Practicing Hospitality: The Joy of Serving Others

by Pat Ennis and Lisa Tatlock

Book Overview

What makes a person or a home hospitable? Does hospitality call for a beautifully decorated home and a menu filled with gourmet foods, or can it be as simple as offering a friend a cup of tea?

In Practicing Hospitality two longtime professors (and practitioners ) of home economics provide both the theological base and the practical knowledge to understand and implement God's plan for hospitality. They provide a blend of theologically sound...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1581349424
• ISBN13: 9781581349429
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: Crossway
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Great tool to use!

This is an awesome book. I doing a bible study for women on Bibicsl Hospitality. And this book is a great tool to use. The truths in it can be found in the Bible! I love it!

AMAZING!!!

This book has taught me so much! My mother worked a lot growing up and didn't really get to teach me all the "homemaker" skills that I would love to have. So, I have been looking to books to learn more about my role as a wife, keeper of the home, and future mother. This book has taught me so much about hospitality and the ministry that a woman can have from her home. This book is going to be one that I refer people to for a long time! I am a social butterfly by nature, but I have never fully considered the impact that hospitality could have on eternity! Since Michael and I have been married we have been having people over for dinners, game nights, and other special events. But, we never fully took advantage of the time to further God's kingdom! After reading this book I have such a different perspective on hospitality. The book is full of practical tips to help you focus more on God than on you, your home, your food, etc... Hospitality is all about showing God's love in a practical way. This book helped me to see this in such a powerful way! I will never look at a dinner with guests or game night the same way again! I am always going to try to lay our events at the feet of Jesus, shower them with prayer, and point to Him before, during, and after! This book will challenge you to use your home as a center for evangelism at every opportunity you can! Do not miss your change to read this book!!! For more book reviews, visit my blog at http://puttinggodfirstplace.blogspot.com/

Hospitality Is a Little Bit of Heaven!

While it is said, "You can't tell a book by its cover," the unique cover of Practicing Hospitality: The Joy of Serving Others certainly hints at its contents. When I first saw this wonderful book, I did a double-take. Pictured on the cover is a house, with a door opening to the inside. Surprisingly, rather than glimpsing walls or furniture, I saw a cornflower-blue sky punctuated with white cotton-puff clouds. Authors Pat Ennis and Lisa Tatlock understand that biblical hospitality is not the art of entertaining in elaborately decorated houses, but rather, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the art of offering our guests generous portions of "heaven on earth in our homes." Now that should cause a double-take in your attitude, and free you from the burden of worrying over expense and perfection. When we offer hospitality in the Lord, He frees us to serve others not just with an open door, but an open heart. Practicing Hospitality helps show you how, because it is firmly founded on Scriptural principles sure to guide you in bestowing God's hospitality to family, friends, neighbors, and strangers. What I loved about Ennis's and Tatlock's concepts is that they serve hospitality whole on a platter of Scriptural principles and simple practices. I learned so much, and I'd be hard-pressed to know what they might have left out. Their comprehensive compendium covers numerous aspects of hospitality,from how it relates to character, culture, ministry, managing one's home, and welcoming family, friends, and strangers in Christ's name. Moreover, Ennis and Tatlock are hospitable themselves in how they write from both a warm and wise perspective. As an extra bonus, they even offer scrumptious recipes to try out on your guests. What's not to like? Buy this book for you, your friends, and those strangers who will become friends as you open your heart and home to them, in the name of Christ. --Lynn D. Morrissey, CLASS/AWSA speaker and author of Love Letters to God: Deeper Intimacy through Written Prayer

A Hospitality Handbook

These gals have done it! They have written an encouraging, easy-to-read book on hospitality that is both spiritual and practical. With plenty of biblical examples for the spirit and delicious recipes for the tummy, you'll be armed with everything you need to offer hospitality to whomever God brings your way!!

Practical and thought-provoking

I appreciated the emphasis on orderliness rather than perfectionism in the home, the importance of establishing family traditions, and the many practical tips to prepare ahead for unexpected guests. I also valued the information about the cultural differences to consider when sharing my home with internationals. Suitable for individual reading or group study, this meaty book presents the why of hospitality as well as practical how-to suggestions. The authors encourage you to pray, plan, organize, and serve. No matter what your age or stage of life or how much you've already practiced hospitality, you're certain to glean new insights from this useful tool.

"The Hostess With The Mostest"

Practicing Hospitality, The Joy Of Serving Others, is an excellent book for the woman who wants to grow socially, spiritually, and practically in being a gracious hostess in every area of her life. This book challenges you to reach out in serving not only your friends and neighbors, but your new acquaintances as well. This book would serve well as a women's study text, or personal devotional book! Dr. Ennis, and Dr. Tatlock also have added areas for questions and answers for discussions. This is also a party planning guide, with recipes included!This book is a must read for women who want to be the "Hostess with the Mostest" of today! Deborah Zacharoff MAed, Home Economist, teacher