Hospitality

Mary -The Mother of John Mark

10:00 AM

 

Our verse for this week is Acts 12:12,"...He went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying."

Hi Girls!

We've reach another woman in our study who is hardly mentioned in the Bible, but one who played a huge role in the church during it's infancy. I'm so thankful to be taking the time to study Mary, the mother of John Mark this week, for she is a woman who is overlooked more often than not these days, yet truly deserves recognition for the huge role she did play. O, hang on girls, I think this will be a wonderful study this week and I can not wait to dive in!!

The story Mary, the Mother of John Mark is found in:

Acts 12:1-19

Colossians 4:10

And quite possibly Acts 1:12 - 2:13, but I'll talk about that more later in the week. 

As always our themes for the week will be:

  • Monday: Her story--a portrait of her life
  • Tuesday: Her life and times--background information about the culture of her day
  • Wednesday: Her legacy in Scripture
  • Thursday: Her promise--the Bible promises that apply to her life and yours
  • Friday: Her legacy of prayer--and praying in light of her story

We want to also encourage you to be thinking along these lines as you study Mary, the mother of John Mark throughout the week. Ask yourself:


  • What life lessons stand out to me from her life?
  • How does the culture of that day have an impact on her circumstances?
  • What stands out as her legacy ?
  • What's the greatest takeaway/promise from her story?
  • How does her story prompt you in the area of prayer?
All for now! 
I hope you are just as excited as we are to begin this week's study on the life of Mary, the mother of John Mark! 

We'll see you in the morning! 

Blessings!
sue

Hospitality

Friday February 19th-Martha, Mary and Lazarus’ sister

4:00 PM

 

Friday February 19th-Martha, Mary and Lazarus’ sister




Martha was a servant and she excelled in hospitality.  She paid attention to every detail.  She was not someone who sat around, she kept busy enjoying serving others.  But, like Martha we who love to serve sometimes get tired and forget to take time to rest and get refreshed.  We worry and fret.  Are we doing enough? 

Be hospitable to one another without complaint.  As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.    [I Peter 4:9-10]

Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” [Luke 10:38-42]

Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him.  [John 12:1-2]

Lord, You know how much I love to serve.  I love preparing for company and making sure everything is just right.  It brings me much joy to attend to their needs and just make them feel at home.  Thank You for gifting me with such details of hospitality.  It can be exhausting and I forget to sit down with them and enjoy their company because I worry if everything is just right.  I think of the day You came to our house and I was so worried if I had done enough.  I just wanted everything to be just right for You.  I was so frustrated I even asked [harshly I admit] that You would make her help me.  In Your loving and gracious way You reminded me that I needed to sit like my sister Mary and enjoy You.  So many times Lord I rush around and get things done and I admit not always with a grateful heart.  I complain!  Help me Lord to sit with You before I serve anyone. To serve them as if I am serving You.  Help me Lord to serve You with a grateful heart.  For all that I am is from you. 









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Lyn


3 John

Hospitality {3 John}

12:30 AM

November 28, 2017

How do you react when the doorbell rings or there’s a knock on the door?  Are you excited or anxious?  Do you welcome these uninvited guests or do you look around and think, ‘my clean house is going to get dirty?’ Are you annoyed at the inconvenience or are you quickly seating your guests down and sharing a meal or a cup of coffee?

I hate to admit, but I have gone through a phase of life that I disliked uninvited guests.  So often someone would stop by and I didn’t have enough dinner to share or I simply was exhausted with the phase of life I was in and did not feel I had the time for them.  Or it was someone who always stayed too long.  But one thing that always comes to mind is Hebrews 13:2, “Do not forgot to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

3 John is a personal letter to Gaius who had a reputation and habit for friendship and generosity, especially to travelling teachers and missionaries (v. 5).  Gaius definitely was an example of one who follows Christ and loves others (vs. 1-8).  Then there’s Diotrephes, the self-proclaimed church leader who does not reflect God’s values (vs. 9-11).  And finally, Demetrius, who also follows the truth (v. 12). 

Hospitality can be defined as “the quality of or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way.”  In the New Testament, the Greek word for hospitality literally means “love of strangers”.  Hospitality is a virtue that is both commanded and commended throughout scripture.  In the Old Testament, it was specifically commanded by God:  “When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him.  The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born.  Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt.”  (Leviticus 19:33-34)

Jesus depended entirely on the hospitality of others as they ministered from town to town (Matthew 10:9-10).  And as the early Christians began their ministry, they too depended on and received hospitality from others (Acts 2:44-45; 28:7).  Hospitality was indeed a highly regarded virtue in ancient times, especially for Christian leaders (Titus 1:8; 1 Timothy 3:2).

And let’s not forget Abraham’s humble and generous display of hospitality to three strangers.  He gave generously to these three strangers, giving them the best he had.  And as it turned out, he had entertained the Lord and two angels (Genesis 18:1-8).

As followers of Christ, we emulate His love and compassion when we show hospitality, not only to fellow Christians, but even more so to strangers and the less fortunate.  In fact, we honor God when we are kind to the needy (Proverbs 14:31; 19:17).  Christ taught us the second greatest commandment, to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39), and the parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us that “neighbor” has nothing to do with geography, citizenship or race.  Wherever and whenever people need us, we can be neighbors and, like Christ, show mercy. 

And last but not least, in the gospel of Matthew, Jesus discusses the hospitable behavior of those who will inherit the kingdom:  “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”  (Matthew 25:34-36)

A couple of years ago, 2 young men walked up our driveway.  It was like a blizzard outside.  My husband had been out plowing our driveway for the 2nd or 3rd time that day.  These men were walking through 2 plus feet of snow!  So my husband invited them in to warm up and we made them some hot chocolate and I gave them some warm muffins I had just baked.  My husband introduced them to me as missionaries and they were out sharing the gospel with anyone who would let them in.  He told them they didn’t need to share the gospel at our house because we loved the Lord.  We learned that they were 18-19 years old and this was sort of a ‘rite of passage’ for them in their church and that they depended solely on the generosity of others.  So we packed them up with muffins and some fruit and told them if they ever needed anything else, to remember our house and return for help. 

By serving others, we serve Christ (Matthew 25:40) and we promote the spread of God’s truth (3 John 5-8).

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