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This talk by Ibrahim and Grace explores the biblical concept of hospitality as a practical expression of loving one’s neighbor, drawing from a Middle Eastern cultural perspective. He defines hospitality through key scriptures, illustrates it with Old Testament stories, and provides three theological reasons for its practice, concluding with personal testimonies of how opening their home in Lebanon has opened doors for ministry and evangelism.
[02:12]– Definition of Hospitality: The Greek word philoxenia means “love of strangers,” and it is a required characteristic for church leadership (1 Timothy 3:2) and all believers (1 Peter 4:9, Romans 12:13).[07:45]– Abraham’s Example: In Genesis 18, Abraham humbly and urgently serves three strangers, who turn out to be angels bringing the promise of a son, demonstrating that hospitality can mean entertaining angels unawares.[12:32]– The Widow’s Example: In 1 Kings 17, a widow with virtually nothing obeys Elijah’s request for food first, and God miraculously provides for her household throughout the famine as a result of her hospitality.[16:57]– Reason 1: For a Blessing: We are to show hospitality to those who cannot repay us, like the poor and needy, and our reward will come from God at the resurrection (Luke 14:12-14).[19:21]– Reason 2: As unto Jesus: When we welcome a stranger, we are ultimately welcoming and serving Jesus himself, as stated in the judgment of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46).[20:44]– Reason 3: Because We Were Welcomed: As believers who were once strangers to God’s covenant, we are now members of His household; therefore, we should extend the same welcome to others (Ephesians 2:19).[25:25]– Ministry Testimony: Yousuf: A Muslim friend visiting from the US was hosted, leading to open conversations about God and a positive experience at their church, creating an opportunity to hear the gospel.[29:39]– Ministry Testimony: Sarah: Ibrahim’s cousin from a Catholic/Orthodox background stayed with them, which led to a late-night conversation where she heard the gospel and gave her life to Jesus.[31:50]– Ministry Testimony: Airport Stopover: A brief 20-minute visit from a cousin and his friend en route to Germany allowed for spontaneous questions about God and the Bible to be answered.[34:15]– Ministry Testimony: Displaced Believers: During the 2023 conflict in Lebanon, they hosted a displaced mother and son from Tyre for two months, creating a deep sense of family and Christian fellowship.[38:05]– Ministry Testimony: Church Shelter: Their organization’s church and school opened their doors to hundreds of displaced people during the fighting, leading to a powerful sense of God’s peace and many responding to the gospel.
Scripture References
- 1 Timothy 3:2
- 1 Peter 4:9
- Romans 12:13
- Genesis 18:1-8
- 1 Kings 17:8-16
- Luke 14:12-14
- Matthew 25:31-46
- Ephesians 2:19
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