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Radical Hospitality (Part One: Introduction)

By jgiroux ⋅ October 5, 2008 ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

It’s the launch of a new semester which means the start of a brand new leadership lesson series! If you are new to NCC leadership or to the zonegathering, Thursday Leadership Lesson is a weekly article selected or written by a member of our team that we hope will help you grow as a leader.

This spring, we will be talking about Radical Hospitality. At our Leadership Retreat, we committed to Forcefully Advancing the Kingdom of God in our generation. Some of you are now thinking, “Hospitality? That doesn’t sound like forcefully advancing! That sounds like teacups and doilies!” That’s what I thought, as well. But the more I delve into Jesus teachings on hospitality and its historic place in church tradition, I’m realizing that hospitality is on the front lines of advancing God’s Kingdom. Here’s one quote I read just yesterday:

“Hospitality has two meanings for most people today . It either refers to hotels and cruise ships, or it is connected to entertaining friends and family in the warmth of candlelight with gleaming silver and ivory lace. One model makes it an industry, thereby assigning some productive use to it and making it profitable. The other model relegates it to the domain of entertainment and housekeeping, generally considered women’s work. Thus, it has become safe and cozy, even productive, rather than revolutionary, risky, and world-rattling.” (from the book Radical Hospitality: Benedict’s Way of Love)

We’re going to unpack those thoughts over the next few weeks and strive to be leaders who practice hospitality in a life-giving way. We’ll explore topics like hospitality in the Old Testament, in the teachings of Jesus, and in church history. We’ll look at some very practical ideas about how to be a hospitable leader in your group and in weekend services. Sometimes, forcefully advancing the kingdom of God begins with a smile, a handshake, and an energetic, genuine greeting.

Let’s march!

Tags: Candlelight, Church History, Church Tradition, Cruise Ships, Doilies, Friends And Family, Handshake, Hospitality, Housekeeping, Ivory Lace, Jesus History, Jesus Teachings, Kingdom Of God, Launch, Leadership Retreat, Old Testament, Quote, Smile, Teachings Of Jesus, Teacups, Warmth