Hospitality is one of the best ways to live out the two greatest commandments: loving God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. But often we get caught up in perfecting our homes and conversations before we open our doors. The floors are never clean enough, the food may burn, our home feels too small, it may disrupt bedtime, we’re too busy . . . We know how easy it is to whip out one of these excuses.

But God.

God has a different plan for hospitality, and for the work He can only do when you just open your door. We wanted to dig into this idea that hospitality and entertaining are two very different things that are often mixed up, so we invited a bunch of girlfriends to gather, drink tea, and discuss Biblical hospitality — the kind Jesus practiced and the ways God wants us to live it out. We recorded the discussion and wanted to share it with you.

Introducing the brand-new Just Open the Door Bible Study by Jen Schmidt! During these seven sessions, Jen and several of her friends spoke to the heart of hospitality. These women gathered around a beautiful table, on a porch swing, and in the kitchen, and they invite us all to pull up a chair.

Here’s what author Jen Schmidt had to say about the study and the women who join her at the table:

Since hospitality can be such a personal journey, each week I include friends and family members that represent differing backgrounds, personalities, and experiences with hospitality. Since opening the door varies for everyone, we touch on a myriad of topics.  Are you an introvert and paralyzed at the thought of starting? You’re not alone. Are you a single mom wondering if hospitality is feasible? Angela Thomas Pharr addresses her years as a single mom. Would you like practical help with reaching out to your neighbors or wondering how our table can look more like Jesus’s table? We offer biblical inspiration. I know you will love my guests as much as I do, and I can’t wait for you to meet them.

These are some wise, insightful, thoughtful, smart, kind, and FUN women! Take a peek at this video for more of who they are and more of the heart behind this Bible Study:

Together these women will unpack what the word hospitality truly means. Over the seven sessions, they’ll look to Jesus as their model for hospitality. They’ll discuss how we can discover how He lived a life full of interruptions yet always welcomed people and invited them to follow Him. We’ll learn to replace cultural expectations with biblical hospitality to create a legacy of invitation and reflect Jesus through simple acts of service.

So grab your copy. Then invite a friend or three to join you at your table. You may be surprised at how the Lord can move when you just open your door.

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