Hospitality: A Spiritual
Reinforcement
“Distributing to the needs of the saints, given to
hospitality.”
Romans 12:13
Hospitality
“You know his proven character…” Philippians 2:22
Hospitality is the character trait for the month of December. Listed below are suggestions that could be
used as a springboard to partner with NRCA teachers in instructing and explaining this principle to your
children.
Definition – Cheerfully sharing food, shelter, or conservation to benefit others. Welcome, warmth,
kindness, generosity
Antonym – aloofness, coldness, not seeking out the company of others
Key Verse – “Distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality”. Romans 12:13
Related Hymns. Sing these Songs with Your Children! Focus on Songs about Hospitality.
• Blest Be the Tie That Binds (John Fawcett, 1782)
• Break Thou the Bread of Life (Mary A. Lathbury, 1827)
• Let Jesus Come into Your Heart (Lelia N. Morris, 1898)
Bible Verses Related to Hospitality - Spend several evenings looking at just one of these verses at a
time. Don’t forget to ask your children the questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? And How?
Discuss with your family what each verse teaches about the character quality of Hospitality and give vital
application of how this quality can be applied to your family. Choose several verses to memorize together
as a family.
• of good behavior, hospitable…I Timothy 3:2
• Be hospitable to one another…I Peter 4:9
• given to hospitality…Romans 12:13
Bible Stories as a part of your family devotions. All of these stories emphasize Hospitality.
• Elijah and the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-16)
• Elisha and the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:8-17)
• Mary & Martha (Luke 10:38-42)
• The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37)
Character Definitions of Hospitality
• Learning how to provide an atmosphere which contributes to the physical and spiritual growth of
those around us.
• Learning who to invite into our home and how long the visit should last.
• Making other people comfortable with our possessions.
• Cheerfully sharing food, shelter, and friendship with others.
• Friendly welcome and entertainment of guests.
Learn and Apply the "I Wills" of Hospitality
• I will welcome visitors.
• I will make others feel important.
• I will prepare for guests.
• I will gladly share my things.
• I will not expect anything in return.
How to Demonstrate Hospitality
at Home
• Being friendly with others by talking to neighbors, meeting new people, and greeting strangers
with a smile.
• Preparing for guests by organizing and cleaning the home and preparing meals.
• Daily practicing both good etiquette and conversational skills to use with guests.
• Diligently keeping the house free of clutter to make the home available and ready for unexpected
guests.
• Invite those into your home who may not be able to return the kindness.
• Mow the lawn or run errands for an elderly neighbor.
at Work/School
• Be the first to greet visitors or newcomers.
• Get to know those at work/school so that you are better able to serve them.
at Church
• Invite neighbors to special church banquets.
• Provide meals and services to the elderly and shut-ins of the church and in the community.
• Welcome visitors to your church and invite them to your home for a meal.
Personal Evaluation - Five Probing Questions
• Do you know what type of people God does not want in your home?
• Do your attitudes communicate that your possessions are more important than the guests?
• Do those that visit your home feel like guests or family members?
• Are there things in your home that hinder Godliness and grieve the Holy Spirit?
• Do people look forward to a pleasant visit in your home, or do they suffer through family
conflicts?
Serving Others
The ideas provided here focus on celebrating the joy surrounding the birth of Jesus and on the enjoyment
found in serving others through Hospitality. • Organize a stocking stuffing event as a way to have family members bless each other with nonmaterial blessings. Have e ach family member hang a mini-stocking. Put each person’s picture on
their stocking, then have each family member write a note or draw a picture for every fami ly
member, telling or displaying something they appreciate about t hem. Encourage your kids to be
creative and provide assi stance as needed. When you open the stockings, do so one person at a
time, allowing time for each person to share what the other family members have written or
drawn. To make the occasion even sweeter, you may want to hand out candy canes (or flavoured
hard candy sticks) to savor while you enjoy the sweetness of your together time.
• To allow your children to experience the joy of giving, plan to surprise someone with a gift of
baked Christmas goodies. Prior to deciding who you should share your baking with, ask God
which family friend, relative or neighbor is in need of extra encouragement. Use the experience as
an opportunity to talk with your children about how grateful they feel when they bless another
person with a gift. Compare this to the gratefulness they feel when they recei ve gifts.
Express Your Attitude of Gratitude
Express your gratitude and respect for the friendship which another person extends to you. Express
gratefulness for the pleasures and benefits that others bring into your life. Not only do you receive the
benefits of having another friend, but you also experience the countless pleasures of accomplishment and
have a deeper understanding about yourself and your sense of community. When you are willing to share
food, comfort, conversation or shelter with others, you build the bridges that hold communities together
and allow individuals to relate positively.
KEYS TO BUILDING HOSPITALITY
• GREET OTHERS
Acknowledge the presence of others, even if you don't have time for a long conversation. Be aware of coworkers and acquaintances. Make eye contact and give a pleasant greeting. Strive to remember specific
things about each person.
• SHARE OPENLY
Accept the fact that being hospitable doesn't mean how much money you spend on entertaining or
helping someone. Share your time, your energy and your encouragement with an open heart. The purpose
of sharing openly should never be what you expect to get out of a relationship. However, if those you help
and support return the favor in some way, accept their generosity with out protesting that the giver should
not have done something for you. Do not belittle the joy that they find in doing something kind for you.
• PLAN AHEAD
Recognize the needs of those you want to benefit. Allow plenty of time for running errands and providing
transportation for senior adults. They move more slowly. In the workplace, prepare for an appointment so
that time may be used appropriately. Make guests or colleagues comfortable and consider what is
important to the other person.
• INVEST FREELY
Hospitality that includes food or transportation, does have a price tag. You must make the decision about
your expenditures. It is not the amount of money spent, but the needs of the individual and the sincerity in
which you express interest in their needs. The sincerity of your gesture will depend on whether you see
your time and energy as a cost, or an investment. Make the relationship the highest priority, not the
amount of money or time spent.
• INITIATE FRIENDSHIP
Relationships must be nurtured. Show kindness to everyone, but select friends and advisors from among
those whose good character recommends them. Faithfully care about those at home and at work.
Whatever your relationships, treat others with the respect and care you want to receive.