Leadership

Radical Hospitality (Part Five: Weekend Services)

By jgiroux ⋅ November 6, 2008 ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

This is Part 5 of the Spring Leadership Lesson Series: Radical Hospitality at National Community Church. As we lead our groups and ministries, we must strive to forcefully advance the Kingdom of God through strategic evangelism, exponential discipleship, and sacrificial service. Hospitality is on the front lines of such an advance.

Today, we will get very practical and talk about how to practice hospitality at our weekend worship gatherings.

For the past few weeks, we’ve explored a number of different stories from the Scriptures that have wrecked our paradigms of hospitality and begun to revolutionize the way we view and engage those around us. Today, we’ll move from theology to practicality. How do we take these principles we have learned from the text and begin to follow Paul’s exhortation to “practice hospitality?” (Romans 12:13)

Let’s focus first on the most obvious environment for experimenting with these ideas- our weekend worship gatherings. We have an amazing Hospitality Team who get to the Ebenezers and the movie theaters early to stuff bulletins, set up Connection Tables, prepare communion, and serve coffee and doughnuts. They stay through services to greet everyone who walks through the door, welcome guests, assist people in finding seats, and wake that guest whose quick sermon nap erupts into a full body snore. Our Hospitality Team makes NCC happen. But Paul didn’t exhort just the Hospitality Team to practice hospitality; he instructed all of us to do it.

How can you practice hospitality on Saturday nights and Sunday mornings? Here are a few simple ideas:

View Every Newcomer as a Guest

We sometimes use the word “guest” and visitor” interchangeably. But there’s a big different. A visitor to your home is a person who you engage on the front doorstep. A guest is someone you prepare your home to receive, and you engage them in the interior rooms. Treat every person who walks through the doors of NCC as an important guest.

Put People First and Product Second

Many of us have tasks that must be accomplished at the weekend services. While those are important and need to be done, remember that people are our highest priority.

Just Say Hi

Here’s a novel idea. Be intentional about smiling and saying “hi” to the people that walk past you and sit by you. First time guests determine in the first five minutes whether or not they will come back. That’s before the music starts or the sermon is preached. Say hi to every person around you.

Make Conversation

Use the following questions to jumpstart a conversation:

What is your name?
Where are you from?
How did you find out about NCC?
Tell them something about yourself, and then try to move the conversation back to them

Put Something in Their Hand

Give them a resource to help them take their next step at NCC. The Annual Ministry Report and Discipleship Atlas are obvious examples.

Make Their Day

It’s really not hard to say a word of encouragement, give a pat on the back, or give affirmation to someone if we are just intentional about looking for the opportunities. Most of the people who walk through our doors desperately need love, hope, and a little inspiration. A quick touch or word could make their day. Come to each service asking God to use you to make someone’s day.

What are some other ways that we can practice hospitality in creative and meaningful ways?

About The Author: Heather Z. is the Pastor of Discipleship at National Community Church in Washington, DC.

Tags: Connection Tables, Discipleship, Doorstep, Hospitality Services, Hospitality Team, Interior Rooms, Kingdom Of God, Movie Theaters, Newcomer, Paradigms, Practicality, Romans 12, Sacrificial Service, Saturday Nights, Sermon, Service Hospitality, Strategic Evangelism, Sunday Mornings, Welcome Guests, Word Guest, Worship Gatherings