Think of the apostles for a moment. On the day of Pentecost, all theological/doctrinal stuff aside, these men exhibited something that was fascinating, confusing, intriguing to other people groups. This, in turn, attracted others to find out what was going on, then taking their new found faith back to their own homes.

The church, by nature, is made to be attractive when it is running right. Jesus didn’t say, “I hope you can be salt and light”, did he?

The gospel is above culture, but is relevant to culture. The key is when the believers actually become Christ followers, and attempt to live like He wants them. That is when the gospel becomes culturally relevant. And it’s not from behind a pulpit or from a church pew…

It seems we’re all discussing this idea around trying to be more hospitable and nicer and to make our places neat and welcoming, and be more accepting and helpful to our guests at our church gatherings…

So, we’re modeling 5 Star Service from a hotel business thinking it will produce exactly “what” kind of response in our guests?

Do we really worship people (and their needs/desires/demands) this much nowadays in Christianity?

Are we really this concerned with making great impressions and showing people how committed we are to their comfort and convenience and repeat attendance?

I am a fool, but I’m just not seeing the connection here between a hotel business’ 5-Star Service and the mission of the Church…

One of my mentors used to always tell me that a persons growth is measured by rate X’s time. So, in other words, take a persons growth rate and mulitiply that by the amount of time they spend growing and you will arrive at where they are currently. In this way, it gives us a measurable for maturity. The problem is that we often associate age with maturity. I would submit to you that there are a lot of young people that are much more mature than old people-especially in their faith. The same is true of churches. There are a ton of churches out there that are very old and very immature and with that same line of thinking some very young churches that are very mature.

The key to maturity then, is to never stop growing. Our maturity in Christ is only found in obedience and without obedience, I would question your faith or maturity. My wife always says to me “a servant does not mind being treated like one.” OUCH! I hate it when she says that, because it is so unnatural for me to serve. Jesus was the perfect example of a servant, “who, made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant..” -Phil. 2 So, thank you Craig for being so creative in the way you have taught that this week.

The whole concept was summarized in that their goal “was to exceed our expectations.” All we have to do is provide the welcoming environment so as guests and new believers can feel open to the message, open to His word. Then God seems to always do the hard part for us by exceeding expectations!!

Only after the person was hired were they trained in the disciplines of hospitality and customer service. This rides along the principle I’m sure many of us have heard before: Jesus doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called.

We as the church aren’t looking for the best “Hospitality team” per se, we just need ordinary people who are willing to be transformed through the teaching and training the Spirit will provide to those with willing hearts. I believe thats the key to outstanding hospitality. Thanks for the great lesson this week Craig.

Probably two things stand out as I end the week with it.

1) Intentionality - Churches should be more intentional with their guests and train their staff and unpaid staff volunteers how to be more “customer” oriented.

2) Unintentionality - There should be an unintentionality to guests being served or welcomed. There should be a church culture so that it doesn’t just seem programmed in.

This has been a series that will challenge me as we seek to implement this within our church culture.

Jeff, Thanks for stopping by. I’ve missed you on the blog. Have a great weekend to you too.

Riddle, I think you are absolutely right that the best hospitality is a natural overflow of our love for Christ.

Here is my point on being intentional… Amy and I are not gifted with natural hospitality. For example, we only have water and juice at our homes. For years people would come over and we didn’t have coffee or soft drinks to offer them.

It never crossed our minds we weren’t being great hosts. We loved the people who came, we just weren’t as considerate as we could have been. Since hospitality isn’t as natural to us as it is to some, we have to be intentional.

For better or worse, an organization typically reflects its leader. Our church (more than some), may have to be more intentional about hospitality since this isn’t my strong suit.

I’m not sure about your theories on new churches verses mature. Others might want to comment.

Kevin, Your question is very important. I’d like to address that in some posts in the future. Some of you might want to contribute some responses to his question.

Actually they did that before I arrived. We are much smaller than you so I’ve been modelling greeting guests so our people can catch it.

How do you get the people to be this way to a different race that happens to be prominent near our campus?

I’m still uncomfortable with the comparison but that’s my issue at this point.

“Businesses should never exceed the hospitality of ministries. We must be intentional. And we must train our members to see themselves as “unpaid staffâ€? or ministers to welcome those who don’t know Christ and invite them into our family.”

There’s an even better idea that I know you want as well, but which isn’t stated here.
It’s the unintentional hospitality. It’s the people of the church who aren’t being leveraged by a staff, or by a program, or an agenda, or even by a vision who love God and show hospitality as a natural outgrowth of their lives. People who aren’t told to be hospitable. People who aren’t trained to be hospitable. People who aren’t paid to be hospitable (obviously). People who are generous with their time, and who serve because it’s become who they are.

Interestingly enough this particular value is often more difficult in large young (read: new church plants) churches. My experience is that some of the most hospitible churches I’ve ever visited are the most hospitable. I remember my days at St. Marks in Bethany and I wonder about your experience at First OKC (I’ve never been there). Pretty hospitable folks.

Then this makes me wonder… I wonder if there is something new churches do that unintentionally prevents hospitality, or if maturity brings hospitality.

thanks for letting wonder/wander here.

Have a great weekend, bro.