The Gospel Comes with a House Key
The Jesus Paradox (3|5)
The Vitality of Hospitality
• What Is Radically Ordinary Hospitality?
Pages 31-36
TOGETHER read the book (END READING AT: ...and worshipful singing.) and discuss the content below.
INDIVIDUALLY take notes in your journal on what stands out (try to keep it brief).
Mark 9:50 (NIV) “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
“How can I love my neighbor without misleading the neighbor into thinking I approve of everything they do? First, remember that Christians cannot give good answers to bad questions. No one approves of everything that others do. No one. It is a false question. The better question is this: “How can my neighbors know that because I live under God’s authority rather than compulsions of my own selfish desires, their secrets are safe with me?” The answer is simple: love the sinner and hate your own sin.
What is your response to this?
The purpose of radically ordinary hospitality is to build, focus, deepen, and strengthen the family of God, pointing others to the Bible-believing local church, and being earthly and spiritually good to everyone we know.
TOGETHER pray for one another.
INDIVIDUALLY answer the questions in your journal - process your notes and pray.
The word hospitality approximates the Greek word philoxenia, which means “love of the stranger.” Christians are called to practice radically ordinary hospitality to renew their resolve in Christ.
What is your reaction to this statement?
The purposes of radically ordinary hospitality is to take the hand of a stranger and put it in the hand of the Savior, to bridge hostile worlds, and to add to the family of God.
Radically ordinary hospitality values the time it takes to invest in relationships, to build bridges, to repent of sins of the past, to reconcile. Bridge building and remaking friendships cannot be rushed.
What is your reaction to these statements?
EXTRA READING:
“When faith came to be in writings rather than in our hearts, contention grew hot and love grew cold. That which is forced cannot be sincere, and that which is not voluntary cannot please Christ.”
- Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466 - 1536) A Dutch theologian who was committed to reforming the church from within.