Showing Hospitality
Hospitality as a backdrop for magnifying Jesus Christ
by Sis. Tracy

The Bible says we are to be given to be given to hospitality:

Romans 12:10, 13 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Some people complain that they have no friends but the scripture says,

Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly...

Don't sit around for somebody to pamper you, start ministering to others in Jesus' name. If King Jesus did it, we do it and it's great! Yes, sometimes you'll do people good and they'll do you wrong but that's alright. You've got to learn how to take a bullet in the chest, pray and keep on going in Jesus' name.

How do I prepare?

I am not the big expert, but we have a lot of folks come through here and this is what I do in Jesus' name.

I try to have the bulk of my food done by the time the guests come over so that I can enjoy my company. The salad already cut up in the refrigerator, green beans cooked, etc. I don't cook bread until my guests arrive. A big part of my preparation is asking the Lord Jesus to magnify Himself in our gathering.

I try to make things easy on myself so I think through what we may need for the day so all flows smoothly. If there is something I can cook the night before, I do. I play my gospel music and enjoy preparing for the souls that the Lord brings our way.

Dishes: I use a lot of disposable pans, plates, forks, etc. so I can keep my cleaning up to a minimum. Sometimes I'll break out my thrift store china and candles--even for enchiladas--for a little change up. If you don't know how to set a table, I'm sure you can find diagrams on the 'net to help you. I'm no expert my own self.

What do I do when I invite folks over?

At the beginning: When the folks come we might have a Christian video on that folks/children can watch--especially when we have guests come home with us after service and we want to change clothes, warm up food, etc. That allows us to do what we have to do without leaving our guests bored to death. I usually grab my apron and get to moving. Sometimes sisters or brothers sometimes come holler at me in the kitchen or if its a nice day folks and children will be in the back yard playing ball, talking, etc. Downstairs we have a ping pong table, checkers, and things of that nature to occupy until I can get dinner on the table. I personally don't care too much for games--besides I am cooking. Someone usually drifts in to talk. Otherwise, it is me and King Jesus.

Time to eat: When it is time to eat, we gather in the kitchen and hold hands and my husband prays or asks one of the brothers to give thanks. I serve buffet style on the center island in the kitchen. The plates, forks, cups, drinks, etc. are all set up before my guests arrive. If I have extra stuff like a crock pot of meatballs, I let everybody know where the extra stuff is. You don't have to have a center island to serve, serve off kitchen counters or set up a folding table to place food on, etc.

Seating: I ask my husband where he wants to sit. Sometimes that is the dining room, sometimes not. His office is on the main floor and sometimes the brothers go in there. Sometimes the family room, sometimes the dining room, sometimes the dinette area if there are just two of them. Once big daddy tells me what he wants to do, then I make the rest of the arrangements from there. I let folks sit where they want to but I try to have a place in mind for the children based on ages and manners. If its nice outside they can sit at the picnic table in the back. If not, then there is a dinette area where they can eat. When there are a number of children I have to improvise. The dining room seats eight. I let anybody sit in there that wants to. I typically don't have much appetite so I keep things moving.

Now...all of this is good and fine but I must emphasize that the food is not the emphasis of our hospitality. The Lord Jesus Christ is. I don't cook for everybody to say "this is great!" I try to make something taste good so people can enjoy it, but I don't care for cooking. I do it because folks need to eat. I want to talk about Jesus and see how I can minister to my guests not only physically but spiritually. That takes me to...

What do I talk about?

The men and women typically split up at some point. After dinner, I may straighten up a little (very little) because I want to enjoy the people. Often the sisters and I go somewhere to pray, read the word, or discuss the things of the Lord. I don't care about football, Hell's Box Office (HBO), foolish talk or jesting. I am looking to talk about the Lord Jesus Christ and that is what I do. People should leave our presence, better and not worse than they were when they came in.

If you don't know the person, ask them about their Christian testimony. Tell them how you got saved. Ask about their spiritual gifts. Ask them what they've been reading in the word or if there is any word from the Lord. Pray together--let your guests pray first and then you close--include the young girls and teenagers. Let a guest select a scripture passage (or you offer one that has been speaking to you). If it is lengthy, let each guest read a verse (stopping after each verse to discuss it as a group) and let yourself be last.

It may be that someone has something on their heart. In that case, "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." Don't be high minded but "condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits."

Who should we invite? Look around--church members (everybody in church is not saved plus I want to know my brothers and sisters), the newspaper man, families, singles, and especially those who cannot repay you.

What is required that I show hospitality?

Your own place whether apartment, townhouse, duplex, single family, RV, etc. Some type of refreshment even if it is a cup of cold water and a cheese sandwich.

What if I am not confident about my cooking?

I try to cook things that I already know how to cook pretty well so that I don't have to serve my guests a disaster or have to go out at the last minute to buy chicken. If I want to try a new recipe, I usually experiment on my family first.

I am including here some sample lunch/dinner spreads. If you need a recipe, let me know and I'll work on adding it to this page so that others can benefit. I can't get all the way down to the exact tablespoons but if you get the exact brand names, you should be able to duplicate the dishes. I don't always go all out but I try to have a little variety. Everybody does not like everything. I try to mix and match so somebody can have a plate of something they like. I am not a gourmet cook and the things that I cook do not require any exotic ingredients. I have a few spices that I love to use on just about anything: McCormick chicken seasoning and Mrs. Dash's (with the yellow top) are staples. I also keep Lipton tea bags on hand, cresent rolls, vegetables, etc. I have a sign in my kitchen (got it from the thrift store) "Cook on duty 24 hours". If you are hungry, we can get you something. Cooking is not my favorite thing to do but I want the food to taste good and it is rewarding when people come and enjoy themselves in the Lord, our friends want to know when they can come back again.

The following may look like a lot of work but you take the dishes you want and arrange them they way you like. You may want to serve one meat, one vegetable, a salad, a starch, and Pillsbury crescent rolls (when you take them out of the oven immediately brush butter on them--delicious). These are just sample menu ideas...