Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)
How do I become hospitable to the stranger?
______________________ the stranger.
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”
Luke 19:1-5 (NIV)
______________________ the stranger.
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
Luke 19:5-7 (NIV)
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
A quick perusal of the newspaper or listening to the news shouts of a world in desperate need of this simple yet profound message. Followers of Jesus have been given this assignment to first, love God and to second, love oneself and one’s neighbor. What if by loving our neighbor, Jesus literally meant the precious people who live in our neighborhoods? What if by loving our neighbors Jesus meant all our neighbors regardless of age, socioeconomics, education or any other potentially divisive status? The cry of our neighbors who do not yet know the love of God in Christ and the gift of Christian community is the last line of the “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood” theme song. Our lost, hurting and broken neighbors are desperately crying out:
Won't you please, Won't you please, Please won't you be my neighbor?
Often this cry is disguised as addiction or affluence. Sometimes it’s masqueraded as violence or vitriol, but in the deep recesses of their soul, it’s our neighbors cry to simply be loved. And followers of Jesus are invited to hear their cry and be their neighbors.
Ed Horne was born and raised in Fort Myers. His grandparents were charter members of Central UMC when it started in 1922. He grew up in the church, and gave his life to Christ in 1972 at a Vacation Bible School. After high school he took a job managing movie theaters. God used his time there to develop his leadership skills. Ed spent the next 17 years seeking after success and money. In 2001 God got his attention when he lost the theater job. He came back to the church and made his walk to Emmaus in 2005. He finally let Jesus have his full life and became a lay speaker at Central. He was there when the it was adopted by Grace Church, and became part of the Guide Team.
Shortly after he received a call into the ministry. He served in Charlotte Harbor at Trinity UMC. During his three years there, the church experienced growth and in 2017 was awarded the One Matters award by the Conference for the greatest increase in professions of Faith and attendance.
He has now returned home to Grace Church Central Campus.
Ed is also very involved in The Kairos Prison Ministry, which brings the love of Christ to the incarcerated. He also serves on The District Leadership Committee.
Ed is married to Jami and has three children. Son's Lin and Chris, and daughter Lea. He has two grandsons, Xavien and Cas.
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)
How do I become hospitable to the stranger?
______________________ the stranger.
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”
Luke 19:1-5 (NIV)
______________________ the stranger.
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
Luke 19:5-7 (NIV)
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
"
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