The Heart of Hospitality

This week, I’m excited to share an excerpt from my latest book, The Kitchen Table Gospel. In this chapter, “The Heart of Hospitality,” we explore how genuine, Christ-centered hospitality can transform not only the culture of a church but also the lives of those we encounter. Hospitality isn’t just about friendly handshakes or offering coffee on Sunday mornings—it’s about opening our hearts and our homes to others, just like Jesus did.

As you read, I invite you to think about how your church can move beyond simply being “friendly” to truly being a place where people feel seen, valued, and deeply loved.

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Chapter 8 - The Heart of Hospitality

Imagine walking into a church for the first time. You’re a little nervous, unsure of where to go or who to talk to. You scan the room, hoping someone will notice you, but everyone seems engaged in their own conversations. You find a seat in the back, sit quietly, and wonder if you’ve made a mistake coming here at all.

Now, picture a different scenario. You step through the doors and are immediately greeted by a warm smile and a genuine, “We’re so glad you’re here.” Someone helps you find a seat, introduces you to a few people, and after the service, another person invites you to lunch. You leave feeling seen, valued, and—most importantly—like you belong. 

That’s the difference true hospitality makes.

More Than a Handshake and a Cup of Coffee

Hospitality is more than just a friendly greeting at the door or offering a cup of coffee in the fellowship hall. True hospitality is about making room—both in our churches and in our hearts—for others. It’s about embodying the love of Christ through a genuine welcome, intentional relationships, and acts of kindness that communicate, You matter. You are wanted here.

Jesus modeled this kind of hospitality throughout His ministry. He welcomed the tax collector, dined with sinners, and spoke to those society ignored. One of the most striking examples is found in Luke 7, where a sinful woman crashes a dinner party just to anoint Jesus’ feet with her tears and perfume. While the Pharisees saw an interruption, Jesus saw a person longing to be welcomed. He acknowledged her, accepted her, and extended the kind of love that transforms. That is the heart of hospitality.

Hospitality as a Core Value

For a church to truly reflect the love of Christ, hospitality can’t be an afterthought—it has to be part of the culture. Hebrews 13:2 reminds us, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Think about that for a moment. Hospitality is not just a kind gesture; it’s a spiritual practice that opens the door to divine encounters. When we welcome others, we welcome the presence of God.

Practical Steps to Cultivate Hospitality

So how do we create a church culture that prioritizes hospitality? It starts with intentionality.

Develop a Welcoming Mindset

Hospitality isn’t just a task for the greeters—it’s a responsibility for the entire congregation. Every person who walks through the doors of your church is someone God has sent. That means it’s not just up to the “official” hospitality team to make people feel at home. It’s up to all of us.

Encourage your congregation to adopt a first-time guest mindset. I know it’s just semantics, but I believe it matters. New people that come to your church are “guests,” not “visitors.” It changes the way we accept the new person in a subtle way. Think about how a guest might experience the church for the first time. Do they know where to go? Do they feel noticed? Do they see friendly faces? A simple shift in perspective can make all the difference in how people engage with newcomers.

One way to reinforce this is to challenge members to look for “the one.” Instead of catching up with the same friends each week, encourage people to seek out someone they don’t know and start a conversation. A simple “How’s your week been?” can be the beginning of a life-changing connection.

Create a Culture of Invitation

A welcoming church isn’t just friendly—it’s inviting. It doesn’t wait for people to show up; it actively brings people in.

Jesus told a parable in Luke 14 about a man who prepared a great banquet and sent out invitations. When the first guests made excuses, he told his servants, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame” (Luke 14:21). Then he sent them out again to compel even more people to come. That’s the kind of invitation mindset we need.

People are far more likely to visit a church when they’re personally invited. Yet, many of us hesitate to extend that invitation. What if they say no? What if it’s awkward? But here’s the truth: many people are just waiting for someone to ask. They want to be included, but they don’t know if they’ll be welcomed. Our invitation can be the bridge that leads them to Christ.

Encourage your congregation to make inviting others a habit. Whether it’s a neighbor, a coworker, or the cashier at the grocery store, a simple “Hey, I’d love for you to visit my church this Sunday” can plant a seed that God can grow.

Equip a Hospitality Team

While hospitality is everyone’s job, having a dedicated team ensures that no one falls through the cracks. A strong hospitality ministry isn’t just about greeting people at the door. It’s about creating an atmosphere where people feel at home from the moment they arrive.

Here are some key roles a hospitality team can fill:

·       Greeters: Positioned at entrances, ready with a smile and a handshake (or a fist bump, depending on the times).

·       Guides: Available to walk newcomers to where they need to go, whether it’s the sanctuary, children’s check-in, or the coffee station.

·       Connectors (or as I call them, Schmoozers): Intentional about introducing guests to others and helping them feel included. You want your smiling conversationalists on this team. They’ve never met a stranger in their life.

·       Follow-Up Team: Reaches out to first-time visitors with a phone call, email, or handwritten note thanking them for coming. The pastor shouldn’t be the only person that follows up. If you met them or shared a short conversation with them, you should attempt to reach out and maybe invite them for a coffee to get to know them better.

Equipping a team isn’t about creating a rigid system.  It’s about making sure every person who walks into church feels valued and known. Your team should be expectant. They should be expecting guests to walk in the door at every worship service. 

The Kitchen Table Gospel

Hospitality doesn’t stop when the service ends. Some of the most powerful moments of ministry happen outside the church walls—around our kitchen tables, over a backyard barbecue, or during a casual coffee meet-up.

The kitchen table gospel is about more than just food. It’s about opening our lives to others, welcoming them into our space, and showing them the love of Jesus in practical, relational ways.

Who can you invite to your table this week?

Hospitality That Changes Lives

Hospitality is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to reflect Christ. It doesn’t require a theology degree or years of experience. It just requires a willing heart. When we welcome others with love, we create spaces where people feel safe, seen, and drawn to the presence of God.

The early church understood this well. Acts 2:46–47 tells us, “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

When we make room for others, God moves in ways we can’t imagine. Let’s be a church that not only welcomes people at the door but invites them into our lives.

Reflection and Connection for Chapter 8:The Heart of Hospitality

1.     Think about a time when you felt truly welcomed somewhere. What made that experience stand out? How can we create that same atmosphere in our church?

2.     In what ways can you personally practice the kitchen table gospel? Who in your life could use an invitation to share a meal or meaningful conversation?

Family Table Practices

This week, be intentional about welcoming someone, whether it’s a new guest at church, a coworker, or a neighbor. Go beyond a simple greeting. Engage in conversation, extend an invitation, or even plan a meal. Hospitality isn’t just something we do; it’s who we are called to be.

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Hospitality has the power to change lives—sometimes even more than a sermon or program ever could. If this excerpt spoke to you, there’s so much more to discover in The Kitchen Table Gospel. In it, I share practical steps and biblical insights to help you and your church share your faith in authentic, relational ways that make an eternal difference.

Click here to get your copy of The Kitchen Table Gospel and start cultivating a culture of true hospitality today!