Locations & Times

Why Hospitality Is Every Believer’s Job
by Jeff Poor

Some of my favorite childhood memories are of playing with the neighborhood kids. Any chance we got we were outside or over someone’s house. And it wasn’t just us kids, our parents were in on it as well. This wasn’t a unique experience; this was the norm. Neighbors knew each other, shared meals, exchanged stories, and looked out for one another. 

Today, most of us don’t even know the names of those who live next door. We rush through grocery stores and pass by people at church without saying a word. We live increasingly isolated lives. 

Hospitality is quickly becoming a lost art in our culture. 

At the same time, we have seen a dramatic rise in isolation, stress, and mental health challenges. Our world is in desperate need of true hospitality and the answer is found within the walls of our churches. 

When we think of hospitality, we tend to picture someone who is good at entertaining. They host the perfect dinner with the table set just right, serve the Pinterest perfect meal, and create warm and welcoming atmospheres. But biblical hospitality goes far beyond hosting dinner parties. 

At its core, hospitality is about making space for people, for conversations, and for Jesus to work in and through us. It’s opening our lives to others the way Christ has opened His life to us. The gospel itself is the ultimate act of hospitality. Jesus displayed hospitality to us, therefore we are to go and do likewise. 

In the Bible we see hospitality as not merely entertaining guests, but as a deeply rooted expression of unconditional love, kindness, and generosity. We are called to welcome and care for others because it reflects God’s love and care for us. 

Romans 15:7 says, “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Jesus welcomed us when we had nothing to offer Him. He made space for the broken, the outcast, and the sinner. And now, as His followers, we’re called to do the same.

Living Out Hospitality in Daily Life 

Hospitality isn’t just about what happens at the dinner table, it’s about how we see people and make room for them in our daily lives. It’s greeting the new person at church or going out of your way to help a neighbor, It’s showing kindness when it’s inconvenient and welcoming people into our lives, even when things aren’t perfectly put together.

Hebrews 13:2 reminds us, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Hospitality is a way God works through us, often in ways we don’t even realize.

Perhaps one of the reasons we avoid hospitality is that it feels uncomfortable. We don’t know what to say. We feel awkward. We worry we’ll be rejected. But Jesus never called us to comfort, He called us to love. 

Hospitality isn’t about having the right words or making everything look effortless. It’s about showing up. It’s about being available. It’s about pursuing connection with others. Some people might be naturally good at hospitality. But this isn’t a spiritual gift reserved for a few; it’s a command for all.

Every believer is called to be hospitable. Maybe for you, it’s inviting someone over for dinner. Maybe it’s starting a conversation with the person sitting alone. Or maybe it simply starts with learning your neighbors’ names. 

The heart of hospitality is about helping people feel like they belong. You don’t need a formal invitation or a perfectly planned gathering. Start small and look for ways you can make the people around you feel seen and valued.

• At church: Instead of rushing in and out, take a moment to talk someone you don’t know.
• In your neighborhood: Be intentional about knowing the people around you. 
• With your coworkers: Take an interest in their lives.
• With Your classmates: Find ways you can help other students around you. 

Hospitality may seem like a fading art in our increasingly disconnected world, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. If followers of Jesus take their calling seriously, we can inject light into the darkness. Imagine the impact we could make if we embraced hospitably.  I don’t think we can fully grasp how one conversation, one meal, one act of kindness can change someone’s eternity.