The Heart of Hospitality: Serving with a Christlike Attitude
by Kesa Ennen
Part 2 in the Biblical Hospitality Series.
In our last post, we looked at hospitality as a reflection of Christ’s welcome - how He has made space for us in His kingdom. If the what of hospitality is making room for others, looking at the how is just as important, and that is where we turn our attention today: to the heart behind our hospitality.
Let’s be honest, hosting can be stressful. We think our homes need to be spotless (have you ever wiped your baseboards before hosting, because there was a time I did?!), our meals Instagram-worthy and our schedules perfectly clear. Biblical hospitality isn’t about impressing people. It’s about loving and serving them well. It is something that starts in the heart, not the kitchen.
Hospitality Begins with Humility
In John 13, Jesus and His disciples gathered for what would be their final meal together. The disciples were shocked at what happened next: Jesus washed their feet.
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:14-15
Jesus stopped to wash their dirty, travel-worn feet. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was deeply personal. He demonstrated that true hospitality begins with humble service.
Our culture rewards performance and presentation, but biblical hospitality says, “I’m here to serve, not to be seen.”
Worldly vs. Biblical Hospitality
The world tells us being hospitable is about hosting - with curated spaces and showing off our best. But biblical hospitality is about welcoming - opening up our lives, not just our homes.
Mary and Martha are great examples of this. In Luke 10:38-42, Martha was busy making the home perfect for Jesus while Mary sat at His feet, listening to what He had to say. Martha was distracted by many things and even complained to Jesus about Mary not helping her serve. Jesus tells Martha that Mary has chosen the better portion. She isn’t condemned by preparing, but Jesus reminds her that presence matters more than perfection.
Biblical hospitality shifts our focus from the table setting to who is around the table, from our image to our attitude, and from performance to presence.
Hospitality Welcomes the Outsider
Jesus regularly extended hospitality to the marginalized: the hungry (Matthew 14), sinners (Luke 5), the poor (Luke 4), the misfits (Luke 19). His table wasn’t exclusive. It was radically inclusive.
One of the best ways to show love to both believers and non-believers is to show God’s love through something simple such as an open seat, a warm meal or a listening ear. When we make space for those who feel out of place, we create an opportunity for the Gospel to be shared.
Everyday Opportunities to Serve Like Jesus
You don’t have to host a large dinner party or plan a big church event to practice hospitality. Some ideas include:
Taking a meal to a neighbor
Whether they recently experienced loss, a new baby, or simply had a long week, a warm meal says “someone sees and cares.”
Welcoming or inviting a new family to church
A simple smile and kind words can make a new family feel like they belong instead of being strangers.
Writing notes of encouragement to a mom
A handwritten note can give someone hope or provide encouragement, reminding them that God loves them, and so do you.
Inviting a coworker to coffee
Connecting over coffee can open doors for deeper relationships and conversations about faith and life.
Offering your home for a small group
Opening your space for fellowship, study and prayer provides a place for community and spiritual growth.
Run errands for a mom who is overwhelmed
This is a tangible way of lightening her load.
Pray with another mom
Stopping to pray shows faith in action and invites God’s presence in that specific moment.
Give a ride to an elderly person
Offering transportation gives the gift of freedom and often meaningful conversation along the way.
Reach out to someone sitting alone
Whether it’s at church, a school event or in the breakroom, find someone sitting alone and invite them to sit with you or start a conversation.
Keep a “blessing basket” by your front door
Fill it with snacks or drinks and offer them to delivery drivers or mail carriers. It’s a small way to say, “You matter.”
Whether we are washing feet, feeding others, or making room at the table, each act, large or small, is an opportunity to show someone they are seen, have value, and are welcome.
As Jesus reminds us, true hospitality starts in the heart. Let’s serve with humility and love with presence over perfection.
This is part two of a four-part series on hospitality. Throughout the series, we will explore how hospitality is more than opening our homes. Today we laid the foundation on what it means to serve with a Christlike attitude. In Part 3 of our series, we’ll explore how you can use your home, no matter the size, as a powerful tool for sharing the Gospel.
You can read Part 1 here.
Kesa Ennen is an accomplished executive assistant at Prep Communications where she excels in providing high-level administrative support and streamlining operations. Kesa joined Prep after work in health care settings and serving in executive support roles with Allobee, The Riveter, and designer Rebecca Minkoff. Kesa holds a BBA from Stephen F. Austin State University and an MBA from LeTourneau University. She and her husband are raising three kids in the Lone Star State.
