Be the Home

You can be the home of the mission. How? The Bible gives us the method of this in 1 Peter 4:8-11 when it states, “Be hospitable to one another without complaint.” An avenue of missional living is to create a welcoming physical space to host those who are searching.

Author Henri Nouwen states in his book Reaching Out that Hospitality is “primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change takes place”

Rosaria Butterfield continues this thought in her book The Gospel Comes With a House Key. She writes “When we daily gather with family of God in organic and open and communal ways and invite those who do not yet know Christ to enter, we accompany one another burdens. We show a watching world what fervent prayer sounds like - talking to God, knowing that we are, through the merits of Christ, on good terms with Him, and that our daily needs are his concern.”

Disciple making is relational but creating relationships can be difficult, especially with those that don’t know Christ. Yet, we can cross cultural and worldview borders to share the gospel when we open our homes to others. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, but simply be available to share your space, your food, your time, and your story to those around you.

Here are a few practical notes if you choose to be the home that the great commission is accomplished through.

1.     Know your giftings and your limits. If you have a large social capacity, you will be able to host often, however, if you do not, make sure and limit the days of the week in which you host. This isn’t a shameful acknowledgement. Hosting requires a lot of space and energy. Make sure you can give both before you make commitments.

2.     Host with intentionality. Although hospitality does not have to be elaborate, it does require thought. Remember the purpose of disciple making and focus your actions on that.

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