Woahhh it's been a minute! Welcome back to a new season! We are so excited to continue the conversation with you around the table, as we seek to grow in this pursuit of biblical hospitality.
Today we recap where we've been, where we are, & where we're going both in life and this podcast. It's only fitting we start season 4 off by revisiting the heart and foundation of hospitality–service. What is it, why is it so hard to practice, and how do we daily choose to count others more significant than ourselves? Only by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT!
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Follow along for more content and encouragement over on Instagram, @theartofhospitality.co.
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Whether you consider yourself artistic or not, have you ever thought of your creativity and vocation as a form of service, even as hospitality? Today we get the pleasure of talking with Dirk Dallas about our calling as Christians and image-bearers, to co-create with God, to make culture, and serve those around us to His glory.
Dirk is a nationally recognized designer, photographer, professor, author, and recently named Dean of the College of Architecture Visual Art and Design at Cal Baptist University. Even amidst His 20+ years of industry experience and success, Dirk is one of the most humble servant leaders you will ever meet, and his influence on the lives of hundreds of students is invaluable. Both Bella and Kenzie have been recipients of his hospitality both in and outside the classroom.
We hope this conversation encourages you to use creativity, whether its in your career, your home, your church, your community, or all of the above, to serve others and glorify God.
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Connect with Dirk on IG: @dirka
Check out his book, Eyes over the World
Recommended Resources on creativity and calling:
Art & Faith by Makoto Fujimura
Every Good Endeavor by Tim Keller
You are What You Love by James K.A. Smith
The Humble Creative by Matthew Neirmann
Recapturing wonder by Mike Cosper
Images & Idols by Thomas J Terry and Ryan Lister
Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung
How does hospitality connect to the Great Commission?What is a theology of the body? How can a husband be hospitable to his family? How can our words, and even snail mail, be a form of hospitality?
These are just a few of the questions our friends are answering on part 2 of our mini series, "How Can Men Practice Hospitality?"... and let's just say each response brought a WORD. (get your notes ready!)
Representing various seasons of life, Kameron Co, Matt Brodeur, Jared Hayden, and Grandpa (Warner) Peters each share unique perspectives on how hospitality enables us to live out the gospel in every area of our lives.
Whether you're a guy or gal listening, we know this episode will encourage and challenge you to pursue a lifestyle of service. If you missed part 1 of this series, tune in here!
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Follow along for more content and encouragement over on Instagram, @theartofhospitality.co, and our website, theartofhospitality.co
Leave us a review on Spotify or Apple and share this episode with your friends ( especially the MEN in your lives!)
Due to popular demand (and Bella's request), we are bringing back one of our favorite episodes from season 2, Can Men Practice Hospitality?, with a bit of TWIST!
As we debunk the myth that hospitality is primarily a gift of women, we're asking 6 men of various seasons and ages specific questions to their area of passion, unpacking the ways hospitality and the gospel are intricately connected and how it plays out in their lives. Their answers were so profound we had to split this into TWO PARTS! Today you'll hear from Lucas Cook and Alvin Davis, but tune in and come back next week to hear from 4 other friends!!
Whether you're a guy or gal listening, we know this conversation will encourage and inspire you to pursue a lifestyle of service.
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Follow along for more content and encouragement over on Instagram, @theartofhospitality.co, and our website, theartofhospitality.co
Leave us a review on Spotify or Apple and share this episode with your friends ( especially the MEN in your lives!)
Today's we're diving into your questions on topics ranging from making new friends, group Bible study ideas, how to cook meat (or how not to!), to where we think we'll be in 10 years.
Grab a cup a coffee for this casual convo, that's nothing short of fun & insightful!
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Follow along for more content and encouragement over on Instagram, @theartofhospitality.co, and our website, theartofhospitality.co
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Resources mentioned:
Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer
Bible Study Resources: Blue Letter Bible , Enduring Word, She Reads Truth, New Morning Mercies
Restoration: the act of returning something to its original form or design. What once was broken is made whole...the Garden will once again be our home.
In this final episode of our mini series, The Hospitable Gospel, we're diving into God's present and future plan of restoring His people and creation. A plan presented around breakfast on the beach with His disciples, Jesus' Great Commission to build the Church and the Kingdom was enabled through the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Through His Spirit, God has made His home IN US, as we pilgrimage back to our eternal home, the Garden – restored and new, where death will be no more, and we will dine with Christ forever. Hallelujah!
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Follow along for more content and encouragement over on Instagram, @theartofhospitality.co, and our website, theartofhospitality.co.
Leave us a review on Spotify or Apple and share this episode with your friends!
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Resources mentioned:
A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS! Christ came to REDEEM your life, your relationships, your home, and your hospitality.
In episode 2 we looked at the reality of sin and the separation it caused between us and the Lord, but PRAISE GOD the story doesn't end there. Today we are looking at the narrative throughout the Old and New Testament of God redeeming His people and making His home with us once again, by sending His Son to save us. As the ultimate act and example of hospitality, Jesus came sharing the gospel one meal at a time.
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Follow along for more content and encouragement over on Instagram, @theartofhospitality.co, and our website, theartofhospitality.co.
Leave us a review on Spotify or Apple and share this episode with your friends!
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Resources mentioned:
The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield
I am the Bread of Life Sermon by J.D. Greear, Summit Church
Why are people often hard to love? Why are families dysfunctional and friendships difficult? Why does the dessert we make burn, and the chicken come out dry, even in our best efforts to serve our guests? The answer—sin.
In week 2 of this mini series, the Hospitable Gospel, we are diving into Genesis 2 + 3, where we see Adam and Eve disobey God to pursue their pleasure over His presence, resulting in the brokenness we experience today. Hear us out—we know sin is not a fun topic to discuss, but when we understand the state we were in before Christ (separated from God, deserving of death), the beauty and power of the Gospel invitation we have been given becomes all the more a miracle.
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Follow along for more content and encouragement over on Instagram, @theartofhospitality.co, and our website, theartofhospitality.co.
Leave us a review on Spotify or Apple and share this episode with your friends!
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Books mentioned:
Holy Hygge by Jamie Erickson
Deeper by Dane Ortlund
Welcome in and welcome back to Always Invited! After a longer than expected break, we are so excited to be jumping back in, and kicking off season 3 with a mini series: The Hospitable Gospel.
We will be looking at how biblical hospitality is weaved throughout the Gospel narrative of Scripture, all the way through the story of Creation, Fall, Redemption and Restoration.
This week we dive into the Creation account found in Genesis 1, where we see God, the first Homemaker, design a perfect home for Adam and Eve. Since the beginning, we are hardwired to long for Eden and our acts of hospitality and service can give our guests glimpses of the Garden - the way it was always supposed to be.
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Follow along for more content and encouragement over on Instagram, @theartofhospitality.co, and our website, theartofhospitality.co. This week only we have a fun giveaway on our Instagram you won't want to miss!
Leave us a review on Spotify or Apple and share this episode with your friends!
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Books mentioned:
He's Where the Joy Is by Tara-Leigh Cobble
Becoming Something Podcast: Ep 262 Radical Hospitality
Today we are wrapping up Season 2 by answering the last question we ask every guest: "What has been the most impactful invitation you've ever received?" Our answer: Salvation–and the chance to dine with Jesus at His table for eternity.
As we share our personal testimonies of salvation and sanctification, we hope you're reminded of, or exposed to, this invitation we have all been offered, through the Gospel. Whether you have believed for 10 years or 10 minutes, we are invited to daily feast and remain at His table, being nourished and sanctified in Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Thank you for following along this season and stay tuned for good things to come in the new year! Until then, enjoy this season of gathering and celebration, savor every moment, and remember you're always invited.
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Follow along for more content and encouragement over on Instagram, @theartofhospitality.co, and our website, theartofhospitality.co
Leave us a review on Spotify or Apple and share this episode with your friends!
It's hard to believe we are already halfway through November, which means the holidays are quickly approaching! This season can be stressful and fast paced for most of us, as it brings on the pressures of hosting, family gatherings, shopping, and traveling.
Today we get to talk with Krista Gilbert, founder of The Open Door Sisterhood, who reminds us of why we gather in this season—"to remember and reflect Christ," and what that can look like practically.
Krista is a believer, wife, mom, life coach, podcaster, and speaker, with a passion for helping other women flourish in the home and in life. Whether you have the Christmas decor up or are barely realizing Thanksgiving is next week (we're in that group!) , her wisdom and practical tips are going to equip and encourage you as you enter this season of festive hospitality!
Connect with Krista on IG: @kristatgilbert
Explore her website and life coaching: kristagilbert.com
Follow the Open Door Sisterhood: @theopendoorsisterhood
Listen to her podcast: Our Time to Rise, E429: 7 People You Need to Buy for This Holiday Season
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Follow along for more content and encouragement over on Instagram, @theartofhospitality.co, and our website, theartofhospitality.co
Leave us a review on Spotify or Apple and share this episode with your friends!
Given that hospitality is normally a conversation within female circles, we thought it was time to debunk the myth that hospitality is limited to women. Many would say it’s a gift or calling of primarily women, but biblical hospitality is commanded of everyone, and can look as diverse as the two genders. But to confirm and prove our thesis correct, we thought we'd ask the men themselves - "Do you think men are capable of practicing hospitality? If so, what does this look like in your life?" Six of our friends shared some wise answers with us, each one of a different age and season of life -- yet all confirming, yes, indeed, men can and should be hospitable.
Whether you're a guy or gal listening in, you'll walk away encouraged to spur your people on in this pursuit of hospitality, and appreciative of the unique ways God has created us to serve one another!
Follow along for more content and encouragement over on Instagram, @theartofhospitality.co, and our website, theartofhospitality.co
Leave us a review and share this episode with your friends!
Have you ever noticed how similar the words "hospitality" and "hospital" are? Jesus's life modeled this connection, as His compassion towards the sick and vulnerable always paved a way to serve and heal their souls.
Dear friend & ICU Nurse, Jen Martin, gives us perspective on how serving people’s physical needs paves the way to serve them spiritually with the gospel. Jen gives us practical ways to do this, especially for those of us not trained in a medical profession (and might even be scared of blood like me - Kenz), starting with the power of prayer. How would heaven and earth look different if we prayed every time we passed by a hospital?
Follow along for more content and encouragement over on Instagram, @theartofhospitality.co, and our website, theartofhospitality.co
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We’re back with another Q&A episode! One our most candid convos yet, Kenz & Bella cover a wide variety of questions asked by YOU, our friends and listeners. From crazy college stories, to red flags in hosting and dating, this conversation is fun, unexpected, and hopefully helpful, as we share advice learned from personal experiences, scripture, and trusted mentors!
Follow along for more content and encouragement over on Instagram, @theartofhospitality.co, and our website, theartofhospitality.co
How do we stay present with our family, friends, and even our guests, when our schedules are full and our attention is divided? Our new friend and guest, Ashlee Gadd, is sharing some ways her experience as a mom and wife has helped her stay present in her home and her hospitality.
Ashlee is the founder of Coffee + Crumbs, an online community bringing mothers together through honest storytelling. Her passion has led to many creative endeavors, including her book, Create Anyways, which helps women pursue their creative gifts alongside their motherhood experience. In this episode, she encourages me and you, in every life season, to be creative with our hospitality and invite others into our raw, fast-paced, messy lives. Let's stay busy, staying present.
Connect with Ashlee:
Grab a copy of her book: Create Anways
Coffee and Crumbs:
Some would say dinner parties were for your grandma's generation...plot twist: they're thriving and here to stay. Who doesn't love an excuse to pull out the fun dishes, light all the candles, and share a fun meal?! The planning process can be intimidating for all of us, but this week’s episode provides helpful insight to staying calm, being present, & having fun when hosting.
Gather around for this week’s episode with dear friend and engagement/event professional, Makenah Mader! Creator of Golden Gatherings, Makenah is sharing her inside tips on how to intentionally plan a dinner party for guests & the steps she takes in the creative process. You can find her on Instagram @gldngatherings and @makenahpaige for all the inspiration you need!
Something powerful happens when we gather around a table and break bread together. Since the beginning of time, food has played an integral role in the formation of communities across every culture and continent. It's central to hospitality and our humanity.
Given this significance, we found it time to debunk the myth that cooking is only for experienced moms or housewives. Our friend, Megan Walla, is a young adult reclaiming this lost art form, as she's seen that breaking bread around her kitchen table always has a way of breaking down the walls people enter in with. From her famous broccoli chicken casserole recipe to tips for budgeting, she's sharing simple ways to start serving your people one meal at a time.
Follow along for more content and encouragement over on Instagram, @theartofhospitality.co, and our website, theartofhospitality.co
As every season of life can bring new rhythms and routines, new friends and commitments, it can be challenging to steward a heart of service and prioritize community. Jenavieve Lopez knows this to be true, and has seen that lots of prayer, creativity, intentionality, and humility are essential to serve others like Christ.
Jenavieve is a wise friend whose heart for hospitality really grew and flourished in college, as she spent 2 years as a Resident Assistant (RA) on campus, investing in freshmen girls and serving their needs with an open door and listening ear. She shares with us practical ways this passion has transpired in her new season of post-grad and marriage, as she seeks to value people and offer them a sense of belonging.
Follow along for more content and encouragement over on Instagram, @theartofhospitality.co, and our website, theartofhospitality.co
Welcome to Season 2 of Always Invited! We're excited to deepen the conversation as we continue to grow together in the pursuit of hospitality and sacrificial service.
To kick things off, today we're sitting down with Rebekah Peters to talk through practical ways we can design our space or home to be hospitable and inviting. Rebekah is Kenzie's mom, Bella's "second mom," and a talented Interior Designer, who finds her passion in designing spaces that balance beauty and function to best serve her clients. She shares with us some unexpected and stunning parallels between the beauty in our homes and the beauty of the gospel, giving opportunity for our spaces to practically serve others and reflect our ultimate Creator.
Today we are closing out Season 1 of Always Invited, just as we close out a sweet season of life, living together in Waco, TX. Reflecting on some of the summer's sanctifying experiences, as we opened our door and walked through others, we are sharing three things God has taught us about hospitality. These takeaways will hopefully encourage you in your own journey, as they carry us into the next season of life, and of this podcast.
Stay tuned for season 2 which will start in mid September! We can't wait to continue these conversations and grow alongside you. Leave us a review and let us know what you'd like to hear more of in S2!
Follow along for more content and encouragement over on Instagram, @theartofhospitality.co, and our website, theartofhospitality.co