How many times have you walked into a church receiving no communication from the church members except maybe a smile or a nod? Perhaps someone greets you at the door, but then no one else engages with you or notices that you’re new. I’ve had this experience many times myself. These experiences have made me wonder how many unbelievers visit churches and never return because no one took the time to make them feel welcomed. Even as a new member at a church, sometimes it can be difficult to get to know your fellow church members. Why can it be so difficult for brothers and sisters in Christ to display hospitality to one another?
In the New Testament, hospitality was much more than simply inviting guests into one’s home. Inviting someone into your home was for their physical and financial well-being. In the early church, hospitality was vital for Christians because traveling was dangerous and inns were often scarce and expensive. Furthermore, inviting someone in was obedience to God since hospitality is commanded in Scripture. Paul writes in Romans 12:13, “Practice hospitality.” He also instructs in 1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:8 that elders are to be hospitable.
The church should resist the broader cultural tendency toward isolation and social comfort by pursuing fellowship and self-sacrifice for the good of others.
Whereas early Christians provided food and shelter to strangers, many churches today struggle to even greet one another at weekly gatherings. Isn’t the greeting of a fellow believer an expression of love? If we only stay within our circles and ignore visitors or unfamiliar members, we choose comfort over love. The church should resist the broader cultural tendency toward isolation and social comfort by pursuing fellowship and self-sacrifice for the good of others. Christians were and should continue to be intentionally welcoming people.
How can churches cultivate a culture of hospitality for both members and visitors? First, pastors should express hospitality themselves. They must first cultivate a desire to engage with the flock during gatherings, to learn their names, and to regularly invite people into their homes without partiality. Only then can they expect the same of their congregants. Pastors should regularly show their congregation, whether from the pulpit, at member meetings, or by their presence in the lobby, the importance of showing hospitality to other members and visitors.
Secondly, members need to intentionally seek out unfamiliar members and visitors. Some members may feel naturally shy or reserved, but Christians are called to love others regardless of personality. If shyness is no excuse for neglecting evangelism, it is no excuse for neglecting hospitality. Members should invite visitors to return to church, try out a small group, and invite them into their homes for dinner. A practical way to achieve this is by finding at least one unfamiliar person to talk to every Sunday morning after service.
Finally, churches should create a culture of inclusion beyond Sunday worship. Hospitality involves more than a greeting before service. Small groups, shared meals, prayer gatherings, and informal fellowship provide opportunities for members and visitors to build meaningful relationships. People are far more likely to feel connected when they are invited into the lives of other believers.
Churches that take hospitality seriously display the welcoming character of Christ himself.
According to Pew Research, 79% of people looking for a new church said that feeling welcomed played an important role in their choice (pewresearch.org, 2016). If feeling welcomed is a significant factor in someone regularly attending a church, should we not make every effort to make them feel welcomed? Hospitality is a visible expression of Christian love. Every greeting, invitation, and conversation reflects something about the God we worship. Churches that take hospitality seriously display the welcoming character of Christ himself.
Citations
Center, P. R. (2016, August 23). 1. The search for a new congregation. Pew Research Center’s Religion & Public Life Project. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2016/08/23/1-the-search-for-a-new-congregation/
Engaging Exposition 2026
Engaging Exposition is Southeastern Seminary's annual preaching conference designed to equip local church pastors to preach and lead biblically. This two-day event delivers compelling preaching, practical breakout sessions, free resources, encouragement, and opportunities to network with like-minded pastors. The theme for 2026 is “Leading from the Pulpit.”
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