The Journey is an Adventure; I am an Alien: This past Sunday's Sermon, delivered at Fairview UMC

Saturday, September 10, 2011

This past Sunday's Sermon, delivered at Fairview UMC

Here is the sermon I delivered this past Sunday at Fairview UMC in Hixson. At the end is part of the pastoral prayer that I used. I've also included my handout/bulletin insert. I didn't "clean up" the copy I'm posting. You'll see my [PAUSE] and other notes. A few things were hand-written in and added and/or subtracted the day of, but this is the main idea.

“Say What, Lord?!”

Hebrews 13:2

Fairview UMC, September 4^th, 2011

Scripture: Hebrews 13:2 (NRSV)

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
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I realize this is an extremely short passage of Scripture. However, it embodies today’s message and focus.

A few important background items:

First, your pastor is speaking on “radical hospitality” during the month of September, and I wanted to keep with that theme. She will be using Matthew 10:40-42 text on September 18^th and Matthew 20:1-16 on September 25^th (if you want to be prepared).

Second, there are numerous Scripture verses that found in the Old Testament and the New Testament with “hospitality” themes. We’ll look at one or two of those even though our focus verse is Hebrews 13:2.
Last, but not least, let’s take a moment to look at Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is a sermon that was sent as a letter. The author is likely a Jewish Christian, though unknown. Even though the writing was attributed to Paul at one time, there is much evidence that would point otherwise, such as: vocabulary, literary style, and that it is not signed. Tertullian suggested that Barnabas wrote it. Martin Luther and others have thought that Apollos wrote it. Priscilla has even been suggested as author. Even though we don’t know who wrote it, it doesn’t take away from the content. The purpose of the book of Hebrews was to address the doubts of those who were second guessing their conversion to Christianity and to establish that true spirituality comes through access to God. Hebrews was most likely written to one or more of the Christian communities in Rome, likely around 65 CE. (common era)

Now, let’s look back at our focus verse and start to discuss what IS hospitality.

Our focus verse is found in the last chapter of this letter. The author is ending this letter with exhortations. The one we focus on today is:

Hebrews 13:2 (NRSV)--Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.

If we go back to Genesis 18, we will find an example in the Old Testament where Abraham showed hospitality to strangers and entertained angels unawares. Verses 1-8 tell that story:

The Lord appeared to Abraham^* by the oaks^* of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. ²He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. ³He said, ‘My lord, if I find favour with you, do not pass by your servant. ⁴Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. ⁵Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.’ So they said, ‘Do as you have said.’ ⁶And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, ‘Make ready quickly three measures^* of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.’ ⁷Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. ⁸Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate. [Genesis 18: 1-8 (NRSV)]

What IS hospitality? [PAUSE]

Hospitality is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as: “generous and friendly treatment of visitors and guests” [REPEAT DEFINITION]

I’d like to set a scene for you, a scene that depicts hospitality to me. If it helps you, close your eyes as you listen. [PAUSE]

Imagine if you will a young lady who has recently arrived to a strange place. She is a little nervous, not knowing what is going to happen to her. She is greeted and escorted to a dining hall where the hosts proceed to elaborately let her know she is their “guest” as they sing “Be Our Guest” and provide all kinds of food and drink for her. What an example of hospitality! The place? A Castle? The hosts? A clock and a candlestick, who are soon joined by singing plates and teacups. You might remember that Angela Lansbury was the teacup. Yes, I realize this is a scene from the Disney “Beauty and the Beast”, but examples of hospitality abound in life (whether fact or fiction) and we can learn from them.

There are actually numerous other examples of hospitality in that movie, even in the original black and white, if you look for them. But, we’re not going to focus on “The Beauty and the Beast” today.

Having mentioned teacups, I will bring up another aspect of hospitality that I learned from the book Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. There are many things in this book that stood out to me, as you can see by the numerous yellow and blue flags sticking out. But the one thing that stood out to me concerning hospitality was this: (refer to the three tea cups, blue, green, yellow as I speak)

"When the porcelain bowls of scalding butter tea steamed in their hands, Haji Ali spoke. ‘If you want to thrive in Baltistan, you must respect our ways, Haji Ali said, blowing on his bowl. ‘The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family, and for our family, we are prepared to do anything, even die, he said, laying his hand warmly on Mortenson’s own. ‘Doctor Greg, you must make time to share three cups of tea. We may be uneducated but we are not stupid. We have lived and survived here for a long time.’ That day, Haji Ali taught me the most important lesson I’ve ever learned in my life, Mortenson says. ‘We Americans think you have to accomplish everything quickly. […] Haji Ali taught me to share three cups of tea, to slow down and make building relationships as important as building projects. He taught me that I had more to learn from the people I work with than I could ever hope to teach them." (p. 150)

Did you hear that? You go from stranger to honored guest to family. [PAUSE] It takes time. It means slowing down and building relationships. [PAUSE] It cannot be accomplished quickly. It takes investment of time, energy, and resources. And, it takes intentionality. [PAUSE]

What does it mean for a church and its people to show hospitality? [PAUSE] A church can be both hospitable inside its walls and outside.

In Robert Schnase’s Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, the section on hospitality shares about hospitality in general and focuses on how we as churches can make our atmosphere more welcoming to the stranger, the guest.

Schnase writes:

“Hospitality is a mark of Christian discipleship, a quality of Christian community, a concrete expression of commitment to grow in Christ-likeness by seeing ourselves as part of the community of faith, “not to be served but to serve” (Matthew 20:28). [PAUSE] By practicing hospitality, we become part of God’s invitation to new life, showing people that God in Christ values them and loves them.” (p.12, Robert Schnase Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations) [PAUSE]

It is worth some time and reflection to think about our worship space, our practices, our building. Beyond the basic “welcome” and “greeting”, how is it that we can show hospitality to those who come inside our doors? [PAUSE]

I know that Fairview practices hospitality. Our Bible Study met up here for several months before we started meeting back at Burks. We were welcomed into your space here. [PAUSE]

I’ve also witnessed Fairview’s hospitality to a pack of horses that escaped their owners and came here to graze upon the grasses. J [PAUSE]

How can we take hospitality into the community? [PAUSE]

I know that Fairview is involved with Burks and Grace in the Mustard Tree Ministries on the 2^nd Thursday of each month. This is an opportunity to offer hospitality to others in a different venue, in the community. It is an opportunity to provide not only a meal, but fellowship and the love of Christ to the homeless and hungry. In fact, this Thursday, September 8^th is our time to serve again. I hope you’ll be able to participate! [PAUSE]

When we reach into the community to offer hospitality to those that are without food, shelter, or clothing, we may find ourselves outside of our comfort zones. Even so, we can do it knowing we are answering the call of Jesus who called us to follow His example and who told us that when we do for the least of these, we do for him! [PAUSE]

Just this week in Wednesday’s community section of the newspaper, I read where White Oak UMC in Red Bank is offering Spanish classes beginning on September 15^th. The news article quoted the pastor Amy Whatley: “One of our options in a multicultural community is to meet the other halfway by becoming students. We acknowledge their community and extend hospitality by learning their language.” (North Hamilton Weekly, Times Free Press, page 15)

Matthew 25:35-36 (NIV) For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

[PAUSE]

Christine Pohl, a professor at Asbury Theological Seminary, wrote Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition. Here are a few quotes from her on hospitality:

“Seeing Jesus in every guest also reduces the inclination to try to calculate the importance of one guest over another. Every person deserves the most gracious and generous welcome possible.” (68) [PAUSE]
“Hospitality does not require many resources; it does require a willingness to share what we have, whether food, time, space, or money.” (116) [PAUSE]
“A first step in making a place for hospitality may be to make room in our hearts.” (152, Pohl) [PAUSE]
“When our lives are open to hospitality, opportunities will come to make a place for others.” (152) [PAUSE]
“Hospitality is simply love in action.” (172) [PAUSE]

There’s a song that some of you might know, “Put A Little Love in Your Heart”. It was originally performed in 1968 by Jackie DeShannon. It has been covered by many bands since. Even Crossfire Worship Band at Burks has done it, and it is on their latest album release.

Listen to the lyrics as you think about how you might put this theme of hospitality into action, whether within the walls of this church or within the community.

Think of your fellow man

Lend him a helping hand