Gift of Hospitality

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Gift of Hospitality (I Peter 4:9)

This gift is the ability to reach out to others and welcome them into your home and life in a loving, warm manner, while providing food and lodging, such that the guests feel “at home” in your presence.

  • This gift is not clearly delineated with other gifts and may be a specific application of the Gift of Service. (I Peter 4:9-11)
  • All believers are to exhibit hospitality. (Hebrews 13:2)
  • Hospitality in general is a qualification for spiritual leadership (I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8) and for widows who are supported by the church. (I Timothy 5:10)
  • This gift is to be used to provide for itinerant ministers (missionaries, etc.). (III John 5-8)
  • The people with this gift need to see themselves as an extension of their guest’s ministry and, therefore, as accountable for their guest’s teachings.

Biblical Examples:

  • Acts 16:15 — Lydia
  • Acts 21:4,7,8,16 — Paul’s accommodations
  • Romans 16:23; III John 5-8 — Gaius
  • Philemon 2:22 — Philemon

Possible Characteristics of this Gift:

  • You often pray that God will use your home to accommodate visitors.
  • You enjoy meeting new people.
  • You enjoy having visitors in your home, and often have people staying with you.
  • You enjoy preparing meals for guests.
  • You are relaxed entertaining people in your home and enjoy having people over who you do not know well.
  • You are quick to invite people you have just met to your home.
  • People feel very comfortable in your home and do not feel as if they are imposing. They often “kick off their shoes” and find it easy to relax.
  • You are not upset if your home is not in perfect order when someone drops in.
  • Many people just stop by.
  • You often open your home for Bible studies and social functions.
  • You enjoy asking neighbors over.
  • Others see you as a friendly and open person.

Common Support Gifts:

Service, Mercy, Encouragement

Possible Ministries:

  • Guest Services (Greeting, Guest Hospitality, Café, Hosts, Food Service for Events and Special Programs, Event and Lobby Party Planning Team)
  • Administrative Support (Office Assistant)
  • Missions (Local Missions Volunteer, BRIDGES Missionary Care Team)
  • Student Ministries (Hospitality Team)
  • Life Group (Use my home to host a Life Group)
I want to serve!