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6.23.21 Empowered Session #2 Hallie Gardner · HBCWestminster

• 0:00
  For those of you who were not here last week, we began our study of what an empowered woman looks like. So I'm going to just review because there's a lot of you that weren't here last week. And my goal, our goal is this summer to hoist up the women of the Bible as the model for what God wants to empower us to do. I didn't share with you. I forgot last week. I shared it with the morning session.
• 0:28
  refrained last week from showing you pictures of peoples whose faces i'm kind of tired i refrained keep that in mind but now i'm telling you about it refrain from putting up pictures of people that the world is constantly putting in the faces of our young women and us of who we should model see i'm not even going to say their names but i'm tired of those people being hoisted up
• 0:55
  Because the world is not our standard. And so that's our goal for the summer is to hoist up the women of the Bible and say, this is what God did through them. And what can he do through us? I think to remember that true empowerment comes from the Holy Spirit working in us. And that was probably the main point last week. Last week I highlighted the woman at the well and how truly empowered women
• 1:23
  will choose to walk in freedom. We'll walk in the freedom that Jesus gives through his salvation. They're free to love and worship in spirit and truth. We also said that the empowered woman, the woman, sorry, know that she can walk in weakness because the Lord is her source of power. Empowered women have to choose the word over the world and that the empowered woman lives the spirit-guided life, not the self-guided tour.
• 1:53
  Tonight, we are going to talk about the empowered woman and how she is kind and hospitable. We will highlight some women of the Bible that were used in God's eternal, redemptive story because of their supernatural and radical kindness and hospitality. And I know what you're thinking. Well, that's kind of weak. Like, if we're going to talk about empowerment, I want some superpowers. I want superhuman strength.
• 2:22
  I want to be able to see through walls and hear things, right? Like, when we think of empowerment, we don't think, be kind, be hospitable. And I think that's perfect, right? That makes so much sense. Of course, the Lord uses those things that are powerful, way more powerful than superhuman strength, right?
• 2:43
  Seems a little anticlimactic, I know. The kindness and hospitality that is required of us pushes us to do what is impossible without the empowerment of Jesus. And the verse that I kept thinking of is Philippians 2.4. I'm going to use lots of verses, but when I thought of, I don't know, just we make things more complicated than they need to be. And simply, Philippians 2.4 says,
• 3:11
  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. And I remember when I read that, I was a freshman in college. I'm sure I had read it before, but the first time I really understood it, I was like, oh, oh, I see. I get it. It was so clear to me. And it is, I think, the basis of being kind and hospitable.
• 3:36
  I know this isn't necessarily a verse on hospitality or kindness, but I think it reminds us of how our life should be lived. Last week, we set our foundation for this series on a whole pile of verses. I just read them to you with my very melodious voice, right? I read Titus 2, Proverbs 31, Galatians 5, and Colossians 3. In every single one of those sections of scripture, kindness is mentioned.
• 4:05
  It's crazy. And those aren't the only ones. Those are just the ones that I shook, right? And the cream came to the top. And kindness is in every single one of them. And I think we all think we're pretty kind, you know? And so I just want to, for you to understand that the kindness that I'm talking about is a purposeful kindness, right? Is a set out kind of kindness. And we'll talk about that. But hospitality. I'm going to read you four verses.
• 4:33
  You probably know most of them. I was a little overwhelmed with how much the Bible actually talks about hospitality. And so I'm wearing my Hallie Gardner hospitality ministry tag. I was wearing it on Sunday, you know, because I sit and sleep and eat at the door on Sunday mornings. And I was thinking, because I was preparing for this, I was thinking that not just the people who wear the tag are supposed to be hospitable, right?
• 5:01
  It turns out, and we're going to read the verses, that we're all called, that Christians, male and female, are all called to be hospitable and not just the people who wear the tag, which is why I'm wearing it. And now I can't take it off because I have too many cords going on. The first verse that talks about hospitality is Romans 12, 13. You can turn there if you want. I have four. I'm going to go pretty quick, and I already kind of set my pages. So whatever you want to do, you can turn or just write it down. Romans 12, 13 says,
• 5:32
  Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. The next one is 1 Peter 4.9. 1 Peter 4.9. And it says, show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Timothy 5.10 says, and having a reputation for good works. It's the list of instructions for people who are at the church. Okay, so this is just a little snippet of it.
• 6:06
  1 Timothy 5.10. And having a reputation for good works, if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. And they're listing all those good things. And how about Hebrews? Let's turn to Hebrews. And this one's interesting, and I'm not going to, you know, explain it. Because I just want to read it. And you know it. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. It could be a whole sermon.
• 6:36
  thing that I shouldn't probably teach on because I don't know understand all the ins and outs of it but I think it's always interesting and in this idea of hospitality Hebrews 13 2 says do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unaware that's pretty interesting right and like I said we could read some books on it because I'm not that smart but I just think it's interesting that that talks about hospitality
• 7:05
  that there are so many verses old testament and new that consider hospitality uh important and is a command now before we go much further i think we need to clarify two things and make one promise okay so we're going to clarify two things we're going to make one promise and maybe um maybe i'll make you raise your right hand repeat after me i don't know we'll see what you think normally i would save this portion of my message for the end for the application
• 7:31
  portion. But because of the topic tonight, I feel like we need to get it out of the way. We need to talk about it right now so that it will not be a stumbling block for us as we look at the testimonies of the women that we're about to. So my clarification, the biblical art of serving others, which is hospitality, right? It's a biblical art for serving others, is not the same as entertaining.
• 8:00
  And you probably already knew that. I just want to clarify that. I watch a lot of HGTV home shows. Do you? You like these, right? I make Danny watch them with me. And they are always looking for what? An entertaining space, right? You've heard this. If you are HGTV literate, you know what that means, right? They want a big house with a lot of room so they can have people over. Not the same as hospitality.
• 8:28
  That's what we've turned it into in our culture and our world, but that's not what it means. So there's our first point of clarification. Hospitality is the familiar call to the people of God to be different, to stand out from the prevailing culture. That's what it is. Which brings me to another clarification.
• 8:49
  I am encouraging you and me, all of us, to be kind and hospitable. And I think that's biblical, and I do think it will set us apart. I don't think it's that hard to look different from the world when you're trying to be kind and hospitable. I need to confess to you that I am a recovering people pleaser. Okay? I don't know how many of you fall into this category. Some of you just don't like people, and you just need to be nicer. But some of us, some of us, you know it.
• 9:20
  true people there are two kinds of people in here those of us that are recovering people pleasers right i um was did not grow up in a christian home and when i started to read the bible when i was being discipled the lord showed me my sin in this area i desperately wanted people to like me i desperately i used to ask my mom
• 9:46
  I don't even know how many times a day, do you love me, mom? I mean, honestly, I was a needy little child. And she did love me. She was a very good mom. It wasn't even her fault. I just was that much of a people pleaser. And the Lord has grown me in that area. Not that I'm perfect, but I feel like we need to clarify that if we are pursuing hospitality, it needs to be about God's glory and not our own, right? We need to want to please people.
• 10:15
  So that they can see the Lord. Right? I do think I might write a book someday on why people pleasing is a good thing. Right? No, just kidding. I'm just kidding. Galatians 1.10 says, For am I now seeking the approval of man or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. So, remember as we work through what the Bible says about kindness and hospitality, that we need to check our motivation.
• 10:45
  I have to. For those of us that have tendencies toward being people pleasers, we need to remember that God wants to use our gifts. He gave us those gifts, but we need to remind ourselves to use them for his glory. Okay, those are the two clarifications now for the promise, okay? I'm setting this here, again, because I just want to get it out of the way. I feel like it's a dilemma when talking about these kind of things, especially for women, and so I want to just get it out of the way. Can we just promise?
• 11:14
  one another, that we will not compare ourselves to each other. As we talk about kindness and hospitality, can we remember that God wants to be original with you? And he wants to use you and he gifted you specifically for your task and your job. I'm sorry. Keep your mind as we talk from thoughts of, well, I can't do that.
• 11:40
  And I don't have that. And I can't cook like that. And I burn stuff. And my house isn't clean enough. My house isn't big enough. All of those things. Keep those from your mind. Because it's not hospitality. It's not what the Lord requires of you. I don't really like that thing, you do you. But I feel like in this case it works. You need to be willing to do what God is calling you to do.
• 12:04
  And I promise, this is where we raise our hands, you don't have to, and I promise that I am going to choose to be inspired and encouraged by what you do, and I will not be comparative and jealous and angry or bitter by what you do. Do you guys want to raise your hands? Just kidding. Okay, so let's hoist up these women of the Bible who show us the kind of kindness and hospitality that we...
• 12:31
  should put on display. We're going to start with Dorcas in Acts chapter 9. We're going to go to four different places. Acts chapter 9 is the first one. And with all the baby girls being born this year, I feel like Dorcas is a good name choice. I tried to convince Jesse today to go with Dorcas. How about Dorcas? It can be known as Tabitha.
• 13:00
  you translated as tabitha think about it okay i'm just kidding i'm not making fun of dorcas i'm not okay chapter 9 verse 36 acts chapter 9 verse 36. now there was in joppa a disciple named tabitha see it's a great name which translated means dorcas she was full of good works and acts of charity now now is joppa where henry is from that is the area that he's from yeah i
• 13:30
  I know you're going to get sick of me saying this, but I got to go to Joppa. And it's a really cute town. And that's where Henry's from. Isn't that cool? That's a different story. See, that's just free information right there. I'm just free. Okay. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days, she became ill and died. And when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
• 13:53
  Since Lydda was near Joppa, I have no idea if I'm saying all these accurately. Don't judge me. The disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, please come to us without delay. So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and he prayed. And turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise.
• 14:22
  And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord, and he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon a tanner. Now, the Bible says Dorcas was full of good works and acts of charity, kindness, and hospitality. She made clothes for the widows who at the time would not have had
• 14:49
  employment opportunities. If they had lost their husbands and their families, they would not have had a place to go. And so she made clothes for them. She was known for helping them specifically. And what I love about this story about Dorcas is that she dies. Everybody is so devastated. And they wash her body and prepare her. And normally, Jewish tradition would mean, and then you immediately take the body.
• 15:16
  Because there's all kinds of problems if you don't. And you put her in a tomb. But what did they do? They were like, we have other plans. She is far too important to us. We're just going to put her up in this room. And we're going to go get Peter. Remember, we're going to walk to go get Peter. It's not like we have public transportation. We're going to just see if she can be brought back to life. Because she's so vital to our church and to our ministry. It's crazy, right? They had their own plan.
• 15:45
  They weren't quite done with her yet, right? And then God does that. He raises her from the dead. The application here is pretty clear, don't you think? Are we like Dorcas? Do we purposely play such an integral part in our church amongst the believers that we would be missed? Not because of the glory for our own sakes, but for the good of others and for the name of the Lord? Because Dorcas did.
• 16:14
  Next week, we are going to start our, I'm going to do a section on biographical testimonies before, like separate from the message, and we'll start that next week. But I thought I would show you my own personal favorite empowered woman. As I was studying Dorcas, she reminded me so much of Dorcas that I felt like I should bring it up. So let's see if this works. This is my Grandma Betty.
• 16:44
  in the middle there. And then she's the youngest little girl in that old picture in the middle, the youngest of 13. I don't know if all 13 are there, but she was the youngest of 13, born in 1935. And you can tell this picture was quite a bit ago because all my babies are babies. She married young and had five children very quickly. My dad was the oldest.
• 17:11
  And my grandma Betty died in October. She died this last October. And she had a really hard life. Her husband abandoned her with said five children when they were all very young. And eventually died in Wyoming at a bar. Died at the bar with his head on the bar. Was an alcoholic. Her five kids were, well...
• 17:40
  They're pretty wayward throughout their growing up, except for my dad. You tell him I said that, okay? He was very good. But I had a lot of ups and downs, and that happens, right, when you're trying to raise five kids by yourself. And her parents were faithful believers, my great-great-grandparents. Wait, yeah, grandparents. My grandma could have chosen to be bitter.
• 18:05
  There were so many things in her life that were hard. She had diabetes really bad. She worked so much to support those kids, and they weren't always thankful for all the things she did. But she wasn't. She wasn't. She loved Jesus. And I didn't meet her until I was 18, and that's a different story. But I'll tell you one story. I met her in college when I was 18.
• 18:34
  And she was immediately the, like, I couldn't believe I was related to her. That's how I felt. Like, I can't believe. All these years, I grew up in a non-Christian home, and there's this lady that is dorkest. She's amazing. And I'm related to her? I couldn't believe it. So I was going to school in Southern California and went to stay with her for the weekend. I didn't.
• 18:56
  I just met her. I didn't know her, right? This is my grandmother, but I didn't know her. And I went and stayed at her house, and her house was awful. It was very rustic, let's just say. It was hard. She didn't have a lot of money. She didn't have a lot of time to take care of it. Her kids, some of her kids were living there because they had fallen on hard times. Why do I tell you that? Because it didn't matter. I didn't even notice that until later on because she was so kind.
• 19:25
  and so hospitable. It was just like Dorcas. And so her funeral in October, you know, we're not allowed to celebrate our life and funerals this last year, especially in California. We went to California, all the family members, and we were allowed to go to the graveside. We had 30 minutes, must wear a mask, must stand separated.
• 19:49
  Across all these graves. And so we did. Because that's what we had. And you guys, it was just like this. Like the story of Dorcas to me. It was all these people testifying to this woman who had done so much for them. So there's my real life Dorcas. And I did it without even crying. Don't look at that one. That one's secret. Okay. So there it is. Dorcas. Are we an integral part?
• 20:18
  of what's going on in our church body and the people around us that we would be missed that way. Let's live our lives like that. Okay, let's look at Phoebe in Romans 16. Turn to Phoebe, 16. Oh, man. And it's just verses 1 and 2. Phoebe is mentioned in just these two little verses, Romans 16, 1 and 2. I commend to you our sister Phoebe.
• 20:57
  a servant of the church at Centuria, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. At first glance, it might not seem like Phoebe did very much, although the apostle Paul obviously gives her his highest commendation here. In these short two verses, Paul calls Phoebe a sister and a servant.
• 21:26
  The word servant is actually the word for deacon or deaconess, which means she was willing to serve anyone and everyone in the church. He calls her a patron of his and many others. And this word in other translations is just translated helper. It's actually a Greek word referring to an Olympic trainer. So she was a helper, like an Olympic trainer. It literally means one who stands by in case of need.
• 21:55
  I always think of the relay, you know, and somebody standing by with a towel if you need it or water if you need it or to be tapped out so you don't have to run anymore, you know. That was Phoebe. You know, there are several times in Paul's letters where he makes mention of people, even women specifically, who were quite difficult. Do you know those? I'm going to read one for you in a minute. But there are times where people are immortalized forever in the Scripture for not getting along.
• 22:25
  Here's Phoebe, two verses on her, immortalized forever for being someone who stands by in case of need. I know which one I would choose, right? Look down at verse 17. He doesn't use their names here, but verse 17 says, I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught. Avoid them, right?
• 22:50
  And if you were to turn to or look at Philippians 4, 2, Paul says, I entreat you, Iodia, and entreat you, Synecdoche. I'm saying it wrong. Anyway, you know who I'm talking about, that lady. And can you imagine that letter to Paul or from Paul is being read to the church. And he says, and those ladies, I'm sure, were sitting there waiting to hear what Paul said. And he says to them, I'm asking you, Iodia.
• 23:20
  to agree in the Lord. Gosh, can you imagine hearing that? You'd be like, ah. Right? We owe Phoebe, and I didn't understand this or fully realize, Phoebe's kindness in these two verses and her selfless service, a huge debt of gratitude, because it is Phoebe that is agreed upon, was the one who delivered the book of Romans to the Romans.
• 23:51
  And that was the picture I was hiding from you. I found it, an artist's depiction of Paul giving Phoebe the Roman scroll to then take to Rome. I read this quote about her. Phoebe carried under the folds of her robe the whole future of Christian theology. And I also, apparently this is an old rhyme. I just thought it was so funny.
• 24:20
  that I didn't know. Phoebe's God's helper. Phoebe God's helper once left her fine home to carry Paul's letter to Christians in Rome. So there's Phoebe. Phoebe was willing to leave her home to further the gospel. That is radical kindness. She had radical hospitality, not to mention a host of other things, courage and discernment and all the things, right? So that's Phoebe. Let's look at Lydia in Acts chapter 16.
• 24:55
  16. We've done Dorcas, Phoebe, Lydia. Acts 16, verses 14 and 15. I was reading in the wrong one. I'm like, where is she? Okay, 16, 14, and 15. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods who was a worshiper of God.
• 25:24
  The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized in her household as well, she urged us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay. And she prevailed upon us. Now, it's understood that Lydia probably, even though that's what we've been taught for 100 years, is probably not her name.
• 25:47
  It's kind of known as her business name. It's actually the province that the city of Thyatira was in. So it's like her business name. And it's interesting, right, that Thyatira should sound familiar to you because it's one of the churches mentioned in Revelations 2 and 3. It's one of the letters to the churches. And Thyatira was the church that was known for its good works, its kindness, and its hospitality. And that's where Lydia was from. It was also known for Jezebel.
• 26:17
  We won't talk about that tonight. You know that Lydia was known for being a maker of purple dye, which would have been very expensive because it was taken from either mollusks.
• 26:30
  it's a hard word to say, mollusks, or from a plant called the matter plant. They would have extracted it. They didn't have machines, obviously, so they made purple dye that way. And she was fairly well off because only rich people could buy the purple fabric, right? So that's what that is. She's called a worshiper in our passage because she had turned from pagan idols and wanted to worship the true God, but had not given her life to the Lord yet. And we know,
• 26:59
  Paul arrives here and Paul always preaches to the synagogues first. And there's several reasons for that, but he goes to the synagogues first. And it's interesting that here they didn't have a synagogue because the Jewish custom or rule actually would be that you had to have at least 10 men to open a Jewish synagogue and they didn't have that. And so those men, they're not even allowed to, they weren't allowed to open the scrolls. They weren't allowed to read them until they had that quorum.
• 27:26
  They weren't allowed. But the women were allowed to meet together and pray. And so Paul gets there. His custom is to go to the synagogue first. This city doesn't have a synagogue, so he goes to the women who are meeting at the river to talk to them and to preach to them, which I think is pretty interesting. We don't know if Lydia was a widow. Some commentaries think she was. Some think she was married, but she was just the breadwinner of the family, so she's mentioned and her husband's not, right?
• 27:54
  I don't know. But the women were allowed to gather and pray. So this is where Paul goes. And this is where Lydia gets saved and then baptized. And then her entire family gets baptized, right? She's very affluent. And I don't know if that means her kids were living with her or it's just her servants and her staff, but everybody in her household is baptized. And Lydia is often said to be the first convert in Europe. Isn't that interesting? That the Bible, Jesus, the Bible, Jesus, and certainly Paul.
• 28:24
  are often slandered, and we talked about this last week, as chauvinists, right? That the Bible is chauvinistic, that women are not important. And here is Paul showing up, and who does he go to? And it would have been so offensive to a lot of people. It was so countercultural that he would go to the women and teach them and hoist them up, right?
• 28:50
  It was so against the religious Pharisaical culture at the time. Let's talk about Lydia's hospitality. Look at verse 15 when it says that she prevailed upon us. It means that Lydia literally begged for them to stay, convinced them, made sure that they had a place to stay. You guys, I don't know if you've considered this, but in the ancient world, hospitality was critical.
• 29:18
  It was critical. It wasn't like there was a host of hotel chains to stay at. And most of the places that there were available, the inns that were available, were mostly brothels. So as a Christian, you wouldn't stay there. And if it wasn't that bad, it was still pretty dangerous and filthy. So it was imperative that people show hospitality, whether they had a building, which Lydia probably did, or if they lived in a tent.
• 29:46
  right? Their tent became their place for hospitality. And I would say, just like the hospitality was imperative then, it's imperative now. It looks different, right? You don't have a one-bedroom tent that you say, come on in, right? But if you did, but if you did, you could use that, right? Because that's what the Lord used then. That's how he can use us.
• 30:13
  Can you imagine that? It was really a one room. You've slept and ate and everything with your company. And who knows how long they were staying. And talk about the dust and the dirt, right? It would have been a lot. Look down at verse 40. Okay. Verse 40. I have to turn the page. So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. So after the saving of the Philippian jailer, that whole miraculous thing, where did they go back?
• 30:44
  They go to Lydia's house, right? She was obviously hospitable. She is actually the place where the Philippians church began, right? They met in her house. This is where they started. So are we hospitable like Lydia? Using our time and resources to meet the needs of others? Are we willing to be inconvenienced for the sake of showing kindness and hospitality? Being hospitable is costly, but the reward is far greater than we can imagine.
• 31:14
  It is eternal. For our last person, we're going to talk about Priscilla. And she is part of a dynamic duo, as you know, although she's always mentioned first. Up until now, we've talked about single women or at least women that are mentioned singularly. And I did that on purpose because I know for some women that their husbands are maybe the reason they feel like they can't be hospitable. Certainly.
• 31:44
  We can all still be kind, but being hospitable is difficult when your spouse is not on board the way you are. And I talk to a lot of women that have that heart to do that and not the support. And I just want you to remember that these women, a lot of them did it alone because the empowerment comes from the Holy Spirit and not from your husband being on board. So Priscilla and her husband Aquila were a team in every sense of the word.
• 32:14
  And what a testimony a marriage like that can be, right? One book that I read called them bookends, and I had never heard that imagery before. I think it's really neat that they were like these bookends. They supported everything the Lord was doing together. We meet Priscilla in Acts 18, just right there, Acts 18, verses 2 and 3. So let me read that.
• 32:41
  And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla. Because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome, and he went to see them. And because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked for they were tent makers by trade. Paul is alone here without his companions, Timothy and Silas. They were coming, but they weren't there yet. And I often think about now, having moved and left friends and started a new life.
• 33:11
  How hard it must have been for Paul as he traveled from one place to another. And to be doing ministry and not having support. And here the Lord brings him two new friends who are going to walk through fire for him for the rest of his ministry. Right up until the time of his death. And God is so good to provide that for us. And that's just extra stuff too. See? Extra goodness. God is good to provide that.
• 33:37
  In 1 Corinthians 16, 19, we find out that the church of Ephesus met in Priscilla and Aquila's home. And then in 2 Timothy, and I think 2 Timothy is right before Paul is beheaded. I don't know, maybe minutes?
• 33:52
  maybe weeks i don't know there's lots of controversy about that but i i mean if you read it with that idea you'll see it it feels like paul is he's right at the end and right at the end of second timothy in his as is his norm he starts mentioning people's names and in the end of second timothy he he thanks them before he's killed he mentions them in his final greetings priscilla and aquila were willing to go anywhere and be used in any way to help paul in the furtherance of the gospel
• 34:22
  They had to leave people and leave loved ones. They were persecuted. They were expelled from Rome, not allowed to come back. But they understood the cost. In Romans 16, verses 3 and 4, it talks about how they intervene. And we don't know the details, but they intervene from Paul being killed. He says, they stuck out their necks for me. So that is Priscilla. And it reminds me of Paul's own words.
• 34:52
  Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. I like this quote about hospitality. It is hospitality that extends God's church, God's community, God's front porch into every life, no matter where they might be. I think some of us in this room are here today because of somebody else's kindness and hospitality. I for sure am. Florin and Terry Suedos were my youth pastor and wife.
• 35:21
  And I ate at their house. I studied at their house. I slept at their house. She made turkey and rice soup every Sunday night for me and a host of other people. It was because of their willingness to let me come in that I do life the way I do today. And I'm sure you have those people there in your life too because of their hospitality. I want to recommend a book to you. Those of you who know me know that I would.
• 35:50
  I know I recommend books to you a lot. All of those other ones, put them away and read this one only. That's how I feel about it. And that's pretty highly said. They're all good, but this one is better. I don't know. Maybe not. Maybe it's just different. It's by Rosaria Butterfield. It's called The Gospel Comes with a House Key. And she is...
• 36:16
  She came out of a, all the things, and you can look at it afterwards if you didn't get it, the name and author. She was a, comes out of a lesbian lifestyle, the most liberal, teaching at a liberal college. I mean, all the opposite things. That's what she was pursuing. And there are these people she meets, and they're nice to her, and they invite her over to dinner. And I don't want to give very much of it away, but she decides she's going to go, but she fights with herself all the way over there.
• 36:45
  These people are just so nice to her, and she's irritated by it. And she goes to their house, and it changes her life forever because they were willing to be kind and hospitable. And then she lives her life that way and talks about it. Oh, I'm going to read a quote. I forgot. I'm just going to read you a little quote from the beginning. It's an excellent book. I think there's lots of practical things. Before you read it, you might have to do your promise. I promise to not be, right?
• 37:16
  Those who live out radically ordinary hospitality, that's her phrase. And actually, there are books much older than this that use the term radical hospitality. She borrowed it from them, but she calls it radical ordinary hospitality. I love that. Those who live out radically ordinary hospitality see their homes not as theirs at all, but as God's gift to use for the furtherance of his kingdom. They open doors. They seek out the underprivileged. They know that the gospel comes with a house key.
• 37:44
  A truly hospitable heart anticipates every day. Christ-centered table fellowship and guests who are genuinely in need. Such a heart seeks opportunities to serve. Radically ordinary hospitality doesn't keep fussy lists or make a big deal about invitations. Invitations are open. Radically ordinary hospitality is reflected in Christian homes that resemble those of the first century. Such homes are communal. They are deep and wide in Christian tradition and practice.
• 38:15
  My prayer is that this book will help you let God use your home, apartment, dorm room, front yard, community gymnasium, or garden for the purpose of making strangers into neighbors and neighbors into family. And that's important to catch that. Does it have to be your house? Is that what God's asking? Maybe, maybe for some of you, but I think that you have to remember it's what you have, whatever, whatever can be used, right? Whatever he's given you to use. Okay, back up.
• 38:43
  purpose of making strangers into neighbors and neighbors into family because that is the point building the church and living like a family the family of god my prayer is that you will stop being afraid of strangers even when some strangers are dangerous
• 38:56
  My prayer is that you will grow to be more like Christ in practicing daily, ordinary, radical hospitality, and that the Lord would bless you richly for it, adding to his kingdom, creating a new culture and a new reputation for what it means to be a Christian to the watching world. My hope is that daily fellowship would grow your union with Christ, and that you would no longer be that Christian with a pit of empty dreams, competing madly with other reigning idols, wondering if this is all there is to the Christian life.
• 39:23
  My prayer is that you would see that practicing daily, ordinary, radical hospitality toward the end of rendering strangers neighbors and neighbors family of God is the missing link. So, what does this mean for us? What do we do? How can we emulate Dorcas, Phoebe, Lydia, and Priscilla? First, these are my practical applications. First, don't get worried. Don't panic. Don't get stressed.
• 39:53
  Don't get hung up on the hows and the whats. Because Satan would love for you to be paralyzed with fear over doing it just perfect and right. He would love to trip you up by holding you back with fear and intimidation by not being a people person. Second, pray. Be purposeful. Be strategic. Be thoughtful.
• 40:17
  When you walk into the church or Costco or Walmart or go out for dinner or wherever you shop, all the shopping, whatever you're doing, look for the opportunity to put others first, to consider the needs of others. Be full of thoughts for others. I actually wanted to name our title Empowered and then underneath it put Get Over Yourself. But the other ladies frowned upon that. They didn't think that was very kind. But that's what I wrote here because I think it's true.
• 40:47
  In order to do this, we have to get over ourselves. You guys, I am so lame. I fumble over myself all the time. When I go to share the gospel with people, when I'm trying to decide if I'm going to give this homeless person money, it is not eloquent. I know that's hard to believe because I am so refined up here, but it is a mess. But I just try to do it, even if it doesn't look pretty, you know? The other day I was in King Super, that's where I am a lot, and
• 41:15
  It was for VBS, and I was trying to get some snacks, and there was one box of pastries there. And I was just gathering stuff. I didn't really care what it was. I put it in the cart. And I could hear this guy, obviously talking to his wife, who was supposed to pick up certain things on his list. And he was like, there are no more of those little mini pastries. And I looked down at my cart, and I'm like, I have the mini pastries. It was the last one. So I walked over to him, and you guys, I'm not saying because I'm so great. I just said, hey, I didn't care. You can have these ones.
• 41:45
  He was like, thank you so much. You know, you could tell. He was like, don't send me home to my wife without those pastries. And I am not joking. I saw him like three more times in the store and he thanked me every time. It was so simple. You know, I was like, really? No big deal. The kids don't care. I just think that.
• 42:12
  That we have to look beyond our own plan, our own schedule, to look over our glasses and pay attention to people around us. I'm not asking you to neglect your marriage and your family or your home or the things that need to get done. I'm not saying to neglect those things, but I'm also saying that those things are to be used for the gospel. They're not all about you.
• 42:41
  This, I'm going to step on my soapbox for a minute. I almost made a box that said soap so I could step on it. But this is one of the big problems that I had during the pandemic. Because I would hear people say things like, well, you know what, it's just been a really great time for me and my family. We've had a lot of extra time together.
• 43:05
  And that's good. That is good. And I believe in the God who redeems that time and a God of silver linings. And he uses awful things for good things. But I would say very gently, did you consider any of the people who live by themselves? I love people who live alone. They don't have other people to hang out. People would also say, you know what? Not much has changed in my life during the pandemic. And I would just question.
• 43:35
  If you live by yourself and you don't do anything for other people, you don't see other people, you're not outside of what's going on, then that is not the empowered life. It just isn't. I'm not trying to be mean. I just think now's the time. Now's the time for us to live loud and clear and straightforwardly.
• 43:58
  And to make a difference. And not for our own glory. And not to the detriment of our family. But I just think we have to be purposeful. We have to walk in with eyes to see people's needs, you guys. And God will show you. He will. He'll show you the guy that needs your pastries. He really will. If you'll just focus outside of yourself. Third, be radical. Radical means out of place, drastically different.
• 44:27
  Be willing to speak up and speak out, even if you fumble like I do. Be different than the rest. Be the one. It takes fresh perspective sometimes to put yourself out there, to be uncomfortable. But for the sake of the kingdom, it's okay. God will use it. Lastly, remember that we are commanded to practice hospitality. Whether we wear the lanyard or not, we're all commanded to do it. And it doesn't have to look the same.
• 44:59
  And whether we consider ourselves gifted at it or not, I would say I think sometimes Christians get a little tripped up with, well, I'm just not gifted at that. Of course God gifted you, and you should use your gifts. Does that mean that you should never dabble in the things that you're not good at? I should be playing worship. You guys don't neglect the call. Use what he has given you to show kindness and hospitality to others. It really is more simple than we make it.
• 45:31
  To do the impossible. The Lord wants your time, your money, your home, your family, your marriage. And it may be costly. It will for sure be uncomfortable. It will for sure mean you won't get everything done. But the reward is the kingdom. Right? And it's worth it. I'm going to tell you one more King Soopers story. And then I'm going to let you talk about your feelings around your table. I, during the pandemic, was at King Soopers. Shocker.
• 46:03
  And it's my, it's Jen's, Jen is to Walmart what I am to K-Super. And some of you know the story because I shared it. But I, it just, I think about it all the time. I think about it all the time. I was walking in and there was this lady who, and we weren't required to wear masks. No, we were. We were required to wear masks because I had one on and she didn't. And she was standing in like that. She was older, much older. And she was standing like in this little.
• 46:33
  the cubby of the front of king super kind of cowered in the where the doors go you know she was shoved back in there and i walked in past her and i i saw her but i could tell she was she did not want to talk to me she was kind of afraid of me or something and but i i started to walk past her and do what i was going to do i didn't need very much and i though i was like oh no something's wrong and the lord wants me to go talk to this lady so i did and she needed to use the restroom
• 47:00
  She didn't know where the restroom was. She was over 80 at least, and she was in trouble. Like she was going to have an accident and was afraid to go into the store because she didn't have a mask. She had left it in the car. And I was like, oh, I will walk you to the bathroom. I dare anybody to say anything to me about you not wearing a mask, you know. But I could tell she was, we shuffled to the bathroom.
• 47:27
  And I walked her to the bathroom and her son came in rushing with a mask because I think he caught on, you know. And he, too, when he saw me, he was, I think he thought, oh, no, this lady's probably accosting my mom for not wearing a mask, you know. And so we walked to the bathroom. But, you guys, she was so thankful. She was so thankful. And I'm not, again, I'm sure I missed lots of opportunities. But I'm so thankful that the Lord showed me. Who knows?
• 47:55
  She doesn't know that I'm a Christian. I didn't say anything about Jesus, but I was kind to her, and I believe that the Holy Spirit can use that in her life, right? And that's our job. It doesn't have to be perfect. It doesn't have to be glamorous. We just have to show up for it. So go ahead and talk around your tables, and I will stop talking.