Giving and receiving hospitality in God’s mission

Introduction:

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,” says the book of Hebrews, “for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it” (13:2 NRSV). Through hospitality, which creates an opportunity for strangers to becomefriends, we experience the presence of God. Similarly, mission — the sharing of the good news of Jesus Christ across cultures — cannot be separated from hospitality. People who are sent from one place to another, being guests, rely on the wisdom and welcome of their hosts in order to survive. And hosts, showing kindness to strangers, receive from them the blessings that they bring. As Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous” (Matthew 10:41 NRSV).

Together, in the giving and receiving of hospitality, guests and hosts find themselves in "the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit" (2 Corinthians 13:13 NRSV).

This November, Mennonite Mission Network invites your congregation to explore what it means to experience the hospitality of God in the context of mission. Below, you will find resources to help your congregation plan a Mission Sunday worship service, as well as ways to engage and support God’s mission through the workers, partners, and ministries of Mission Network.

Texts and sermon starters:

Read the following texts:

With John 6:1-15 as your primary sermon text, consider using the following observations and questions to focus your study.

At the beginning of the text, Jesus “went up the mountain” (v. 3). At the end of the text, Jesus “withdrew again to the mountain” (v. 15 NRSV). The “mountain” is also featured as the setting for Isaiah 25:6-10. What connections might you make between the mountain in Isaiah and the mountain in John?

References to eating occur twice in this text. The first is in Jesus’ question to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” (v. 5 NRSV, italics added). The second reference is in the voice of the narrator, who says, “fromthe fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets” (v. 13 NRSV, italics added). How would you describe the relationship between the two instances of “eat” in this story? How would you characterize the change that took place in the story between these two usages?

The five “loaves” and two “fish” are used to feed the five thousand (vv. 9-11). By what process did this feeding take place? Which characters participated and how did they participate?

In the middle of the text, the people “sit down” or “recline” (Greek: anapesein) — the posture for enjoying a meal (v. 10). Where do they recline or “lie down?” What connections do you notice between this detail and Psalm 23?

The word “sign” (Greek: sēmeia) is used twice in this text, once at the beginning and once at the end (vv. 2, 14). The nature of a sign is to point to the reality that it signifies. What does the feeding of the five thousand signify about Jesus?

Finally, how does this story speak to you about hospitality?

Worship resource suggestions

(from Voices Together)

Call to worship:

"If you are delighted to be here" (#853)
"What will you offer the body of Christ today?" (#1023)
"There is no scarcity" (#1024)

Prayers:

"This home is yours, my God" (#958)
"Jesus of love and leftovers" (#1016)
"La paz no es producto del terror ni del miedo" (#1038)

Songs:

"For the Fruit of All Creation" (#124)
"Christ Has Broken Down the Wall" (#174)
"From North and South, from East and West" (#460)
"Come to the Table of Grace" (#461)
"We Place upon Your Table" (#462)
"Somos pueblo que camina" (#464)
"All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly" (#474)
"In the Singing, in the Silence" (#481)
"Let Us Break Bread Together" (#482)
"Come On, Children, to the Gospel Feast" (#511)
"There’s Enough for All" (#757)
"I’m Gonna Eat at the Welcome Table" (#801)

Table blessings:

"Great God, the Giver of All Good" (#486)
"Gracias, Señor" (#487)
"God is Great and God is Good" (#488)
"Bless This Food and Bless Your People" (#489)

Additional resources

Offering suggestion

Choose a "moment in mission" video (from the righthand column on this webpage) to include in your worship service. Inspire your congregation with these examples of hospitality from Mission Network partners and workers. Collect offerings for Mennonite Mission Network to support these and other ministries that demonstrate the love of Jesus.

Children’s story suggestion

Try these story cards from our Mission Bank materials on Spain or Argentina. Help your children to see how practices of giving and receiving express our faith in Christ.

Ideas for fellowship meal

Prepare a fellowship meal as part of your Mission Sunday celebration. Feature foods from the countries where the ministries your congregation supports, through Mission Network, are located. Make the meal a community celebration, inviting neighbors who may not have a church home.