“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”
Romans 12:13
In a world that seems to be increasingly marked by separation and division, the church must stand as a light to the outside world and paint a different picture. The New Testament is clear that God’s people, the redeemed community of Jew and Gentile united in Jesus, are called to regularly gather for worship and mutual support (Acts 2:42; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 10:25). In the New Testament, there are two common words or ministries that describe how Christians engage with those around them: hospitality and fellowship. The goal of this short article is to briefly define these two terms and call churches to pursue both.
Understanding Fellowship
One does not need to be in a church long before the word fellowship comes up. Churches often have fellowship committees or fellowship meals to encourage members to gather and spend time with one another. However, fellowship is more than getting together to chat, share a meal or become acquainted. It comes from the Greek word koinonia, which means participation and communion with one another. It carries the sense of having or sharing things in common. This participation and sharing are not based on having the same hobbies or interests but on the bond and union we share in Christ. Fellowship goes deeper than social gatherings — it is rooted in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Fellowship reflects the sacrifice Jesus made to gather a people to himself.
Living Out Fellowship
The church fellowships as it reads and learns God’s Word together, eats together, prays together and serves together. Fellowship is the special bond believers share through Jesus Christ. Paul reflects on this in Romans 12:13, showing that the believer’s contribution to the needs of others springs from this fellowship. We take on and care for the needs and interests of our fellow believers.
The Call to Hospitality
In a similar vein, Christians are also called to hospitality. In modern society, hospitality often means creating a welcoming atmosphere and attending to guests’ needs. Those responsible for hospitality ensure that everything is in order and that guests have what they need. In the New Testament, however, hospitality goes beyond mere service. Christians are called to show hospitality to strangers — that is, to people they do not yet know. The Greek word philoxenia means to receive a stranger as a guest, combining philo (brotherly love) and xenos (stranger or foreigner). Christians are to welcome the stranger, showing love to travelers, newcomers and those unfamiliar with their community. The gospel community Jesus is forming must be demonstrated to those who have never experienced it, both in our churches and in our homes.
Fellowship vs. Hospitality
It often seems that churches find fellowship easier than hospitality. Churches are usually good at making fellow Christians feel welcome and meeting their needs, but sometimes confuse that with true hospitality. It is good to care for our fellow believers, but that is not the full picture of biblical hospitality. Jesus reminds us that there is no special reward for loving only those who love us (Matthew 5:46–47; Luke 6:32–34). Instead, we are called to love even our enemies. Christians are called to fellowship with believers and to show hospitality to those who are not yet part of the community. This doesn’t mean we neglect wisdom and safety, but we must also be careful not to let childhood lessons about “stranger danger” prevent us from fulfilling our calling as adults.
Practicing True Hospitality
Practicing hospitality is not easy. It can be stressful to invite even friends and family over, given our desire to make everything perfect as we entertain. But the church does not exist to entertain. It exists to fellowship, encouraging one another to welcome the stranger with the gospel of Christ. As you look at your church and its culture, consider whether you notice the stranger among you. When someone new arrives, do they know where to go? Is someone there to greet them and answer questions?
In many churches, hallways may be empty and quiet during Sunday school. If a newcomer walks in, will they feel welcome or as though they’ve interrupted something? While engaging in fellowship, we must not forget the call to hospitality. May our fellowship fill us with so much joy and thanksgiving that we cannot help but invite the stranger into our gospel communities so that they too may one day share in the fellowship of the saints.
