Whenever Deloris hosted a party...
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Whenever Deloris hosted a party at her home, her guests were always eager to attend.
Deloris would always overdo things a bit, like making theme placemats for each guest.
Her decorations were always elaborate, as well. Her friends would say that they could
hardly wait to see what she would do next. With each party, Deloris always managed to
outdo herself.
For those who knew her, it was hardly a surprise when she took a spiritual gifts inventory at church that it revealed hospitality as one of her spiritual gifts. However, Deloris was surprised and uncertain how to use her gift. She prayed seeking discernment for how to best use her gift in church. One night, Deloris shared with her small group her concern. Someone from her group had recently read an article on "radical hospitality" in the church. Tom would see that Deloris received a copy of the article. Deloris carefully read the article before speaking with her pastor.
Deloris soon found herself in charge of welcoming first-time guests to the church. The first thing she did was look at the narthex area. She felt it was not very welcoming, there was clutter on a table and it looked like the bulletin board had not been changed in years. One day, she came and began cleaning, mopping, and waxing the floor, throwing away outdated material and changing the bulletin board. When people visited the church for the first time, she explained she wanted them to feel awestruck. Deloris held a training session for greeters on how they might make guests feel more welcome.
She never realized how she could use her gift in the church. When others in the church saw how Deloris used her gift they, too, wanted to use their gifts. Before too long, the church that had been struggling to attract new members began growing, thanks in part to Deloris using her God-given gift in the church.
The apostle Paul claims that spiritual gifts should be used to build up the church, "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."
For those who knew her, it was hardly a surprise when she took a spiritual gifts inventory at church that it revealed hospitality as one of her spiritual gifts. However, Deloris was surprised and uncertain how to use her gift. She prayed seeking discernment for how to best use her gift in church. One night, Deloris shared with her small group her concern. Someone from her group had recently read an article on "radical hospitality" in the church. Tom would see that Deloris received a copy of the article. Deloris carefully read the article before speaking with her pastor.
Deloris soon found herself in charge of welcoming first-time guests to the church. The first thing she did was look at the narthex area. She felt it was not very welcoming, there was clutter on a table and it looked like the bulletin board had not been changed in years. One day, she came and began cleaning, mopping, and waxing the floor, throwing away outdated material and changing the bulletin board. When people visited the church for the first time, she explained she wanted them to feel awestruck. Deloris held a training session for greeters on how they might make guests feel more welcome.
She never realized how she could use her gift in the church. When others in the church saw how Deloris used her gift they, too, wanted to use their gifts. Before too long, the church that had been struggling to attract new members began growing, thanks in part to Deloris using her God-given gift in the church.
The apostle Paul claims that spiritual gifts should be used to build up the church, "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."
