Much has been written about the subject of Christian hospitality. There are excellent resources exploring the biblical, ethical and moral framework of hospitality. Christian hospitality has been touted as a tool for evangelism, spiritual development, congregational ministry, and social justice. It even has implications for the way we worship. Yet for all that has been written about the theory and practice of Christian hospitality, there is very little about hospitality and homiletics. Although preaching is the last frontier in Christian hospitality, the sermon is actually the first and most essential place of welcome in the life of the church. Through a study of the principles and practices of Christian hospitality, an analysis of some of the issues that keep people out of the church, as well as a close examination of my own development as a "hospitable preacher," I have concluded that hospitality is at the heart of church life, and that real Christian hospitality begins in the pulpit. Most importantly, I believe preaching, as an act of hospitality, is about making room, opening the door to a holy place where those who are strangers and those who are merely estranged can meet the God of Jesus Christ, whose radical welcome is the pulsing heart of the gospel message.
