This three week practical seminar offers a vision for growing a welcoming church. For four decades, in churches and mission conferences, Al LaCour has equipped Christians in Biblical Hospitality. When asked by his pastor to teach this in his home church, Al reformatted a one-hour seminar into three weeks of adult classes. Click the links for each (approx. 20 min.) session. You can also view each (.mov) by downloading to your computer.
Session 1 of 3 on Growing a Welcoming Church (© 2025). The LORD is our welcoming God. Hospitality is grace that transforms strangers into friends.
Session One — Q&A Handout.
Session 2 of 3 on Growing a Welcoming Church (© 2025). The LORD is our Welcoming God. But we often struggle to be God's welcoming people. The Grace of Filo-Xenia counters a culture of Xeno-Phobia.
Session Two — Q&A Handout.
3. Hospitality in a Local Church
Session 3 of 3 on Growing a Welcoming Church (© 2025). Case studies and examples of how churches can practice Biblical Hospitality.
Session Three — Q&A Handout.
✦ Bonus - The Letter to Diognetus
To be hospitable, yet not conform to outsiders' corrupting idols or ideologies, Christians should live as ambassadors of Christ and churches serve our world as God's Kingdom embassies. The Letter to Diognetus is a glimpse of the early Christians before emperor Constantine was converted in 324 AD, and made Christianity the Roman imperial religion. Followers of Jesus in a post-Christian world can be inspired by hospitable disciples in the pre-Christian world.
