Sermon Series

Deepening our Hospitality – July – August 2024

Here are the readings for our summer sermon series and some questions to help you prepare for each week or continue thinking about each topic during the week, or catch up if you miss a week.

Sunday 7^th July	Luke 10 v 25-37	Ruth 2 v 1-13
Have you ever felt like a stranger and needed help? Did it come? If yes, how?, if not why not? Have you ever ignored a stranger when you knew they needed help? Have you ever helped someone knowing it would be a risk to your reputation and possibly your safety?

Sunday 14^th July	Genesis 18 v 1-16	Mark 6 v 6b-13
Have you ever had someone turn up unexpectedly that you had to look after? How did you respond? Were they hard work or a delight? Have you ever turned up at someone’s unexpectedly and received hospitality? Did you feel like a welcomed guest of a nuisance? Have you ever had an unexpected benefit when you’ve looked after someone who’s just turned up?

Sunday 21^st July	Luke 7 v 36-50	1 Samuel 25 v 1-27
Think of someone who makes you feel at home whenever you visit. What is about them and their home that makes you feel that way? When have you appreciated someone’s welcome and hospitality the most and why? Have you ever been embarrassed by someone either as a host or a guest? Have you ever behaved in a way that has upset of embarrassed your host or guests?

Sunday 28^th July	Matthew 25 v 31-46	Hebrews 13 v 1-8
Who are the strangers, the sick, the naked, the prisoners and the least in our neighbourhood? Are there times when you know you’ve not really seen people in need? Have there been times when you’ve not been seen by others when you’ve really needed some help?

Sunday 4^th August	Luke 14 v 15-24	Isaiah 25 v 6-9
What was the best party you’ve ever been to and why? Have you ever been excluded from or not invited to a party? How did it feel? Have you ever been given a surprise party? Was it a shock? Did you feel you deserved it? Have you ever run out of food when you’ve been entertaining people? What happened?

11^th August	Matthew 28 v 16-20	Revelation 21 v 1-5, 11-27
Where would you least like to go? Why? Have you ever felt a call by God to go somewhere and really struggled with it? Have you dreaded going somewhere and then been surprised by what you experienced there?