Sermon: The Gospel Comes with a House Key
(Hebrews 13:1–3)
Opening Praise and Welcome
Thank you. Praise be to God for His Word, which guides us, shapes us, and is powerful in ways beyond what we even know. Children under five: please sign them in at the nursery.
Our title today is a nod to Rosaria Butterfield’s book, The Gospel Comes with a House Key. If you want to borrow my copy—go for it. Everything she writes is gold. Highly recommend.
Where We Are in Hebrews
We’ve climbed the mountain of faith in chapter 11.
We’ve heard the command in chapter 12 to draw near to God in awe and reverence.
Now Hebrews ends with a flurry of commands, reminding us:
How we worship on Sunday can never be disconnected from how we live Monday through Saturday.
The Big Idea
The gospel of Jesus Christ extends to our homes and to the hospitality in those homes.
The gospel comes with a house key.
This is rooted in the fact that God has first welcomed us.
Remember the prodigal son: he wasted everything, yet when he came home, the Father didn’t just let him in—He ran, embraced, killed the fatted calf, and welcomed him as a son.
So should we welcome one another—and the stranger, and the prodigal.
The Text: Hebrews 13:1–3
Let brotherly love continue.
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
Three Simple Commands
- Let brotherly love continue — philadelphia (love the brothers).
- Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers — philoxenia (love the outsiders).
- Remember those in prison and those mistreated—as if you were suffering with them.
Why Hospitality Has Fallen on Hard Times
- Household dynamics have shrunk (smaller families, later marriage, more people living alone).
- We feel too busy—but studies show we actually have 5 more hours of free time per week than in 1970… we just gave it to phones and TV.
- The Pinterest-ization of hosting: we’re terrified our homes aren’t perfect, our food isn’t Instagram-worthy.
The Gospel Cure for Perfect-Host Syndrome
The gospel is not “Come to my perfect house and see my perfect life.”
The gospel is “We are sinners saved by grace—come see how good and gracious God is in the middle of our mess.”
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it (Prov 15:17).
Story: Arlin & Leola—Leftovers and Love
Poor seminary students. They heated up leftovers, pulled out pickles, and served us like royalty.
That simple meal is still one of the best I’ve ever eaten.
Abraham: The Blueprint for Biblical Hospitality (Genesis 18:1–8)
- He begged them to stay — insistent, not casual.
- He sprang into action — “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour!”
- He was prepared — household ready, ingredients on hand, servant available.
- He served the best — tender calf, curds, milk—while standing humbly beside them.
Practical Ways to Obey Today
Be prepared, not fancy
- Keep a “strangers-unawares” frozen pizza in the freezer.
- Clean house? Invite someone over—watch the magic happen.
Share the best of what you have
- In Nepal: one finished room in the whole house—yet that’s the room they gave us, with a seven-course meal cooked all day.
Welcome strangers (they’re strange on purpose)
- Natural connections: kids’ friends, co-workers, sports buddies, board-game night.
- Unnatural connections: new Canadians, First Nations neighbors, the person at Awana who looks lonely.
- Follow the Holy Spirit: “Hey honey, want to obey the Bible tonight?” (Works every time.)
Give expecting nothing back
Jesus: “When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind… you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:13–14).
Story: The Guy in the Old Hotel
Bad relationship, homeless, lived in our creepy wood-stove hotel.
It didn’t end neatly.
But we gave because God gave to us when we had nothing to offer back.
The Danger of Playing Savior
We’re not the rescuers—we’re the rescued.
There but for the grace of God go I.
We welcome the alcoholic, the broken, the stranger—as those who were once strangers ourselves.
Closing Charge
Church, let us be hospitable.
- Be prepared, not fancy.
- Give the best of what you have.
- Be especially hospitable to strangers.
- Trust God to give you opportunities—and walk through the door.
- Give like God gave: generously, sacrificially, expecting repayment only from Him.
And now—we get to go to the Lord’s Table.
The ultimate proof that God has welcomed us to His table.
Thereby, so much more should we welcome others to ours.
Let’s Pray
Lord God, turn our good intentions into obedient action.
Make us people who go out of our way to invite, who give sacrificially, who love strangers because You first loved us.
Even now, show us who You’re calling us to welcome.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.