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Sermon Notes.

Week following Sunday 26th March 2017

Our sermon series is about what it means to be a truly Christ-like church, and this Sunday we looked at hospitality – the traditions of hospitality in the scriptures and the hospitality that Jesus demonstrated.

The readings were from Luke 15, 1-7 and Matthew 9, 9-13.

  • What kind of hospitality is featured in the Old Testament? Here are a few suggestions about where to look, but feel free to come up with any others that you can think of.

Genesis 18: 1-8 Leviticus 19:33–34Job 31: 24-32

2 Kings 4:8-10

Hospitality is often associated either with having people round for tea, or the hospitality industry. The stories about Jesus and the stories about the early church are full of examples of people sharing meals together, and Jesus is often pictured eating with people or providing food for them. There are also stories about Jesus, or stories Jesus told, about people going to a great deal of trouble to take care of others.

  • How many examples can you think of?Again you might come up with dozens, but if you want to save time, here are some suggestions:

John 6, 5-13 ... John 13, 2-5 ... John 21:1-14 ...

John 2:1-12 ... Matthew 8:14-15 ... Mark 6, 8-11

  • Can you form an idea of Jesus’ attitudes to hospitality from these or any other passages?
  • These two readings tell very different stories but I think they have something in common. What do you think?

When Jesus went to Matthew’s house to eat, who do think was showing hospitality to whom? Who do you think was showing grace to whom? What was Jesus saying about Matthew and his friends for the benefit of all those people who were watching and disapproving?

I think that Jesus showed hospitality, and expected hospitality from others, in a way which was not merely traditional courtesy. I think it was ‘strategic’. He was illustrating was how everyone is welcome in his Father’s house and those who are furthest from it will be the greatest priority. I think many of the examples above were calculated to make that point. Well, that’s what I think anyway. What do you think?

  • What do you think mothers gained from Sunday’s sermon?
  • How relevant do you think it was for those who are not mothers?
  • Or those who wish they were mothers?
  • And those who have a lot of mothering to give but are not sure who to give it to?

Mothering Sundayisatimewhen it might be appropriate toconsiderhospitality.Jesus tells us that the way to find our lives is to give them away,that the way to find salvation is to offer hospitality to the stranger. And after all, motheringachild can be, in many ways, the ultimate act of hospitality, fully inviting a little stranger into your home and into every part of your life, and promising that that person is always welcome.

This welcoming does not just make a difference to the child’s life, it also changes the mother’s life; it changes her very identity. When we truly welcome people, they change us, and we experience the refreshing joy of becoming conduits of God's hospitality.

This act of ‘mothering’ is something we celebrate on Mothering Sunday but in a sense we all have a duty to show a mother’s care towards those around us: the sort of care that is self-sacrificing, and puts the welfare of others before our own. The sort of care that washes the feet of our guests.

  • Think strategically how your kitchen or living-room might be used to show the love of God to others.
  • Think strategically how our church might make the same point.

Let us close our time of fellowship by considering the ultimate act of hospitality which Jesus showed when he opened his arms wide to welcome all sinners. When Jesus died on the cross he made it possible for everyone who believes to be a member of the his Father’s household. We are no longer strangers in a foreign land. We have come home to God.

< Roger