"Hospitality"...What is it suppose to look like in the church? What expectataions should I set for myself and other believers when it comes to opening my home to others, fellowship, ect. Is it possible to fellowship too much? Do singles and married couples have different responsibilities here? If so, how?
Lydia Brownback, on her blog (http://purplecellar.blogspot.com/),The Purple Celler, wrote about this sermon from John Piper: "Marriage, Singleness, and the Christian Virtue of Hospitality"
My initial thoughts to Piper's sermon - I've never really thought about hospitality that deeply. It's a lot of food for thought, but nothing immediately jumped out at me. Was there something in particular that jumped out at you, Kellye?
As for your questions, I have no idea what it's supposed to "look like." If it's a Baptist church, there should be BBQ or fried chicken involved.
What expectataions should I set for myself and other believers when it comes to opening my home to others, fellowship, ect. Is it possible to fellowship too much?
Do singles and married couples have different responsibilities here?
I'm not sure I'm following you here on these quesitons. Are we talking how and who you fellowship with? Too much with one group over another? What responsibilities - cooking, cleaning, conversation direction and tone?
My questions are a bit strange, I am having trouble getting out what I am trying to say.
- As a single woman, I know that I am to be "about the things of the Lord" and I just want to know how to do this well in every area of my life. My single friends and I have been discussing how much we should expect of our married friends (how much time should they spend with us, how often should we be welcome in their homes...) We want to respect their privacy and the fact that they need to spend time with their family. However, we know that we are called to fellowship and hospitality.
Kellye, that does make things a little clearer. I think the keyword in all of this is expectation, which can be a dangerous word in any relationship. Too high, and there's a let down; too low, and it's unfulfilling. Just right can feel like a delicate high wire act at times.
"We want to respect their privacy and the fact that they need to spend time with their family. However, we know that we are called to fellowship and hospitality."
If I may, I would like to re-word this, to make sure I have the context correct: "I would like to give them time alone, but God wants us to spend time together." Let me know how far off I am on this.
It sounds like you would like to spend more time with your married friends. My advice is to tell them. One of two things will happen: 1) they'll agree with you, and fellowship will occur; or 2) they'll disagree, in which case you may want to question to what degree these people are "friends." Feel free to smack me down if I'm way off base here.
8 comments:
"Hospitality"...What is it suppose to look like in the church? What expectataions should I set for myself and other believers when it comes to opening my home to others, fellowship, ect. Is it possible to fellowship too much? Do singles and married couples have different responsibilities here? If so, how?
Lydia Brownback, on her blog (http://purplecellar.blogspot.com/),The Purple Celler, wrote about this sermon from John Piper: "Marriage, Singleness, and the Christian Virtue of Hospitality"
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2007/2179_Marriage_Singleness_and_the_Christian_Virtue_of_Hospitality/
Everybody who is reading, why don't we read this article from Piper and discuss it...
I feel like I am talking to myself...:)
My initial thoughts to Piper's sermon - I've never really thought about hospitality that deeply. It's a lot of food for thought, but nothing immediately jumped out at me. Was there something in particular that jumped out at you, Kellye?
As for your questions, I have no idea what it's supposed to "look like." If it's a Baptist church, there should be BBQ or fried chicken involved.
What expectataions should I set for myself and other believers when it comes to opening my home to others, fellowship, ect. Is it possible to fellowship too much?
Do singles and married couples have different responsibilities here?
I'm not sure I'm following you here on these quesitons. Are we talking how and who you fellowship with? Too much with one group over another? What responsibilities - cooking, cleaning, conversation direction and tone?
Misawa,
My questions are a bit strange, I am having trouble getting out what I am trying to say.
- As a single woman, I know that I am to be "about the things of the Lord" and I just want to know how to do this well in every area of my life. My single friends and I have been discussing how much we should expect of our married friends (how much time should they spend with us, how often should we be welcome in their homes...) We want to respect their privacy and the fact that they need to spend time with their family. However, we know that we are called to fellowship and hospitality.
I hope that makes more sence.
Kellye, that does make things a little clearer. I think the keyword in all of this is expectation, which can be a dangerous word in any relationship. Too high, and there's a let down; too low, and it's unfulfilling. Just right can feel like a delicate high wire act at times.
"We want to respect their privacy and the fact that they need to spend time with their family. However, we know that we are called to fellowship and hospitality."
If I may, I would like to re-word this, to make sure I have the context correct: "I would like to give them time alone, but God wants us to spend time together." Let me know how far off I am on this.
It sounds like you would like to spend more time with your married friends. My advice is to tell them. One of two things will happen: 1) they'll agree with you, and fellowship will occur; or 2) they'll disagree, in which case you may want to question to what degree these people are "friends." Feel free to smack me down if I'm way off base here.
Kellye,
If you want to spend more time with my wife and me, just say so :)
j razz
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