When I was a senior in college, one of the pastors invited me to his house for lunch after church. He took me into his office and pulled books off the shelf one-by-one. He gave a little summary of what each one was about and why it was edifying. I thought it was strange at the time. Was he trying to impress me with his books? I really didn’t care about his books. He might as well have showed me a slideshow of his family vacation.
But he knew what he was doing. He opened up his home to me. He fed me. He took an interest in me and cared about my spiritual walk. The books were simply his way of encouraging a young man to grow in Christ. Thirteen years later, that single act of hospitality remains prominent in my memory and I am thankful for it.
Pastors must be hospitable (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:8). It’s a necessary qualification. But why? Business men, politicians, CEOs, professors, and other leaders can all achieve great success in their industries without showing hospitality. So why is the practice of hospitality a prerequisite for the pastorate?
I can think of four
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