Open Up Your Home

The Importance of Christian Fellowship

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I would have people over, but…

“Our house is way too small.”

“We just live too far out.”
“We haven’t had time to work in the yard.”
“We can’t have that new family over. You’ve
seen their children—they are out of control!”
1 Peter 4:8-10

“ And above all things have fervent love for

one another, for "love will cover a multitude of
sins." Be hospitable to one another without
grumbling. As each one has received a gift,
minister it to one another, as good stewards
of the manifold grace of God.”
NKJV
Who?

• Strangers – Hebrews 13:2

• Enemies – Romans 12:20
• Poor and needy – James 1:27
• Sick – Matthew 25:36
• Imprisoned and lonely – Matthew 25:36
• Friends – 1 John 4:7
• Fellow Christians – Galatians 6:10
• Our own families – 1 Timothy 5:8
Biblical Examples

• Sarah and Abraham

• Boaz
• Widow of Zarephath
• Shunemmite woman
2 Kings 4:8-10
“Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem,
where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him
to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he
would turn in there to eat some food. And she said to her
husband, "Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God,
who passes by us regularly. Please, let us make a small
upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there,
and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be,
whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there."
Biblical Examples

• Sarah and Abraham

• Boaz
• Widow of Zaraphath
• Shunemmite woman
• Lydia
The Value of Christian Fellowship

1. It is commanded.
- Romans 12:10-13 “devoted to one another in
brotherly love”
- 1 Tim. 3:2 elders must be given to hospitality
- Titus 1:8 bishops must be lovers of hospitality
The Value of Christian Fellowship

2. It strengthens the church

Acts 2:43-47
“Now all who believed were together, and had all things in
common, and sold their possessions and goods, and
divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing
daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread
from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and
simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the
people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who
were being saved.”
The Value of Christian Fellowship

2. It strengthens the church

- Young ladies with children

- Ladies’ devos, home Bible studies
- Youth groups
The Value of Christian Fellowship

3.Evangelistic hospitality

- Reaching out to the lost

- Reaching out to weaker members
Why we neglect weaker members

• We may have forgotten their names

• We tend to settle into our own pews
• We just don’t have the love that we should
The Value of Christian Fellowship

3. Evangelistic hospitality

- Reaching out to the lost

- Reaching out to weaker members
- Reaching out to visitors
1. Speak to everyone you don’t know.
2. Send them a note.
3. Use that Sunday that you set aside.
Start with our families

• Hospitality in front of our children

• Hospitable to their friends
• Make our families feel special
– Meet them at the door
– Eat at the table together
– Make special meals
Genuine Hospitality

G ive graciously
U nderstand usual needs
E ducate for etiquette
S implify your system
Take time
Taken from: Homeschooling at the Speed of Life by Marilyn Rockett