Matthew 10:40-42 on June 28th, 2026
Above is audio of the sermon pulled from the video and amplified.
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The Hospitality of Discipleship
Good old fashioned hospitality. Not only is that a hallmark of the South, but it should also be a marker of the church. It is our mission, isn't it, to be hospitable to those who come to us. Welcome everyone, be a good host, serve them. That's what it means to be hospitable, right? And looking at Jesus' words from our brief passage for today, it seems that we are always to be hospitable, which should be doubly easy for us southerners, transplants or not.
Being Guests, Not Just Hosts
Except there are a couple of things worth noting here. First, Jesus is not telling us to be hospitable to others. At this point, he isn't telling the disciples what they are supposed to do. Remember, over the past several weeks, we have been in the process of Jesus sending them out. So this is not about the disciples' extending hospitality. It's about them being visitors. The blessings, the welcome, is on the part of those the disciples are sent to. Jesus says that we disciples are sent to be guests.
And this may go without saying, but that isn't as easy as it sounds. For the most part, we would rather be the ones extending hospitality to others. We can handle that. It's not that it's less work. It actually takes a lot of effort to host someone. Rather, when we say that we want to be the host, I mean we want to control the situation. When we host, it's about me and my space. It's my house, my background music, my meal choice. I can make spaghetti sauce the way I like it. I mean, some people put mushrooms in it. I don't want to fish out any fungus.
The Church as Host
We even pride ourselves on being good hosts here at the church. We do our best to be welcoming. We wait for others to come to us and we make sure that they are greeted, welcomed. We do our best to ensure that they can follow the bulletin and know how to do communion. Our house, our music, our meal.
Now, I'm not saying that being a good host is bad. It is rather important, actually, both at home and at church. What I am saying is that we often find our identity. We feel more important, more needed, more like we have something to offer in being the host. In reality, Jesus says being sent out to be hosted is just as important. It shows us that we have needs too.
The Discomfort of Being Sent Out
Maybe being sent out is just a tad bit disappointing to you. We want to be good disciples, but we also like doing the comfortable, easy thing. And what could be easier than staying put, sitting back, waiting on other people to show up at our door, and then offering them a cup of water or a glass of wine. Doing Jesus' work by hardly leaving our lazy boy.
Jesus calls us to be the opportunity for others to be disciples through hospitality. And as we go, as we are sent, as we let go of having to control everything, others get the chance to offer grace. Others get a chance to share a cup of water. Others get to welcome us. And as they do, they welcome Jesus. They welcome Jesus.
Jesus' Example of Hospitality
I think Jesus knows that this is hard for us, going out to allow others the opportunity to be hospitable. Yet it isn't like Jesus himself doesn't already do this for us. He hosts us at his table. He feeds us, serves us, gives to us. He offers grace instead of judgment, forgiveness instead of condemnation, life instead of death.
And if you notice in the gospels who it is he welcomes. It's not only these or only those, it's not only anybody. He extends welcome to everyone—the hurting, the empty, the broken. Even to those who like control. Even to those who feel unworthy. Even us. Jesus shows hospitality to each and every one of us.
A Living Example: Confirmation Camp
This past week four of our young people were at Cairo's confirmation camp at Luther Ridge and they did a deep dive into communion. Through songs and small groups and a keynote speaker, they got to learn more about how Jesus' table is for us all. The highlight, aside from the pool and crafts, was probably the Wednesday night worship where there was a very, very long table for the whole area. We sang, we prayed, we shared the communion meal in an intimate welcoming. There was always room for one more at the crowded table.
And while that was a beautiful, literal picture of Jesus' unending table, that table isn't just set up on Sunday mornings or at camp. There are opportunities to be a host or a guest all the time. Because Jesus sends us out into the world with this promise: "Whoever welcomes you welcomes me." Christ so closely identifies himself with those he sends that every act of welcome becomes an encounter with him. And that is why even a cup of cold water matters.
Discipleship in Ordinary Faithfulness
In God's kingdom, discipleship doesn't have to be a huge heroic hospitality effort, but instead is seen in ordinary faithfulness. We already know what that looks like. Hygiene kits, the blessing box, Christmas in July, mobile meals, helping hand. Every one of them is another cup of cold water offered in Jesus' name. And they're small gestures and they probably don't seem remarkable.
Yet in the kingdom of God there are no small gestures because in each and every one Jesus is present. As we give, we give to Jesus. As we receive, we receive Jesus. As we serve, we serve Jesus. As we welcome, we welcome Jesus himself. It is all part of being a disciple.
Our Call as Disciples
Being a disciple means meeting and sharing Jesus. It means being sent out by Jesus to receive the hospitality of others. It means welcoming and hosting through our big and small actions for others. So we trust Jesus when he sends us out. We trust his promise that he shows up in the little things. We trust that every act of hospitality from receiving a cup of cold water to offering one has significance beyond what we are. Because Christ is already there.
And every single Sunday Christ makes room for one more at his table. He welcomes us, he feeds us, he forgives us, and he sends us back into the world carrying that same welcome. Sometimes we are the one that sets another place at the table, and sometimes someone else sets it for us. Sometimes we offer the cup of water, sometimes we receive it. But either way, Christ is present, Christ is already there.
A Final Invitation
So our call is simply this: to add another chair, to expand God's table for all. To trust that wherever Christ sends you, he has already gone ahead of you. And wherever he is present, there is always room for one more.
So may you have the courage to let go of always having to be the host and allow others to show you the presence of Jesus. May you welcome any and every one, trusting that even in the smallest actions Jesus shows up. May you welcome and receive the presence of Jesus. And there, realize the good ol' hospitality of God.
Amen.