Hospitality as a Ministry: Using Your Home for Kingdom Impact
by Kesa Ennen
Part 3 in the Biblical Hospitality Series.
In our last post, we looked at the heart behind hospitality - how Biblical hospitality isn’t about impressing people. Instead, it’s about loving and serving them well. Today, we’re taking that idea one step further by exploring how hospitality is a powerful way to share the gospel and build community.
When we think about spreading the gospel, we often picture pulpits, mission fields or groups that sit outside of the library passing out tracts. But sharing God’s Word doesn’t require a title or a microphone - sometimes it’s an open front door, a shared meal and a seat at the kitchen table.
In Acts 2:46-37, we see the early church and the role hospitality played in building the body of Christ.
“They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Their homes were places to eat and places where hearts were stirred, faith was formed and lives were changed.
Make Room for Faith to Grow
Here are some simple, intentional ways to help turn your home into a space of ministry:
Host a Bible study or prayer group:
Your living room can be a space where people grow their faith, ask hard questions, and find encouragement.
In our home, we host a once-a-month Bible study. It’s not something organized by our local church, but something we’ve chosen to host to foster deeper connection and spiritual growth with one another. Each month we open the floor for a volunteer to prepare and lead the next study.
We begin with a meal – something simple, but hearty enough to feed a crowd. This month we are serving a taco bar. It’s casual and easy to assemble. Once we’ve eaten, we gather to study the prepared topic.
Our study usually closes with singing worship songs together to lift our hearts and voices to God. It’s a rhythm we look forward to and brings joy, growth and connection every time we gather.
You don’t need to be a theologian, have a perfectly tidy home, or create an elaborate plan. Just open the door, set a place at the table, and invite others to grow in God’s Word alongside you.
Offer a gathering place for teens:
Offering hospitality to teens doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it’s as simple as setting out board games or card games on the table, keeping a fridge stocked with snacks and drinks, or offering a space with music, blankets and a place to talk. You don’t need a formal program - just be present, create conversation and listen.
Some of the best conversations about faith happen over a plate of nachos and Uno. Other times it means giving teens a place to unwind, laugh and rest in a world that’s constantly pushing them to perform.
Remember, you don’t have to be the “cool house” - just the welcoming one.
Create a refuge for the weary:
We live in a world that moves fast and wears people down. So many around us are carrying invisible burdens - grief, stress, loneliness, exhaustion - and often, need a place to catch their breath. Hospitality gives us the opportunity to become a refuge for the weary, to live out the command in Galatians 6:2:
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Creating a refuge doesn’t require a guest room or a perfectly crafted meal. Sometimes, it looks like inviting someone over for coffee and quietly listening. Other times, it’s offering your couch and space to grieve, process or rest without judgment or pressure.
In a culture that prizes independence and self-sufficiency, biblical hospitality reminds us we are called to bear one another’s burdens. When we open our hearts and homes to others, we are able to offer comfort, encouragement and presence to those who need it most. It says “you don’t have to carry this alone.”
Let Others Serve You, Too
While we’re called to serve others through hospitality, there will be seasons when we’re the ones in need of care. Our first instinct tends to say, “I’m fine,” or “I don’t need anything.” Receiving help isn’t a sign of weakness, rather a sign of humility. We may unintentionally deprive someone else the opportunity to serve and be obedient to what God is asking of them when we turn down help. Just as we are called to give, we must learn to receive with grace.
Your Home Has a Purpose
Your home isn’t just a place to live - it’s a place God can use. Every meal you serve, every conversation you host and every time you make space for someone else, you have the opportunity to plant seeds. All you need is a willing heart and an open door.
When you see your home as a tool, everyday moments become important. You never know how far a little hospitality offered in faith can reach.
In Part 4 of our series, we’ll explore how you can overcome barriers to hospitality.
You can read Part 3 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.
