Four Steps Toward Extra-Mile Hospitality

On any given Sunday morning at Cities newcomers are, at the very least, greeted with smiles, handshakes, baked goods, and fresh coffee. While all of this is good, should our church’s efforts in hospitality end here? What might it look like for us to go the extra mile in showing hospitality to those who join us on Sundays?

My friend and a fellow worship leader, Ryan Shelton, has some very practical helps to offer us in his article, “The Church Is Not Your Frat House.” I was challenged most by his thoughts on how we communicate during our services. Ryan encourages us to be self-aware of the language we use and the concepts we articulate. Are we using words that strangers to the gospel would naturally understand?

At Cities, in our gatherings and where we live each day, we celebrate truths like the incarnation, substitutionary atonement, and the bodily resurrection of Christ, but it's important that we don't fall into the rut of throwing around religious jargon. We should work together to translate these glorious realities into language that connects with our neighbors. By doing so, we break down unnecessary barriers and pave the way for others to hear the grace of God. 

For more, check out Ryan's article.