Hospitality
Theme: A Journey with Abraham
Theme Verse: "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." Hebrews 11:8 NIV
Readings: Genesis 18:1-8
Memory Verse: Keep on loving each other as brothers. 2Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:1-2)
God wants his church, his people, to be known for their hospitality—especially to strangers, including those the world usually ignores. The Bible is full of references to God’s concern for the widows, orphans and strangers (foreigners). God often uses a story as part of the teaching. Abraham was doing what our MV is talking about-showing hospitality to those God send to us—even strangers.
Verse 1 tells us that somehow, in this visit, the LORD, God, appeared to Abraham.. Abraham is living near Hebron (south of Jerusalem), sitting in the shade of his tent where he could get a breeze in the hottest part of the day, a time when no one traveled unless by necessity. Suddenly when Abraham looked up he saw 3 men (angels?, the “angel of His Presence”?) (Compare Exodus 3:2 & 4) near him—no warning—no nothing. Hospitality is and was a very important Eastern and Middle Eastern virtue, so Abraham gets up quickly and RAN (yes. That is what the Hebrew says. He was 99!) out into the sun to meet them and bowed before them. He asks for the opportunity to offer them hospitality. He considers it a privilege (“If I have found favor in your sight…”). He offers what they needed to refresh them: water to wash the dust off their feet, shade to rest in and a meal. What can you do that will refresh someone?
At this point Abraham doesn’t seem to know they are not the usual visitors. He called one of them, ”My lord”(singular)- just a title of respect. Soon he “knows something is up” when, a little later the strangers ask about his wife by name and give details no stranger would know. Abraham senses that these are no ordinary visitors but that God is in this visit. In entertaining these strangers he is “serving angels without knowing it.” He is indeed welcoming God.
LOOK AT ABRAHAM’S ATTITUDE
Abraham not only RAN to the 3 men, he hurried to Sarah and told her to quickly make some of the best kind of bread and he RAN again to get a calf that a servant hurried to prepare. This whole process would have taken at least two hours (to kill, prepare and cook the meat, to make and bake the bread). This was not Fast Food! Abraham’s hustling reminds us of the early chapters of Mark where the disciples immediately respond to Jesus’ invitation to follow him. When we are called to show hospitality, God wants us to do it eagerly and promptly (not grudgingly).
Abraham was a very wealthy and powerful man but he acts as a servant to his guests. He runs around preparing things, serves them and then stands near them like a servant or waiter in a restaurant. He had lots of servants but he does it himself to honor his guests. This reminds us of Jesus, who is LORD and Savior, yet he wrapped a towel around his waist and washed his disciples feet to set them an example. This response of Abraham required time, money, and effort on his part.
Abraham’s attitude is important here as an example to us. Paul tell us in Philippians 2:5 that our “attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who being in very nature God…emptied himself, taking the very nature of a servant…” We are to serve one another and welcome people whom God sends as though we were serving Jesus himself ----and we are! Jesus said that at the last judgment (Matthew 25) those who fed the hungry and thirsty, invited in strangers, visited the sick and in prison “looked after Me” (vs.36) and Jesus says to them “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.” (vs.40). Some years ago in the Sunday School a new family visited and the kids in the class decided the new boy was not “in their group” and made it as unpleasant as possible for him---and the family never came back. How do we—from the pre-schoolers—through Jr. Hi, High School and adults welcome new people, adults and children, who come? How can we do better to welcome them as we would welcome Jesus? Our guest teacher on the Healing Weekend said we were a hospitable church. That’s great but how are we when we haven’t been alerted ahead of time --or with someone whom we don’t recognize as important? What are some examples of thing we can do for others to help, to be hospitable?
There are a surprising number of references to hospitality in the New Testament. The qualifications of a potential Bishop, elder or deacon, etc, is that they be “given to hospitality”. See 1 Timothy 3:2, Titus1:8, 1 Timothy 5:10. Paul, in his practical instructions to the Christians in Rome (Romans 12:13) tells them to “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Practice implies something done regularly. Peter writes to new Christians (1 Peter4:9) and reminds them to “offer hospitality to one another “without grumbling”.
It is very interesting what Peter says next in vs.10, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms (speaking, serving, etc.) so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory…” Hospitality can be one of the ministries of grace, a gift of the Holy Spirit to the glory of God! It is something we all can do. Sometimes we neglect hospitality because we are too busy. What are the Lord’s priorities?
It is interesting to think about the role of eating together as the basis for fellowship. The early church did it constantly. See Act 3:46. “They broke bread (Eucharist) and ate together… ..every day. Peter and other caused great scandal when they stopped eating with the new Gentile believers (Galatians 2:11-14). Eating and drinking in the “Lord’s Supper” is a way that God provides a close connection his people. In the Old Testament the Passover Meal was also both a remembering and a relationship to the God who saved them and a way of uniting God’s people.
The most important aspect of hospitality is what we show toward God! Abraham welcomed the LORD when he welcomes the three strangers. Thank about the welcome Jesus received at his birth! “There was no room for them in the inn” – so they went to the barn (Luke 2:7). John 1:10-12 says “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…” God wants us to be hospitable to each other, strangers, little ones, those in need, but most of all he wants us to welcome him, to respond to him when he comes to us. When he prompts us to turn to him, when he invites us to follow him. God is always there when we need Him. Where are we when He comes to us and wants to work through us?
Word received: Pray for a heart that welcomes Me when I come to you.
Word received: I want you to respond to Me with the honor and quickness that Abraham did.
The How to teach word we got was related to Matthew 18:1-2 "Who is the greatest among you? And taking a little child he stood him in the midst of them…" A word received: I want My people to receive the lost and the least as though they were receiving Me. I want your hearts to be open to those I send to you. When have you felt My prompting?
Teaching Ideas for Lesson 14
• Please read Study Guide first.
• Go over Memory Verse to make sure the children understand it and then if they have read the lessons, so they will get credit at the end of the year.
• Make sure they know what happened in the story. Get them to tell you.
Basic points of the lesson for little ones.
1. God wants all of his people to practice hospitality.
2. God wants us to honor Him by responding quickly to Him and others.
It is a clear witness when we offer ministry and hospitality to others
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