It’s no secret that we live in an age of isolation. Especially in the urban context, though we are surrounded by people, we often don’t commune with our neighbors or build lasting relationships with our peers.

In the Bible, we see a clear contrast between this way of living and the call that God has put on our lives. God has modeled the foundational practice of hospitality to us, which has a myriad of benefits, but importantly, gives us space to be healthy people. All throughout scripture, there is a common theme of God’s hospitable nature and His care for humanity in the way he communes with us. From the garden of Eden to the seemingly dry spaces of wilderness land to the eventual, eternal heavenly paradise, our Heavenly Father sets a space for His people to come and be with Him and, often, with each other. As a result, those who find themselves on the receiving end of God’s hospitality show strides of growth in emotional, spiritual, and even physical health.

  • God provided manna from heaven for the Israelite wanderers.
  • He set a meal before Elijah in 1 Kings 19.
  • Jesus is seen sharing meals with others all throughout the gospels.
  • The early church broke bread from house to house in Acts.
  • And finally, Revelation tells us of the marriage supper of the lamb, at the end of this age.

The regular practice of gathering with others is a soul-nourishing experience where all involved parties get to breathe in the gift of community. It is not an exercise where one exhausts themselves in the hustle of entertaining; it is setting a space where we get to delight in being with one another and in Christ.

In the same vein, the Greek word for hospitality actually means “the love of strangers.” We know that, especially for those of us who have common ground in faith, it is easy to spend the majority of our time with like minded individuals and to be, oftentimes unintentionally, closed off to those outside of our church community. However, the call to living hospitable lives transcends what feels comfortable and ushers us into an edifying practice: one that enforces our responsibility to reach out to those who think, live, and believe differently for us. When we seek to love the “strangers” God has allowed us to dwell among – including our neighbors and colleagues – we find an abundance of opportunities to build trustworthy relationships for the sake of the gospel.

While we recognize that the theoretical framework and theological value of hospitality sounds great on paper, how is it best executed? Not everyone feels passionately about preparing a five-course meal in their home, and thankfully that is not the sole pathway to the practice of hospitality! Biblical hospitality is best administered when the hosting party, though sacrificially, opens up their lives and sometimes their homes to friends and strangers alike for the sake of modeling our rhythms after the way God has cared for us.

As a church body, we are excited to lean into this biblical principle! Throughout the spring, we have modeled our small groups calendar to carve out a dedicated week at the end of every month for the practice of hospitality. We would love for you to participate in leading, attending, and praying for the way hospitality is lived out at The Church at Channelside.

As we pursue this lifestyle of being hospitable and encourage you to step into it with us, here are ten unique and practical ways that hospitality can be practiced in your life:

  1. Invite your friends and neighbors over for an easy dinner: This might look like making a crockpot meal or setting up a taco bar in your kitchen.
  2. Host a game night: Encourage your friends to bring over their favorite board game and spend the evening playing in the comfort of your living room.
  3. Make a reservation: Many restaurants consider parties of eight and under a “regular” table. We encourage you to make a reservation somewhere fun and then invite a balanced number of friends and people you’ve been wanting to get to know to join for a meal!
  4. Take a walk together: Tampa is filled with beautiful walkways and waterfronts! Invite others to join you for a walk – it’s a great way to both exercise and practice hospitality.
  5. Attend a community event: One of the most unique things about urban living is that there is no shortage of events to attend! One of our favorites is Trivia Tuesday at Sparkman Wharf, but there are several community calendars with things happening most nights in downtown.
  6. Organize a Saturday morning coffee: Invite your neighbors and friends to join you at a local coffee shop for an hour over the weekend, especially if weeknights are hard times for you to commit to hosting!
  7. Play a sport together: Pickleball is always a favorite among our context!
  8. Invite friends over for an easy hands-on activity: providing small canvases and paints would allow for people to enjoy an activity while still being in the context of community.
  9. Go out for a dessert night: Local favorites like Chill Bros and Hampton Chocolate Factory have treats for everyone!
  10. Meet a group at a local food hall: Sparkman Wharf and Armature Works, both on either end of the Riverwalk, are great options for everyone to choose something to eat that suits their preferences and still be in community!

Next week, February 25 through March 2, is the first official Hospitality Week at The Church at Channelside and we want you to join us! If you don’t have a place to join in yet, here are two options:

  • On Tuesday, we are heading out to Trivia Night at Sparkman Wharf!
  • On Wednesday, we are sharing some meals in homes around Channel District.
  • If you’re interested in participating in one (or both!) of these activities, you can find all of the information at the registration page here!

We believe that, for all of the social disconnection that many feel in 2024, the Church can provide a solution, and we can’t wait to work toward that end with you this year.

See you at Hospitality Week!