The first verse of our Hebrews text has passed into our culture, lore and history:

2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (KJV)

This verse tells us that in extending hospitality, some like Abraham, have ended up entertaining God’s own messengers.

But this verse isn’t primarily about angels. It mentions angels, and so that grabs our attention- it’s about welcoming strangers! In modern language: Do not forget to entertain strangers...

This section of teaching is part of a short list of instructions the author of the Letter to the Hebrews gives to us. He or she teases us a bit with this reminder of angels, but the message shouldn’t get lost: Do not forget to entertain strangers...

This verse has roots that go back thousands of years, to the early dawn of civilization in the Mideast. In that dry, nomadic world, food and water were a matter of life and death. Even today, in that land where enmity is about the fiercest on earth, the nomadic tribesmen still are bound to offer hospitality to any who ask, even their sworn enemies.

As the Gospel moved to other places and other cultures, not all of the cultures had such traditions of hospitality. Languages, customs and traditions changed every few miles. The peoples of Asia Minor and Greece did not have this same tradition of desert hospitality. These peoples had been marched over and conquered for thousands of years; they had every reason to distrust strangers; they had limited resources; ... hospitality may have been hard for them to offer. These were counter-cultural words.

We live in such a different world- we have plenty of food; we have deep resources; we travel easily–

But have you ever had a person of a different race in your home?

How about a person from another country (other than Norway!)?

Why not? That same Gospel word of promise comes to us: Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. This is a Word for us, today. The presence of God, a deep spiritual blessing can sneak right up on you. An open heart is precious to God.

This isn’t law, it’s a Gospel reminder, it’s a promise, that we’re called to be ones who welcome the ‘other.’ We’re to be not held apart by race, or language, or nationality, or our own traditions. We’re given the Gospel, the great news that breaks down the barrier between us and God and us and each other. In the power of the Spirit, we have the grace to love as Jesus loved the leper, with God’s Agape love, able to reach out and break down barriers.

We get so used to being comfortable with our friends, our family, our Church family, that we don’t have much room for the stranger. Not even for the people who look like us, not to mention the people who are different. Maybe we’ve never thought about it this way, but the Gospel suffers.

We have come a long way when it comes to learning about other cultures. I can remember the first time my father ever ate pizza. Now we think of Italian food and culture as part of our European tradition. When I was growing up, to eat at a Chinese restaurant meant a trip all the way over to Minneapolis. It was far away and exotic. And so was the Chinese restaurant! Today we meet Asian people every day; we have ten Chinese restaurants within five minutes of our home. And five Mexican; one from India, and one Mongolian! Our world has changed.

But is all we know about a culture a few restaurants? When will we go out and find them? When will we prepare to meet our ‘angels unawares?’ This fall you can attend the School of Urban Ministries, and learn how to reach across those cultural boundaries more effectively.

We are trying as hard as we know how, to invite our neighbors into this congregation in the next few months. I think we’re ready. We’ve been getting the house ready for company. We’ve got a lot to offer people who come here.

But can we offer them ourselves? Are we willing to entertain angels?

It’s time we look at things from a different angle. We’ve been doing great ministry here. Our arms reach all around the world. Now it’s time to reach out our hands in welcome. It’s time to go out and pull people in here.

It’s time to start doing things differently. Our focus is moving from looking in, to looking out. Now is the hour. Our minds need to reset on this simple verse: Do not forget to entertain strangers, it’s so simple.

Do you realize that God is doing something so new it should cause your ears to tingle? Right here, in the same town I grew up in, there are now 437,000 first generation immigrants in the Twin Cities. We have over 50,000 new Somalis, mostly S. Mpls. We have over 30,000 new Hispanics right here. When I started at St. Paul’s, there were 10,000 people living in downtown. Today more than 25,000 people downtown, and it’s growing. And God has put us here.

People who are from all over the world are here. But there are others; people who look different; people who look like you, and were born in our culture, but may have no church background. Only 40% of American kids attend Sunday School today. They may look or dress in ways you wouldn’t. Maybe the Holy Spirit hasn’t begun to work in their lives yet- what do we expect? Maybe their life has some rough edges– are you willing to invite them? To make them feel comfortable? To accept them as they are? To love them?

We’re pretty used to things as they are. What happens if someone sits in our spot?

Are we going to prepare ourselves to greet folks, be prepared to smile, be prepared to think of people around us we want to bring to church? As these ads and mailings come before people’s eyes- are we praying they’ll read and be touched? We’re bringing Troy on to welcome and visit these folks- but he is just one. Who will invite them?

We’ve got several important ‘Access Points’ coming up, special events that are great to invite folks to. We’ll be looking at ‘What Happens When I Die?’- We’ll be looking at some best-seller Christian books this fall. We’re also looking forward to a concert, and a whole lot more.

But, it starts a lot simpler than that. As we’ve been hearing all year, the first thing God wants is each of our hearts. Are you open to his call? Will you say ‘Here am I, send me?’ Christianity is not a spectator sport. You’re in the game. We have prepared for so long. Are you ready? Are you eager? I’m excited. Will you join me in prayer? Amen.

Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.

When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."