Open the Word
Ideas for sermon preparation
Abraham and Sarah take time out with unexpected visitors and discover God in their midst.
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The desert tradition of hospitality was critical — not only was food and drink shared, but those receiving hospitality came with news about the world in an age when people didn’t write letters and there were no newspapers. Thus the process was mutual and gave dignity to both the travellers and the residents of the tent or oasis.
- This desert tradition remains evident in areas where nomadic people still travel. We also have nomadic people in our culture — homeless people, refugees, ‘bag people’ and travellers. How would we respond to people knocking on our door and asking for food? How do we respond to beggars in the streets? How would we respond to the idea of living this sort of life? What stories do your congregation have of encountering Jesus in ‘wandering’ people?
- Note the time that the meal takes to prepare. This is not a ‘that’ll do’ attitude but a meal that takes hours to put together. It would have been eaten slowly with plenty of time for Abraham to sit and talk with his guests. Well-prepared rest and relaxation — how much of that do we share together? And with God?
- Courses such as ‘Alpha’ lay great emphasis on fellowship over a meal. How does your church community exercise hospitality within smaller groups? If you’ve tried it, you will know that the best relationships are grown over food and fellowship — but it takes time and commitment. Perhaps your fellowship could start such a group if this is new to you.
- Sarah would not have taken part in the social interaction — she was inside the tent, the men outside under the shade of the trees. How are people who are perceived as less important excluded from the conversations of the powerful in our society? In your church?
- Read on in the passage — Sarah laughs — why? To cover grief, embarrassment? When she is reprimanded, just like a small child, she denies her action. This is worth sharing. How often is that our response when God fulfils our wildest dreams with a miracle?
- Hebrews 13.2 tells us to be hospitable and may be referring to this Genesis passage: ‘for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it’. Is this a maxim that we live by?