The Ministry of Hospitality

Josh Hunt, presenter

“I gotta tell someone!”

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by

the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,”

Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and

followed him.

Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his

house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating

with them. Luke 5:27-39 [NIV]

3 of 33 Joined

9 of 10 Joined

Get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner. Romans 12:13

[NLT]

Offer hospitality to one another without

grumbling.1 Peter 4:9 [NIV]

Who to Invite• Then he told the man who had

invited him, “When you invite people for lunch or dinner, don’t invite only your friends.” Luke 14:12 (GW)

• Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends.” Luke 14:12 [NIV]

We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together

for the truth. 3 John 1:8 [NIV]

We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together

for the truth. 3 John 1:8 [NIV]

There is an epidemic of loneliness in our culture.

During the first two-thirds of the century Americans took a more and more active role in the social and political life of their communities–in churches and card tables and dinner tables.

Year by year we gave more generously to charity, we pitched in more often on community projects, and we behaved in an increasingly trustworthy way toward one another.

Then, mysteriously and more or less simultaneously, we began to do all these things less often.

Associations

Unions

P.T.A.

Participation in Organizations

Informal Socializing

Clubs

Card Playing

Bowling Leagues

People who are not in a group are twice as likely to die in the next year as those

who are in a group.

People who have strong social connections, but

poor health habits (eating, exercise, smoking, etc.) are just as healthy as

those with good health habits but weak social

connections.

“Better to eat Twinkies with

friends than to eat broccoli alone.”-John Ortberg

One study injected 270 people with a virus that causes the

common cold.

Those with strong social connections did not get as

sick, did not stay sick as long, and produced less mucus than

the less connected group.

The epidemic of loneliness creates an

opportunity for us.

If you want to double your class every two years or less, don’t invite people to class.

Instead, invite them to the party.