BEING A RADICAL HOST AND AN AWESOME GUEST

Sermon Summary 3/17/19, “Radical Hospitality: Being a Radical Host AND an Awesome Guest” (John 4 (selected verses))

During our Lenten journey we are going to look at essential practices for individuals and congregations that are essential to fulfill our mission of “Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.”  How is it we make (new) disciples.  Do we do the same as we did in 1850 when we were established?  In 1950 when our service men came home from the war, started families?  Then, we opened our doors and people came.  In 1950 we had an “attractional” model.  Is that going to work today? In 2050? What about 2015 (just around the corner)?

Do you realize that Jesus almost never preached in Synagogues?  He spent time with people wherever he could find them: On the mountain, on the level plain, the seashore, in boats, in homes, in the upper room.

Jesus was both a Radical Host and an Awesome Guest.  In John 1, he invited Andrew to “Come and See.”  But in John 2, he went to the Wedding in Cana and was an Awesome Guest.  In John 3, he had made himself known (and third mode of evangelism) and Nicodemus came to Jesus by night..  In John 4, made a divine appointment at the well.  He was an Awesome Guest in Samaria.   The woman became an Awesome Guest in her market place when she invited the townspeople to “Come and See” Jesus.

It seems that both “Come and See” (Radical Host) and “Go and Do” (Awesome Guest) are used by Jesus.  So too we need to display Radical Hospitality to our guests, but also, we need to be intentional in going into the world to make ourselves known, hospitable, and available to a society that does not know God.  Be and Awesome Guest.

Do you know that 50 percent who shop in the same stores as you would not know the name of pastor to call in time of crisis, of a death, a lost job, a broken relationship, a family crisis?  To fulfill our mission (the Jesus model is the missional model), we need to be willing to made ourselves know, not to preach, not to teach, but to be known.  We need to be hospitable even as Awesome Guests.  Hospitality is the key to human relationships.  Without making space for another, there can be no relationship.

We talked at our January church meeting about making it a practice to meet in coffee shops or restaurants at times when others gather.  What if somebody experiences a crisis and says, “Oh, I remember that guy I met at the diner.  Maybe somebody at Prairie Chapel can help me.”  Or at the table, someone might say, “I’ve been thinking of going to church for a long time.  But I’ve never had a pastor drink coffee with me before.”  To which I can say, “Now you have.  Won’t you join us this Sunday.” 

People need Jesus.   Jesus is the answer to the deepest longings of the human heart.  If we really, really believe that, we will be Radical Hosts and Awesome Guests.  We will make space both there and here so that they can experience the love of God in Jesus Christ.  Amen.