It’s a hot day, you’re tired, you finally have a moment to yourself, and then the doorbell rings, and there’s someone you don’t know standing there. This scene opens the sermon about Abraham, who looked up from under the oaks of Mamre, saw three strangers, and ran out to meet them (Genesis 18). Hospitality turns out to be more than just a set table: it’s making room for someone in your schedule and in your heart, even though we don’t know what such an encounter will bring. The story of a couple once invited to a simple dinner and the residents of Gander, Canada, who welcomed thousands of stranded passengers, show how much begins with an open door. Give it a listen if you want to see who there’s still room for in your busy life.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- In Genesis 18:1-15 Abraham looks up, runs to meet three strangers and prepares a real feast for them. What surprises you most about his response, given the heat and the fact that he does not know who his guests are?
- During this visit the roles are reversed: the guests bring the promise of a son, and Sarah laughs. What does the question "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" say about their long wait and about the areas where you have run out of hope?
- The preacher points out that we can look without really seeing, like asking a child about school and not listening to the answer. Who around you is easy to overlook, and what most often pulls your attention away from people?
- According to the sermon, hospitality means creating space for another person: at the table, in the calendar and in the heart. Which of these is hardest for you to open up, and why?
- Gosia and Piotrek's story began with an ordinary dinner where no one judged them or tried to fix them. What helps people feel welcome around you, and what might make them feel judged?
- The sermon links how we receive others with the fact that God came to meet us before we were perfect. Who do you treat as a stranger today, and what one simple step of hospitality can you take toward that person this week?
