Hospitality
1. Hospitality reflects the gospel.
Jesus said that if you do to one of the least you have done it unto Him
Luk_9:48 “If you tenderly care for this little child on my behalf, you are tenderly caring for me. And if you care for me, you are honoring my Father who sent me. For the one who is least important in your eyes is actually the most important one of all.”
2. Hospitality is spiritual warfare.
Hospitality gathers brothers and sisters alongside unsaved neighbors and strangers isn’t charity or kindness; rather, it takes the gospel upstream of the culture war—where it belongs—and shakes the very gates of heaven for the souls of our neighbors.
3. Hospitality makes room for different kinds of hosts and guests.
Every Christian is called to practice hospitality, but that does not mean that everyone practices it in the same way. We practice hospitality by sharing our resources and our needs, by serving as both host and guest, as Jesus did when he walked this earth.
4. Hospitality is a gift and our mission.
Hospitality is good for the giver because it puts our lives and hearts on display.
5. Hospitality can create unity in the church.
There is strength in unity showing what it means to belong to a family that cares
6. Hospitality nurtures and grows the family of God.
Nourishing the family of God and compelling those outside of God’s favour to come to your table are the twin heartbeats of hospitality.
7. Hospitality is good for the giver.
Hospitality puts our lives and hearts on display and highlights our selfish ambition and our pride.
8. Daily hospitality is good for the children.
It’s good for children to watch their parents living the gospel in regulary and dilligently.
9. Hospitality is expensive.
Hospitality takes money, time, sacrifice, and flexibility.
10. Hospitality is worth it.
Hospitality develops eyes to see. It sharpens God’s word our hearts. It develops bold intimacy among people who would never have reason to be friends. It grieves the loss of missed opportunities to serve. It shudders at Jesus’s words, “For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me. . . . as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me” (Matthew 25:42–45).
Ministries – Evangelism
Matthew 28:19-20 New Living Translation (NLT)
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
“Evangelism” simply means “to tell” or “to announce good news” or the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Acts 1:8 (NLT)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
To be a witness is to be ready to give Testimony (an open declaration or confession) of what you have seen and heard. We are to live a life that attests to that confession. To be a witness is to let our light shine through the good works that we do and share the gospel message when the door of opportunity is open.
Ministries – Worship
John 4:21-26 (NLT)
Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming – indeed it’s here now – when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming – the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
Then Jesus told her, “I AM the Messiah!”
What does it mean to worship “in Spirit”?
It can mean that worship is to be spiritual in nature and can also mean that worship is to be done in the Holy Spirit.
What does it mean to worship in Truth”?
Worship “in truth” is to worship without falsehood. Worship in truth is also to worship “according to Truth” or according to the Word of God which is truth.
So our worship is to be sincere and not something that is done for show. It is not just an outward form containing words of constant repetition. When you look at the worship of David he was blatantly honest with God in his worship. Here at Maranatha we endeavour to revere and honour God in worshipping Him the way he desires to be worshipped.
Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding.
Psalm 47:6-7
Ministries – Pastoral
Pastoral care consists of helping acts, directed towards the healing, sustaining, guiding, reconciling and nurturing of persons whose troubles and concerns arise in the context of daily interactions and ultimate means and concerns.
Healing
A pastoral function that aims to overcome some impairment by restoring the person to wholeness and by leading them to advance beyond their previous condition.
Sustaining
Helping a hurting person to endure and to transcend a circumstance in which restoration to their former condition or recuperation from their malady is either impossible or so remote as to seem improbable.
Guiding
Assisting perplexed persons to make confident choices between alternative courses of thought and action, when such choices are viewed as affecting the present and the future state of human wholeness.
Reconciling
Seeking to re-establish broken relationships between man (sic) and fellow man and between man and God. Historically, reconciling has employed two modes – forgiveness and discipline.
Nurturing
Enable people to develop their potentialities, throughout the life journey with all its valleys, peaks, and plateaus. Nurturing and guiding are the pastoral care functions in which education and counseling are most intertwined. Many teachers and parents in schools see this function as critical in the achievement of their community’s educational mission.
Ministries – Serving
Philippians 2:3-5
New Living Translation (NLT)
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Jesus is the true model of a servant. He had every right to be served by man, but He chose to give His time, wisdom, energy, and ultimately His life so that others could become part of God’s family and live fulfilling lives. The goal of every believer is to live like Jesus and share His love. The greatest way in which this mission is achieved is by following the example of the Life Jesus lived.
You must willingly give up your own rights and interests and dedicate your time, resources and energy for the benefit of meeting the needs of others. A sense of peace and belonging happens when you serve others. Service builds community and trust, and it brings a deeper sense of belonging. This is the lifestyle that Jesus desires to live. If you would like to give your time and talents in Maranatha please fill out your details on the attached form and hand it into the information desk.
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