Open the Door of Your Home
Doug
While churches continue to seek out the best “strategy” for reaching their communities for Christ, some have simply returned to the timeless tradition of opening their homes to others. No, it’s not flashy. And no, it’s not programmed. It’s just the most natural setting for proclaiming Christ to your friends and neighbors.
I agree with Tim Chester in his book, Total Church, when he says,
People need to encounter the church as a network of relationships rather than a meeting you attend or a place you enter. … In our experience people are often attracted to the Christian community before they are attracted to the Christian message.
People are looking for a place to belong. And I believe the home provides the best atmosphere for this type of authentic community. Why? Because it’s a place where pretence and perfection can’t live. Unlike the church (building!) it’s too hard to put up your best front at home. Like one pastor said, “You get to know folks when they have spaghetti sauce on the front of their shirt.”
So how do we get started in opening the doors of our homes to others? Alexander Strauch gives these helpful guidelines:
- Set a regular time each week/month to invite people to your home
- Make a list of people who would be encouraged by your offer of hospitality
- Remember to invite people to your home during holiday seasons — especially those who rarely receive an invitation and cannot repay you (Luke 14:13)
I would simply add this: Don’t go at it alone. Get others who can join you. When you have your next time of fellowship with other believers, intentionally invite some non-believing neighbors or friends. Free up those who have the gift of hospitality to plan the event and host it. Invite those you know who have the gift of gab to rub shoulders with your neighbors. Get others to pray for this time who you know will labor in prayer. Bring other believers who are encouragers and love to have a good time. And when you’re all together, just have fun hanging out. Eat together, talk about life together, enjoy one another’s company. This kind of love for one another is attractive to the world. And through these relationships, pray that God would open up a time where you can share the reason for the hope that is in you.
Written by Doug Wolter - Visit Website
June 24th, 2008 at 3:29 am
Good idea. Just remember to use these relationships to share the gospel. It does have to be said verbally at some point.
June 24th, 2008 at 4:44 am
Thanks for this Doug. Some of our best ministry has been at our home. What we say is modeled for people very clearly (in good ways and humbling ways) at home. When we make mistakes, it is good for people to see that Christians are not perfect people; they are people who see their weaknesses and who genuinely love others because they have been so genuinely loved by God.
June 24th, 2008 at 11:47 am
I thought of you, Mark, when I posted this. Thanks for modeling this type of ministry. Jaime and I enjoy it too. We’re trying to become more intentional about inviting people into our home. It becomes a little more challenging the more kids you have, and humbles you as well.
Tell us about how this type of ministry fleshes itself out for you guys on a weekly/monthly basis.
April 6th, 2009 at 6:35 am
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