10 Tools For Hospitality: Diving Deeper
See Jesus
Hello Family! The following is a recap of the ten tools we have talked about during this series of being 'On Mission through Hospitality'. May they serve you well in this season.
1. Abide in Jesus.
Hospitality is ultimately about loving people. Just as a popcorn maker must remain plugged in in order to produce popcorn, if we desire to produce the fruit of keeping our love on towards others, we must abide in Jesus (see John 15).
2. Don’t be sidelined by comparison.
Remember, what you have in your hospitality “bookshelf” is totally unique to you and the ministry Jesus has called you to.
Do not surrender the opportunity to serve the Lord in a uniquely "you" way just because it may not look like someone else.
3. Start where you are with what you have!
You can start now! As Pastor Nicole shared on Sunday, we can be free of the lies that we are not enough or that we do not have enough. In Christ, you are enough Family. In Jesus, you have enough too!
4. Keep Learning.
There is wisdom to be gained by being a student.
Be a student as you are hosted.
Be a student as you are hospitable to others.
Watch, learn from and talk to those who you see bearing good fruit in the area of hospitality.
5. Remember: Clear is kind.
You have permission to be clear when you have guests.
You can communicate (in love!) your boundaries, time frames for visits, and so much more.
You can also invite your guests into this culture of clarity too!
6. Use the KPC Kids Code.
Especially as guests, we can lean into this code. We are ambassadors of the Kingdom as we do life on life with others.
7. Practice with/on those closest to you.
It is not really practice, as the heart of hospitality is still very much for your family. However, we can be mindful as we do life with our family of how we are loving them. Family can also be a safe place to try new recipes and/or new ways of stretching generosity with the goal of then reaching outwards.
8. Give people food.
This is a great way to non-intrusively start building connection with those who may not yet feel safe letting people in close.
It can start with dropping off baking, a casserole, garden produce... and may eventually lead to a connection where you can invite someone into your home.
9. Invite someone over.
Do this in partnership with Holy Spirit. Ask Him to highlight people to you. When He does, trust Him. We might be surprised how much an invitation means to someone.
Please do not be discouraged if you are turned down.
There could be many reasons involved and sometimes people might not feel brave to say "yes"...yet.
10. Pray. (Ask & recieve)
Let's trust that as God leads us into generous hospitality that he will provide all that we need.
Wisdom, resources, ideas, energy, direction, peace, space, direction, healing...
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7
Family, you are POWERFUL ministers of hospitality. As we have gone through this series together, I have become more and more convinced of this! Keep shining!
-Pastor Charla
Know Jesus
This week, you can dive deeper into the message through one or all of the following:
Listen, re-listen, to the message from Sunday.
Ask the Lord to show you how you can be involved with generous hospitality this Christmas Season
Listen and worship along with "The Blessing."
Do a DBS on Deuteronomy 28:3-12. These blessings are ours because of the obedience of Jesus!
Consider the prayer prompts given in your time with God this week.
Discovery Bible Study
TO BEGIN
Pray and ask Holy Spirit to teach you about God from His word.
Next, read the verse a couple of times.
Now, ask these questions:
What does this tell me about God/Jesus?
What does this tell me about people?
How can I respond to what I just read?
When you’re done asking these questions, it’s a great idea to pray and thank God for teaching you more about who He is and who you are!
Discovery Bible Study (DBS) is a way for anyone, anywhere to read God's word! You can dive deeper into this week's message by doing a DBS one any one or all of these scriptures. DBS is a great tool to use for your own devotions, as a bible study with friends, or as an evangelism tool!
3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.
4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.
6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.
7 The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.
8 The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.
9 The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him.
10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you. 11 The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you.
12 The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.
Deuteronomy 28:3-12
Prayer Prompts
Pray for a culture of compassion and hospitality to continue to grow in our Family.
Pray that the Holy Spirit would go before us and prepare hearts to receive generosity and hospitality in Jesus' name.
Pray for there to be an influx of souls into God's Kingdom!
Share Jesus
You can share this week's podcast, email, or blog post. Check out volunteer opportunities to get involved in the work of sharing Jesus in our church family and community.
Current Volunteer Opporunities
Pastor Charla is looking for volunteers for the Christmas season Kid's church schedule. This schedule will be one Sunday commitments rather than a four week rotation. You can sign up to help by contacting Pastor Charla at pastorcharla@kiplingchurch.com.
