cultivate hospitality

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Hospitality is the practice of graciously receiving someone. Being friendly, open, and welcoming to guests, visitors, and strangers. The spiritual gift of hospitality is a special ability to warmly welcome and share care and concern for others, particularly those in need. It is a gift of God through the Holy Spirit for building and serving the church community. It involves noticing and responding to both physical and emotional needs with kindness and compassion. How beautiful!

CULTIVATE is my word of the year. I like its connotation of intentional growth, and I would love to grow in many areas. For now, let’s explore some ways to cultivate hospitality.

What the Bible says about our need to cultivate hospitality

Romans 12:13 – Contribute to the needs of God’s people, and welcome strangers into your home.

Hebrews 13:2 – Don’t neglect to open up your homes to guests, because by doing this some have been hosts to angels without knowing it.

1 Peter 4:9 – Open your homes to each other without complaining.

Matthew 25:35 – I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me.

Luke 14:13-14 – Instead, when you give a banquet, invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind. And you will be blessed because they can’t repay you. Instead, you will be repaid when the just are resurrected.

Titus 1:8 – (Describing a leader) Instead, they should be hospitable, lovers of good, sensible, ethical, moral, and self-controlled.

3 John 1:5-8 – Dear friend, you act faithfully in whatever you do for our brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers. They spoke highly of your love in front of the church. You will do well to provide for their journey in a way that honors God because they left on their journey for the sake of Jesus Christ without accepting any support from the Gentiles. Therefore, we ought to help people like this so that we can be coworkers with the truth.

These passages collectively present a compelling biblical vision of hospitality as a key expression of faith, love, and service.

Hospitality in scripture is not merely about polite gestures but reflects God’s inclusive love, urging followers to care for both friends and strangers alike. We see this idea in Romans 12:13 and Hebrews 13:2. The passages emphasize generosity and open-heartedness across the board.

1 Peter 4:9 reminds believers that hospitality should be extended joyfully, not grudgingly. This underscores the heart posture behind true hospitality—serving others willingly rather than out of obligation. It reminds us that God looks at the heart. Our motives matter.

Matthew 25:35 and Luke 14:13-14 call attention to Jesus’ deep concern for marginalized groups. Hospitality is depicted as an act of justice and compassion, with eternal significance. Luke’s teaching challenges social norms by encouraging invitations to those who cannot repay kindness.

In 3 John 1:5-8, the writer commends faithful acts of hospitality toward traveling believers, even when they are strangers. Titus 1:8 underscores hospitality as a defining quality of ethical, self-disciplined leaders. True hospitality embodies a love for goodness and reflects moral integrity.

Together, these passages reveal that hospitality in the biblical sense is transformative, extending love beyond social boundaries, embodying God’s care, and fostering community among diverse people. At its core, hospitality serves as a tangible demonstration of God’s inclusive and gracious kingdom, calling believers to create spaces where all are welcomed, loved, and served. I love this!

Ways to cultivate hospitality

Create a welcoming home.

Keep a space that is warm and inviting. Simple is good–nothing fancy required! It doesn’t even have to be perfectly clean and organized. 🙂 Being welcoming is more about our words and actions than the environment. Try to look at your entertaining space with fresh eyes. If you weren’t familiar with it, what would you think? Is it comfortable? What would make it more inviting?

Typically, we plan in advance to have guests over. (If it’s spur-of-the-moment, they certainly wouldn’t expect perfection!) Even a brief tidying-up session can make a world of difference. At my house, that means dusting the coffee table, using a lint roller for cat hair (the bane of my existence!), touching up our powder room, and lighting a candle. If I’m really ambitious, I’ll run the vacuum.

Be fully present.

Nothing speaks love more clearly than paying careful attention to your guests and to what they say. Ask thoughtful questions. A distracted host indicates a lack of care. I find it easier to be fully present and enjoy my guests’ company if I’ve done the vast majority of the prep work ahead of time. If the event involves food, I keep it simple. I also don’t worry about clean-up until AFTER the guests are gone. Then my focus can be on people rather than tasks.

Open your table.

This doesn’t necessarily mean a full meal. Perhaps drinks and a snack would be in order. Simple is good. Coffee and biscotti. Tea and a scone. Sparkling water and a cookie. Maybe a small tray with items like cheese, crackers, fresh fruit and veggies, pretzels, etc. When I do serve a full meal, as I stated earlier, I like to offer a simple menu with much of it made in advance. It’s not unusual for me to have just one dish that I’ve actually cooked–the rest is comprised of fruit trays, veggie trays or salads, and bread or crackers. I’m a big charcuterie fan! Whatever you serve, be sure to check on dietary restrictions and strong preferences among your guests.

Host small gatherings.

Keep your eyes and ears open to help you discern who might really need an invitation. Who is lonely or frequently left out? Ask God to nudge you regarding who to include. Maybe you know someone who’s going through an especially difficult time. Perhaps there’s a new family in your neighborhood. I like smaller gatherings because it’s easy to give individual attention to everyone. It’s also nice if you can all gather around one table. Make an effort to include everyone in the conversation. Draw out the quiet guest gently. 🙂

Plan for hospitality on the go.

Stopping to see a friend who is under the weather or a new neighbor is a great way to extend hospitality. Take a card and a homemade treat with you. If you don’t bake, you could take a small bag of candy or bakery items. Maybe a selection of items from a farmers’ market. I have a friend who likes to keep bottled water, small toiletries, and packaged snacks like granola bars in her car in case she sees someone in need. She hands them out with her kids, a great way to cultivate hospitality in them as well.

Show grace.

Don’t aim for perfection—offering yourself and your space authentically is enough. Give grace to yourself and others as you grow in your ability to offer care and compassion to those around you.