WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:01.600 We could just keep doing that, right? 00:00:01.919 --> 00:00:03.279 That's beautiful, beautiful. 00:00:03.359 --> 00:00:04.559 Thank you, ladies. 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:06.719 Well, thank you again. 00:00:06.879 --> 00:00:08.000 This is my last time. 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:12.960 You'll have another uh small group time, which I know is always beneficial. 00:00:13.119 --> 00:00:15.359 I hope you all had a a lovely time with those. 00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:23.600 Thank you again for the lunch and just the the warm hospitality, which is what we're about to talk to, that we have been shown today. 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:28.800 So, can we give the team a thank a big round of applause for thank you? 00:00:29.359 --> 00:00:30.000 Amen. 00:00:33.119 --> 00:00:37.520 Much goes on behind the scenes for many months leading up to this. 00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:39.359 And so thank you, ladies. 00:00:39.520 --> 00:00:40.960 It has been delightful. 00:00:41.119 --> 00:00:44.240 So I want to show you a picture of my family. 00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:46.799 Do we have that? 00:00:47.039 --> 00:00:47.600 Almost. 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:48.479 There we go. 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:49.520 There it is. 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:56.320 So we uh celebrated 40 years of wedded bliss, July 20th of 85. 00:00:56.399 --> 00:00:58.159 I mean July 20th of this past year. 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:01.520 We got married in July 20th uh of 85. 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:04.959 But this is the first time we'd all been together in about a year and a half. 00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:05.840 This was in August. 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:10.400 We all met down in Georgia and uh thankfully had a weekend together. 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:16.640 Um so Ed and I are in the middle, our oldest son Parker on the right with his wife and their five. 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:18.400 Uh right, right there, Millie. 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:19.680 Where are you, Millie? 00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:20.799 Is Millie there? 00:01:20.959 --> 00:01:24.079 Millie, that's Millie right there, right, right there. 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:26.799 So the little baby in her arms is Millie. 00:01:26.959 --> 00:01:27.200 Yes. 00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:30.239 So I loved Millie from the moment I met her last night. 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:34.640 And then our son Charlie and his um wife and their five kids. 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:43.519 Charlie and Molly actually had their wedding reception right over in that room where we were back, oh, I don't know, 10, 12, 15 years ago, however long that's been. 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:51.200 And then uh Savannah and Drew and their little boy Callahan, my daughter Savannah, and my daughter Madison, right there by me. 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:53.359 So thankful for my family. 00:01:53.519 --> 00:01:55.680 I wanted you to see that because I love my family. 00:01:55.760 --> 00:02:03.680 Plus, I wanted you to see the people that both endured and benefited from our showing hospitality over the years. 00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:06.079 So let me pray one more time for us. 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:09.840 Father, thank you for uh just a delightful day. 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:11.360 Thank you, God, for your word. 00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:19.199 Thank you for the already the work of your spirit, and I pray that you would continue working in us uh this hour. 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:21.360 Lord, help me in Jesus' name. 00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:22.240 Amen. 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:32.000 So there's so many areas that we could have looked at that deal with obedience from a changed heart, but again, we chose the tongue and hospitality. 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:37.439 And this subject is near and dear to my heart, the subject of hospitality. 00:02:37.680 --> 00:02:49.439 And it is one big area that should grow and flow from a heart of flesh, from a changed heart, from a Christian's heart, the area of hospitality. 00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:53.759 So I'm excited to end this conference with this topic. 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:55.280 I hope you are alert. 00:02:55.439 --> 00:03:00.639 I hope you had enough coffee and sweets that you're not on that sugar low, but you're still on that sugar high. 00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:08.159 Um, so we have again been the recipients of much good food, much hospitality, but stick with me on this one. 00:03:08.319 --> 00:03:11.039 I think it'll be a fun one as well as convicting. 00:03:11.199 --> 00:03:13.280 So try to try to hang in there. 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:16.719 So, Roman numeral one, hospitality in the gospel. 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:21.439 I had a lady ask me, go slower, repeat the things for the for the uh the blanks. 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:23.280 And I looked at this handout just now. 00:03:23.360 --> 00:03:25.759 There are no blanks, so I think you'll be okay. 00:03:27.840 --> 00:03:29.520 Hospitality and the gospel. 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:31.840 The gospel is of first importance. 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:41.280 Everything we do in our Christian walk should be done through the lens of the gospel, not through legalism or guilt, but keeping the gospel in focus. 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:44.159 Now, these verses are not on the screen. 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:48.879 I decided uh it later on that I wanted to look at these in the Bible. 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:50.479 Actually, I wanted you to read them. 00:03:50.560 --> 00:03:54.800 So I'm gonna ask you to turn in your Bibles or the Pew Bible, the phone app, whatever. 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:55.759 Actually look at them. 00:03:55.919 --> 00:03:59.199 1 Corinthians 15, verses 1 through 4. 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:03.680 1 Corinthians 15, 1 through 4, and then we're gonna move over to Colossians. 00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:11.919 But I want to read 1 Corinthians 15, 1 through 4 for you, remembering the gospel, hospitality and the gospel. 00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:24.639 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preach to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preach to you, unless you believed in vain. 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:38.160 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures. 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:41.519 So, ladies, that's what we mean when we say the gospel is of first importance. 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:42.480 You'll hear that phrase. 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:43.680 That's where that comes from. 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:50.079 Paul is saying to the church at Corinth, this is of utmost, of first importance, the gospel. 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:52.800 And he spells out what that gospel is. 00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:55.759 And then I love these verses in Colossians 1. 00:04:55.920 --> 00:05:00.079 Go to Colossians chapter 1, verses 3 through 6. 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:04.480 Colossians 1, 3 through 6. 00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:20.319 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. 00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:37.920 Of this you have heard before in the word of truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing, as it also does among you since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God and truth. 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:44.959 I I think I didn't know until about, I don't know, 20 years ago that these verses actually were in the Bible. 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:50.160 Ladies, I did not understand that the gospel was for believers as well as unbelievers. 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:54.480 And it was life-changing when I discovered that as a Christian. 00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:58.160 We should never relegate the gospel to lost people only. 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:04.399 In Jerry Bridges' book, The Gospel for Real Life, he says we put the gospel on a shelf. 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:09.600 We relegate the gospel to a shelf, and then we pull it down when we need it for a lost person. 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:15.040 Oh, you're having some company over and you know that you need to share the gospel around the dinner table, you pull it down. 00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:18.160 You're going out on, you know, evangelism with your church. 00:06:18.399 --> 00:06:20.879 Let me get the gospel off the shelf and take it with me. 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:26.720 Ladies, we don't need to relegate the gospel just for the to the shelf, just for non-believers. 00:06:27.199 --> 00:06:31.920 We need it to be the driving force behind everything we do as Christians. 00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:33.600 So we must hold it close. 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:35.120 We must keep it in front of us. 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:38.399 We must use the gospel as our motivation. 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:42.800 Again, I didn't learn that until many years into my Christian walk. 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:51.360 So just like I always want to make the gospel clear for unbelievers, I also want to encourage you believers with the gospel as well. 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:58.240 Those believers in Colossae, they, he says to them, it came to you, it came to you. 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:05.759 The gospel came to you, came to the whole world, bearing fruit, increasing, as it also does among you, still does among you. 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:08.319 They're still walking in that same gospel. 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:11.600 They were saved by it and they're walking in it. 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:14.480 I don't want you to miss it like I did. 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:17.360 So here's what I mean, and here's a way to apply it right now. 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:19.040 Here's how you look for it in scripture. 00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:26.560 Where do you see the gospel in relation to us living out various arenas of our Christian walk? 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:32.160 How do we tie hospitality to the gospel? 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:38.079 And that is found in Ephesians 2, verses 12 and 13, and verse 19. 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:40.480 Ephesians 2. 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:52.800 Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 00:07:53.120 --> 00:08:01.439 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:09.040 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:10.639 What is that, ladies? 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:13.680 The greatest hospitality that was ever shown. 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:21.759 Bringing us as from strangers and aliens to be members of the household of God. 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:32.879 If you are born again, if you are saved, if you are a child of God, you should be practicing hospitality because of the gospel, because the blood of Christ has brought us near. 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:39.600 Jesus Himself used homes to teach and preach, as did the disciples in the early church. 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:40.960 We see it throughout Scripture. 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:44.559 We're just going to look at one scripture here, Acts 5, 42. 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:52.879 And every day in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. 00:08:53.840 --> 00:09:00.879 And we see in John, 3rd John, that the believers are housing and being hospitable to those who are workers in the kingdom of God. 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:06.879 3 John verses 7 and 8, for they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:12.080 Therefore we ought to support people like these that we may be fellow workers for the truth. 00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:22.240 Now we're going to talk more about practical ways we can use our homes and use our hospitality for the sake of the gospel later on. 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:30.639 But now I want to move on to Roman numeral 2, which is biblical examples of hospitality. 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:35.200 Let's go to the Old Testament, 2 Kings 4, 8 through 10. 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:37.759 And remember the Shunammite woman. 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:39.840 What did she do? 00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:42.320 Built a room for Elisha. 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:47.279 One day Elisha went on to Shunam, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. 00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:50.480 So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. 00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:56.720 And she said to her husband, Behold, now I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. 00:09:56.960 --> 00:10:05.440 Let's make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there. 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:10.080 Let's just let's just build Elisha his own little suite. 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:11.679 That's what we're gonna do. 00:10:11.840 --> 00:10:13.120 That's hospitality. 00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:14.879 That's really sweet. 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:18.080 Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:24.960 I'm not gonna read these, but in Luke 10 you find it, Luke, John 12, other places, they were close friends of Jesus. 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:33.600 They often fed and and loved practically Jesus and the disciples. 00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:36.320 They showed great hospitality to them. 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:40.480 Simon the Tanner, we read about in Acts 9:43. 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:43.279 He housed Peter in Joppa for many days. 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:48.720 And then we get to Acts chapter 16 with so many examples. 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:53.120 Think about Lydia, Acts 16, verses 14 and 15. 00:10:53.679 --> 00:11:02.000 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:06.639 The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:08.240 There's that heart change, right? 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:10.159 The Lord opened her heart. 00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:21.360 And after she was baptized and her household as well, she urged us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay. 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:23.440 And she prevailed upon us. 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:27.440 God opened Lydia's heart and she opened her home. 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:33.919 That was the first thing she did after she had her heart of stone removed and changed to a heart of flesh. 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:37.919 And this verse is why my lesson is named the hospitable heart. 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:39.360 I just love this. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:45.759 In that same chapter, you see the Philippian jailer in Acts 16, 32 through 34. 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:49.600 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:55.039 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:56.799 Then he brought them where? 00:11:56.960 --> 00:12:04.000 Up into his house, and he set food before them, and he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:10.480 He could have just as easily said, Wow, thank you, thank you, thank you, washed their wounds, bandaged. 00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:13.759 That's that's hospitable, that's kind, but sent them on their way. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:16.000 You you're free from prison now. 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:18.480 Uh God has done a great miracle here. 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:19.679 Thank you so much. 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:23.200 Here's a band-aid, and hope to see you again. 00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:24.799 But that's not what he did. 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:29.600 He bandaged their wounds and then he brought them to his house. 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:35.600 And Gaius in Romans chapter 16, 23. 00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:41.519 Paul is talking about this man, Gaius, who's a host to me and to the whole church, greets you. 00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:46.159 Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, Quartus greets you. 00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:49.679 Gaius, who is a host to me. 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:52.159 Hospitality shown to Paul. 00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:54.960 3 John 5 and 6, back to 3 John. 00:12:55.039 --> 00:13:05.679 Beloved, it's a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church, you will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:11.440 Going back to their home church, saying, I gotta tell you about these faithful brothers. 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:16.080 They're being very hospitable and kind to us, they have cared well for us. 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:18.240 There's a negative example. 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:19.679 I'm not sure if this is gonna be on the screen. 00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:26.080 I'm sorry, I can't remember, but of Simon the Pharisee in Luke 7, and I'll read 44 through 46. 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:33.440 Then turning toward the woman, there it is, he said to Simon, let me just say this, first of all, let me explain this. 00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:42.720 Simon the Pharisee is having a big throwing a big old bash, like a dinner party, big bash, and he's invited Jesus. 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:54.000 And then a sinful woman from the town comes in, and uh this is what Jesus says about what she did and about what Simon did. 00:13:54.240 --> 00:14:00.000 Jesus says, then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, Do you see this woman? 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:08.480 I entered your house and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:13.919 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in, she has not to cease kissing my feet. 00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:18.639 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:23.360 And then Jesus goes on to say, She has been forgiven. 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:27.200 She has loved much, and she has been forgiven much. 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:31.200 Simon, you are a pathetic example of hospitality. 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:35.600 You don't get it, but this woman has been very hospitable to me. 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:41.919 Simon was simply entertaining, Simon was not welcoming, Simon was not polite, the woman was. 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:44.960 She showed great love to Jesus. 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:49.039 Now, let's look at what the Bible says to us about hospitality. 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:51.919 And this is where you're like, this is all well and good. 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:52.559 This is great. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:55.600 I love these biblical examples of hospitality. 00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:58.000 But guess what else the Bible tells us? 00:14:58.320 --> 00:15:01.840 Many times we have commands about hospitality. 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:04.399 So this is where the rubber meets the road. 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:06.720 Romans 12, 13. 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:12.720 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:20.320 Be looking for ways to do it, is what Paul is saying to the Romans, and we are seeing for ourselves here. 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:24.320 Don't wait till it comes to you, but seek to show hospitality. 00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:33.200 And then 1 Peter 4 and 9, show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:39.120 Ladies, the verse does not stop with show hospitality to one another. 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:41.200 That's a command, and it's there. 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:45.840 But you know the last part of the command, without grumbling. 00:15:46.159 --> 00:16:02.960 I always say that I need this particular verse engraved on the inside of my glasses so I can just see it all the time, or post it on every mirror, every closet door in my home as I'm changing sheets, like a hotel room, you know, cleaner does. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:08.080 I mean, it's just, it's like I need to see that verse and remind myself of that verse all the time. 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:09.200 But you know what I know? 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:15.840 I'm probably not the only one that needs it because Peter would not have written it under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit if it was not needed. 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:23.600 He knows it's easy for us to grumble, and he says, be hospitable without grumbling. 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:28.399 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:36.799 Hebrews 13, too, do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:43.600 Now, we're not thankfully doing a conference on angels because I don't have to now talk about this. 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:46.320 I don't know if this is actual angels. 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:47.759 That's up for debate. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:56.559 But I will say that I think of this verse a lot when someone new pops up, someone just pops into my door that I don't know. 00:16:56.720 --> 00:17:00.639 And sometimes you just think, Lord, are you are you testing me on this? 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:06.720 But whatever the case, I think the point, and I'm that I believe the point is the first part of that verse. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:11.039 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers. 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:14.640 In those days, there were not hotels or Airbnbs. 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:20.160 Christians had to show hospitality to each other and to others, even if they did not know them. 00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:25.839 That was the what they had to do, just like when the Shunammite woman said, Oh, let me just build a room for him. 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:27.200 She had the money to do that. 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:37.039 But they would make room and they would crowd into homes and they would be hospitable to each other even if they didn't know them, because they're traveling hard, long distances. 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:41.119 And you just you just did that. 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:55.599 I want to share with you now, could have done it later, but I think this is a good spot to share some of my struggles and how easy it can be for me to grumble after we've just talked about this verse. 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:58.640 First of all, I want to say we do a lot of hospitality. 00:17:58.799 --> 00:17:59.599 Now I'm not bragging. 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:05.599 You say you didn't listen to your you didn't listen to your talk on taming the tongue, so you're showing your very proud heart. 00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:07.039 No, I'm not saying in a proud way. 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:10.880 Matter of fact, we do a lot of hospitality in our house. 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:12.960 Our house has a revolving door on it. 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:14.319 We love doing it. 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:15.839 Lots of people are in and out. 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:18.000 Some are planned, some are unplanned. 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:21.759 And we do love it most of the time. 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:38.240 You see, with hospitality, it's all fun and games until stuff breaks, or people won't leave so you can go to bed, or they don't help you clean up the kitchen, or they show up with no warning. 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:40.720 It's all great till that happens. 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:56.400 I remember years ago, we went through just a little spell in our marriage where after church, a few times, you know, within a few months period, all of a sudden I'd be, we have two services, and I would usually go to the early service, maybe get the kids home or whatever. 00:18:56.559 --> 00:19:01.039 And I would be kind of fumbling around, like, I don't know what we're gonna eat for lunch today, whatever, you know. 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:06.240 And the doorbell would ring about 12:40, 1245 after the second service would have been over. 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:11.599 And there are these nicely dressed people from church that I didn't know, or they're new people to the church. 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:13.759 They say, Hey, I say, Well, hello. 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:16.000 Hey, yeah, Ed told us to come over and have lunch. 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:18.640 He'll be here after he finishes greeting everybody on the lawn. 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:22.640 Well, he did that to me a few times, and then very nicely, I don't think it's wrong. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:24.000 It not wasn't grumbling. 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:28.640 I just kind of had to nicely say to him, do not ever do that to me again. 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:30.319 Please give me warning. 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:32.799 Give me, just shoot me a text at least, something. 00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:34.000 Give me some warning. 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:35.440 But that's what I mean, ladies. 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:36.880 Are we prepared for these things? 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:39.519 But that's a real reason to grumble, let me tell you. 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:41.359 We got that worked out, don't worry. 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:45.680 So he's he's very good about not doing that anymore. 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:49.839 But there's the grape juice and the cranberry juice and the red Kool-Aid that's all over your white carpet. 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:52.880 And why anyone would have white carpet, I do not know, but we did. 00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:59.839 We picked it when we first moved to New York of all places, living on the Clearview Expressway with the soot and the dirt. 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:02.079 And we chose white carpet. 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:06.319 So, ladies, get vinyl, get hardwood, get something. 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:07.599 Don't get white carpet. 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:11.519 But when that juice spills on there, there's nothing you can do about that. 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:21.599 When there are pen marks on your sheets and your tablecloth that won't come out in the wash, when there's a broken rocker leg on your family, heirloom, ants, rocking chair. 00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:24.880 These are all real things if you couldn't tell by now, okay. 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:30.319 Now I want to show you a couple of photos, so we'll go one at a time. 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:32.160 So we've got some. 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:34.559 I just I thought you needed to see these things. 00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:40.960 This is on my end table at home, the first end table I see when I walk into my living room area. 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:48.319 And it's a constant reminder to me that someone I was hospitable to doesn't have any more sense than to put a wet cup on a on a wood. 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:54.319 So if you don't know that, ladies, please do not ever put a cup that will sweat onto real wood. 00:20:54.480 --> 00:21:00.960 And the the ironic thing is now those fall coasters weren't there, but there are always three or four coasters sitting on that thing. 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:06.400 But no, this person chose to put it on the wood, it's been there for years. 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.839 But you know what it is? 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:12.480 It's a reminder to me that I gotta get over it and it's okay. 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:21.680 And so I could just find a nice doily and cover it up, but I don't because I want to remind myself that I can't grumble and be hospitable. 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:23.119 Next one. 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:26.799 Oh, yeah. 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:29.599 This happened, this happened this summer. 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:38.480 If you knew our interns this summer, they were delightful, but somehow the girls decided to have a slumber party in my basement, and this is what transpired. 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:39.759 The bed broke. 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:42.400 So, and then God bless them. 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:44.799 Although we asked them to, I don't think they knew quite how to fix it. 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:49.279 So, Ed and I, the way we fix everything, we duct taped that back together. 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:58.400 It works now, and next picture, when you come to my house, you will never ever know because that's what it looks like. 00:21:58.799 --> 00:22:02.640 So you can just yet no company, and it's on the side of the wall. 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:04.079 Nobody's ever gonna know. 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:09.200 But I know that it's broken, but I can't grumble. 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:10.160 All right. 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:12.240 The next one's wait, just one second. 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:14.559 So is anybody a dishwasher snob? 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:17.359 If you have a dishwasher, raise your hand, hi, be proud. 00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:18.480 Do you know what I mean? 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:20.720 Some of you are like, I wish I had a dishwasher. 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:23.039 Some of you throw your dishes in. 00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:25.279 I am a dishwasher snob. 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:30.720 My kids would say, Why should we help you with this when you're going to rearrange every single thing in it? 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:32.480 So you will approach, thank you. 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:33.759 Yes, she says, Amen. 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:34.880 I'm with you, sister. 00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:35.680 Yes. 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:39.680 So uh 20, I don't know, three years ago. 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:42.880 Sorry, 2023, not 23 years ago. 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:46.000 Now you can look back and see who our interns were that year. 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:50.000 But the sweet girls that lived at our house, they would load the dishwasher. 00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:57.759 So the next three pictures are just, I just was absolutely go dogs. 00:22:57.839 --> 00:22:59.200 You see my Georgia cup right there. 00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:04.319 But the thing about those Georgia cups, if you can tell, they're two together and they're laying sideways. 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:10.880 And I sent these to my son, my daughter and son-in-law, because he's very meticulous. 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:15.920 And I just thought, you're the only people that I know will appreciate this, but I've kept them forever because next one. 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:19.119 Okay, I know this is all kind of the foods. 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:26.000 Not only, not only how are those gonna get clean, how did they get them to stay like that? 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:28.319 Okay, next one. 00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:34.640 Just the just the whatever is down there, just everything, just whatever is down there. 00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:46.240 I I I you know, I I know that it's comical, but I really need you to know that those are the kinds of things that make me grumble when I'm showing hospitality. 00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:47.440 But I shouldn't. 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:53.440 I should be thankful that those girls loaded my dishwasher and didn't leave all of those dishes in the sink for me. 00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:56.720 I should be thankful that I have a dishwasher that did them. 00:23:57.279 --> 00:24:07.519 So I take pictures and I try to remind myself, and I keep the duct tape on the bed and don't buy a new one because number one, I can't afford it. 00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:11.920 But number two, I'd want to be reminded that it's okay. 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:16.880 It works still, and that's part of hospitality, is stuff is gonna break. 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:20.160 Um, now, my all-time favorite thing. 00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:24.400 So, you know, you've read, I'm I'm sure a lot of you, I heard one of you m mention it. 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:29.440 You may have read the Rosario Butterfield book, uh, The Gospel Comes with a House Key. 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:34.640 And I read that and I thought, I'm hospitable, but boy, she is taking it next level. 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:38.079 I mean, it is, it's like, yeah, way, way past me. 00:24:38.400 --> 00:25:04.799 The one thing that was a really stretch for us is one year, my uh I am 20, I don't know, 16, 17, 18, somewhere in there, my son who lives in Georgia called and said, Hey, mom and dad, this really sweet couple that I knew at Georgia, I went to school with, they're going to be missionaries and they're moving for, you know, they're moving, I don't know, for months to go to this some country. 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:08.720 And their plane just got canceled or delayed at JFK. 00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:13.279 Now you all know living in, you get a lot of calls like that, living in New York, I would assume. 00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:16.000 You know, people get stranded, and that that's understandable. 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:18.240 And they said, Can you fit them in? 00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:20.880 Yeah, we've got a few people here, but we'll fit them in, no problem. 00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:26.000 Well, it's just, yeah, they're they're well, actually, yeah, that's great. 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:26.720 If you can, fine. 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:27.599 They'll get an Uber. 00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:28.079 Great. 00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:28.480 Okay. 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:35.519 Well, we get another call just a few minutes later, and it's our son again, and he goes, I made a really big mistake. 00:25:35.839 --> 00:25:41.440 I didn't realize these people have a dog and they have the dog with them. 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:43.200 And you may say, So? 00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:48.240 Well, so we have never had an inside pet, nor would we ever allow one. 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:53.920 We had outside dogs when we lived in South Carolina, but dogs in our house? 00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:56.319 Absolutely not. 00:25:57.440 --> 00:26:04.319 And we just, my husband looked at me and we were giving him on the speakerphone and we're like, uh, he goes, Yeah, I'm sorry about that. 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:08.400 He said, but I do need an answer because they're sitting outside your house in the Uber right now. 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:09.519 And I said, Okay. 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:16.000 What to do? 00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:22.160 So the couple and their very sweet dog came in our house, and there they are. 00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:25.440 That's you can tell I'm much younger than, so it was a long time ago. 00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:27.759 But this, it was such a treat. 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:29.119 They kept the dog in their room. 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:32.880 The dog didn't tear anything up, but it stretched us. 00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:40.480 And and there actually has been another dog, and I can't remember exactly when it was, but it's like the Lord was testing us, thinking, You think you're good at this? 00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:42.720 You think you've got this down? 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:49.119 I'm gonna show you that you don't, and I'm gonna test you in a way that you are so uncomfortable. 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:51.920 And so these dear people stayed with their dog. 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:54.000 They were able to catch the flight the next day. 00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:56.640 Thank you for indulging me with those photos. 00:26:56.799 --> 00:27:01.440 I just wanted you to see real life as it happens with hospitality. 00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:12.880 And that's okay, because we as Christians with new hearts, with soft hearts, with hearts of flesh, with changed hearts, must show hospitality without grumbling. 00:27:13.359 --> 00:27:17.440 First Timothy 3, 1 and 2 says, This saying is trustworthy. 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:21.200 If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 00:27:21.359 --> 00:27:28.480 Therefore, an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectful, hospitable, able to teach. 00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:29.759 Now, remember what we're doing. 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:32.880 We're going through scriptures that list hospitality commands. 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:37.440 And this is the, these are the qualifications for an elder or a pastor. 00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:45.359 And so I understand that none of us in here fit that, but some of you may be married to an elder or a pastor. 00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:55.759 And so I want to say, especially to you, yes, it's a qualification for your husband, but by the fact that you now, the two have become one flesh, this is also for you. 00:27:55.920 --> 00:28:00.960 So you need to be hospitable in your homes and with your husband in his ministry. 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:03.519 I met a pastor's wife on vacation one year. 00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:07.839 We were they were vacationing at the same spot we were many years ago. 00:28:08.160 --> 00:28:19.119 And I I we just were chatting, and I don't even know why we came onto this, you know, topic, but she said, Oh, yeah, we used to live near the church, or maybe in a parsonage near the church. 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:19.519 I don't know. 00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:24.400 She said, but we've moved several miles out, and it has been the most wonderful thing. 00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:32.960 We go home at night and we close all the blinds and we turn our phones off and we just seclude ourselves. 00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:34.319 I mean, she just went on and on. 00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:43.759 And I'm thinking, lady, you and your husband are in the wrong profession because the Bible says you need to be bent toward hospitality. 00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:48.000 Now, please do not hear me saying that we should never have family time. 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:56.640 I am not saying that you have to volunteer your house for everyone, and this goes for all of you, not just pastors' wives in here, to volunteer to house everyone or host everything. 00:28:56.720 --> 00:29:02.400 I'm not saying that, but I am saying, ladies, the bent of our lives should be toward showing. 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:10.960 We should be leaning in to hospitality and not pulling back from it and not shutting our blinds figuratively or literally. 00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:13.920 Romans 16, 1 and 2. 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:24.160 I commend to you, Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant of the church in Centria, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints and assist her in whatever business she has need of you. 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:27.440 For indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also. 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:28.880 Paul was great about this. 00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:36.960 He would commend people like back then, he would send a letter, and you would have to get that letter to know somebody was coming if you're going to get any warning at all that they were visiting. 00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:42.319 And he's sending this to the Romans saying, I commend Phoebe to you. 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:44.400 She is a servant of the church. 00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:51.519 I want you to receive her in a manner, I want you to be hospitable to her in a manner that is worthy of the saints. 00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:59.759 Luke 14, 12 through 14, he also said to the man who had invited him, When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends. 00:30:00.160 --> 00:30:05.119 Friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:15.200 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. 00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:20.480 Don't ever be guilty of saying things like, Well, they never had us over. 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:22.160 Well, I'm done having them over. 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:26.240 I I've had her over for coffee three times, and she's never invited me into her house. 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:31.279 Don't do it to be reciprocated or repaid. 00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:34.319 That's why we must remain gospel focused. 00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:37.119 Ladies, we can never outgive God. 00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:40.559 We're giving nothing back to him. 00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:42.480