To practice hospitality as Jesus did we need to minister to both the spiritual and the physical needs of the whole person. We can only do this by hearing God's call upon our own lives and acting in the resurrection power of Christ.
Scripture: Proverbs 24:3-12
Sermon Notes:
Hospitality describes the relationship between a guest and a host.
Historically, a hospice was a place where travelers could find rest on their journey.
Christians have an opportunity to bring rest to those inside and outside the gospel community.
Proverbs 24 talks about a war that entails a call to rescue those being led away to death.
Canada has been facing physician-assisted suicide since June 2016. This is a war on human life and the dignity of those made in the image of God.
We need to ask, how can we engage the challenges to hospitality in our time.
The Lord models hospitality and hospice care in His ministry.
The disciples faced several challenges to the showing of hospitality which are still challenges in our day. The resurrection empowers us for hospitality.
In Mark 5 the Lord shows compassion toward the demon-possessed man; the locals only saw the economic loss of their pigs. Jesus puts value on the individual.
In the gospels, Jesus cares for and ministers to the whole person. The Lord looks beyond the physical need and ministers to the spiritual need, and vice versa (Mark 2:3-12; Mark 6:35-44).
People who are in hospice or palliative care may be at a critical point in their lives when they are willing to consider spiritual things.
If we are to be effective in the ministry God calls us to we must learn to quiet ourselves in the presence of the Father.
We tend to connect value to what people can do, so we often fail to see the value of the dying process.
The dying process affords the opportunity to learn how to give and receive care.
The resurrection and ascension of Jesus is the answer to the obstacles of death and palliative care.
As the Ruler of all Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father and supplies infinite power to accomplish His work in the world.
The Lord started this work of hospitality and calls us to follow.
We should begin by ministering to the needs of others in our own homes.
We can and must resist the supply of physician-assisted suicide; but by exercising hospice care in the name of Christ we can directly affect the demand for it.
The risen Lord can take our simple acts of obedience and make a radical change as we submit ourselves to Him.
The Lord calls us to fellowship with Him in the communion meal which provides us with strength to go out and do the work He has called us to.
Application Questions:
What is Christian hospitality and why is it important?
What are some historical and biblical examples of hospitality that we can model today?
Identify needs in your community where the people of God can exercise hospitality.
Why and how should Christians oppose physician-assisted suicide?
How can we learn to recognize the value of the dying process?
