Moms' Huddle
“Seek to show hospitality.”
Romans 12:13 (ESV)
Each year just before our football season kicks off, our high school’s head coach asks me to speak “Mom to Mom” to his players’ mamas. The head coach just happens to be our oldest son who once told me I have a unique perspective for players’ moms. I was a coach’s wife during my husband’s 38-year coaching career; I was a player’s mom for two of our three sons; and now I am the head coach’s Mom. Someone once asked me which was harder: watching my son play or watching him coach teenagers? My answer is BOTH!
2025 was my fourth season to talk to the team moms, but it was the first year anyone asked for an encore talk. The moms’ request both surprised and delighted me. I happily agreed to do so on the condition that they handle all the details except the talk.
Several moms quickly agreed to host the first two meetings. Another mom decided on the topics to be discussed, and one creative mom designed the graphics and named our group the “Moms’ Huddle.” Together we’ve been answering several “What does the Bible have to say about…???” questions that include unmet expectations, gratitude, and anxiety. Our next Moms’ Huddle will tackle what the Bible says about hospitality.
The Bible actually has a lot to say about hospitality. Rahab the prostitute opened her home and gave protection to the two spies from Israel (Joshua 2:1). The widow at Zarephath, a poor woman, gave the prophet Elijah food and drink even as famine and drought gripped the land (1 Kings 17:7-16). The Shunammite woman, a well to do woman, gave the prophet Elisha, a room of his own to use when he came to town (2 Kings 4:8). Lydia opened her home to the Apostle Paul's ministry team, after she received the gospel message and became a Christian (Acts 16:13-15). Her home became Paul's base of ministry operation and eventually housed the church in Philippi.
Several principles concerning biblical hospitality emerge from the study of each woman. In each case, the women extended the "gift of place" to someone in need. The gift of place is not just a physical location- it is that place where one is accepted, affirmed, and allowed to grow. Each woman also made her guests feel welcome, wanted, and worth the trouble. Those 3 "W's"- welcome, wanted, and worth the trouble- are the hallmark characteristics of biblical hospitality. Finally, each woman opened her heart BEFORE she opened her home. Hospitality was a byproduct of her relationship with God, not a means to gain favor with Him.
Karen Mains writing in her classic hospitality book Open Heart, Open Home writes, "I have learned to measure the success of my efforts at hospitality against the measurement of this question; "Did something sacred occur over here in these rooms, around this table, in the moments of our meeting together?"
Biblical hospitality is very different from entertaining. Entertaining seeks to impress and is driven by pride. Biblical hospitality focuses on others rather than self. It welcomes others and says, “We’re so glad you’re here!” Biblical stewardship occurs when we try to connect the blessings of God- our home, resources, talents, and time- to the purposes of God, the building of His Kingdom, and the care of His people. Biblical hospitality and biblical stewardship bring glory to God, good to others, and joy to us.
I have been so encouraged by the biblical hospitality and stewardship our team moms have demonstrated. Their willingness to open both their hearts and their homes to provide the gift of place to others has encouraged and refreshed me even as I continue to prepare more talks. These moms have also demonstrated a love and care for our community by inviting women into, not just their homes, but their hearts and lives.
Rosaria Butterfield in her wonderful book The Gospel Comes with a House Key writes, “Let God use your home, apartment, dorm room, front yard, community gymnasium, or garden for the purpose of making strangers into neighbors and neighbors into family. Because that is the point—building the church and living like a family, the family of God.”
The Gospel comes with a house key!