providing a place at the table of God’s grace
The Church today has a problem.
Our public reputation is more associated with a political ideology than with Jesus. Our mission is unclear. Our discipleship is programmatic. Our pastors are tired and lonely. We are all searching for belonging.
We want to be people who love our neighbors, but we often don’t know where to start. We want to be people who invite our non-Christian friends to Jesus, but we often don’t know how. We want to grow in being like Christ, but we rarely know what that means. We want to love people like Jesus did, but we’re often just too busy. Pastors want to minister to people and be known in their life of faith, not just run an organization. We want to be people marked by joy and celebration of the grace and mercy we receive from the Triune God, not by fear.
But how do we do that?
At The Table Project, we believe this happens through hospitality.
The Table Project wants to help you restore hospitality as a core posture and practice of your church or ministry.
hos·pi·tal·i·ty
\ˌhäspəˈtaləd·ē\
noun
the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers
And yet, Biblical hospitality is so much more.
The New Testament word translated as “hospitality” is literally “the familial love of a stranger.” In other words, hospitality is a loving posture and practice that transforms a stranger into family. This kind of hospitality used to be a marker of the church, but we have often forgotten it.
“Hospitality means primarily the creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines.”
—Henri Nouwen
Hospitality is not just another programmatic add; it is how we as Christians enter into the Trinitarian life with God and invite others into this life also.
It is how the Church loves its neighbors; how people are formed into Christ’s likeness; it is how the life we have in Jesus becomes tangible grace that we share with those around us. It is at the table where we find belonging.
“The Christian mission is nothing more or less than our participation in the hospitality of God.”
— Amos Yong
What people are saying:
“I have always thought that I have been given the gift of hospitality, but I never thought of it in a spiritual light or as a gift having the gravity of value that you described. It was very encouraging to hear you put it that way.”
— Workshop Participant
“Mark Grapengater is a modern Melchizedek, wandering in from the wilderness, blessing the church with bread and wine and a warm welcome from heaven’s King.”
— J. Smith, pastor
Let's Work Together
Working with The Table Project is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It is something that together, we imagine and pray for what God wants to do with your local church.
Reach out today to get the conversation started.
