This week we are talking about Chapter 8 of the book Practicing Hospitality as part of a book study with Passionate Homemaking.
This chapter focused on hospitality and ministry. This is the last chapter of the book and it focused on tips that the authors collected from women participating in a survey.
Here is my favorite tip provided (Pg. 229):
Anne Johnson suggests keeping your home so that it is not a crisis to have an imprumptu visitor…However, do not demand perfection – in decoration or orderliness – before reaching out to others; that is pride, not ministry.
This really sums up a lot of what I have gotten from this book. Hospitality isn’t about me, the food we serve, how nice our home looks. Hospitality is all about God and showing His love to others!
The authors end the book discussing what they call they “hospitalitudes.” These sum up all the main points of the book, here are the first six (Pg. 237):
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Happy are those who practice biblical hospitality because in doing so they are demonstrating their love for God (1 John 3:17-18).
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Happy are those who pursue the love of strangers for they are choosing to obey their heavenly Father’s command and modeling his character (Romans 12:13b).
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Happy are those in church leadership who practice hospitality for they allow others to observe them in their homes where their character is most graphically revealed (1 Timothy 3:1-2; Titus 1:5-8).
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Happy are those who include people of all cultures on their guest lists for in this manner they are demonstrating the expansive love of their heavenly Father (john 3:16).
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Happy are those who are willing to make the sacrifice to practice hospitality, for they understand that memories require time and energy to create (Exodus 12:1-14).
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Happy are those who develop hospitality management skills, for in this way they are capable of being faithful stewards of all that the Lord has provided for them (1 Corinthians 4:2).
Tomorrow (Tuesday) I will be posting my final review of this book.
Anyone who posts a comment on any Practicing Hospitality post by April 7th, at 11:59 pm ET, will be entered to win a copy of this book, courtesy of Crossway Books.
At the end of this 8 week book study I will be giving away a copy of this book, courtesy of Crossway Books! Each time you comment on a post about this book you will be entered to win! The winner will be announced on April 9th (This date has been updated).
Comment comment comment … sounds like an awesome book.