, you know you know
It’s a long road we’ve been walking on
Brother you know it is, you know it is
Such a long road we’ve been walking on
And I had a dream I stood beneath an orange sky
With my sister standing by
With my sister standing by
I said Sister, here is what I know now
Here is what I know now
Goes like this...
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, in your love, in your love
Well I had a dream
I stood beneath an orange sky
Yes I had a dream
I stood beneath an orange sky
With my brother and my sister standing by
With my brother and my sister standing by
With my brother and my sister standing by
--lyrics from "Orange Sky" by Alexi Murdoch
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