May 20, 2023

Dear Road Church Friends,

My message this week is about Holy Hospitality. All hospitality is good, but not all of it is holy.

Hospitality is Big Business. The global hospitality industry extends its hospitality to those who can afford it. The hospitality most of us normally practice and enjoy is largely limited to people who we know and like, because we have so much in common. It’s great fun to be hospitable to friends like these. But the kind of hospitality that Jesus practiced, he offered unconditionally to any and all who were in need of it. His example of holy hospitality is what the Church is called to follow. More about this on Sunday.

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25:31-40           SERMON: Holy Hospitality

Jesus said, “When I come to judge the people of all nations I will divide them into two groups. I will put the righteous people on my right and the others on my left. I will say to the people on my right, Welcome into my Father’s kingdom! When I was hungry you fed me, when I was thirsty you gave me a drink of water; when I was a stranger, you welcomed me in your homes; when I was naked you gave me clothes to wear; when I was sick you nursed me back to health; when I was in prison you visited me. And if they ask me when did we do these things to you? I will say, whenever you did these things to the humblest of my disciples, you did it to me!”

Once to Every Man and Nation

by James Russell Lowell

Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide,

In the strife of Truth with Falsehood, for the good or evil side;

Some great cause, God’s new Messiah, offering each the bloom or blight,

Parts the goats upon the left hand, and the sheep upon the right,

And the choice goes by forever ‘twixt the darkness and that light.

New occasions teach new duties; Time makes ancient good uncouth;

They must upward still, and onward, who would keep abreast of Truth;

Lo, before us gleam her campfires! We ourselves must Pilgrims be,

Launch our Mayflower, and steer boldly through the desperate winter sea,

Nor attempt the Future’s portal with the Past’s bloody-rusted key.

Blessings to you all, 

Pastor Norm

This service on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/irmTL_ayXcs?feature=share