--- title: Radical Hospitality in the Spirit of Thanksgiving description: Delve into the deeper meanings of Thanksgiving and explore the concept of radical hospitality in this blog post, offering church leaders valuable insights on extending kindness and inclusivity beyond traditional circles during the holiday season. image: https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/Radical%20Hospitality%20in%20the%20Spirit%20of%20Thanksgiving.png --- [Skip to content](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/thanksgiving-radical-hospitality-church-leaders-226#main-content) [![cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95.webp?width=342&height=95&name=cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95.webp "cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95")](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/) - [How We Help](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/what-we-do/) - [How We Help Candidates](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate/) - [How We Help Churches](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/church/) - [Our Team](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/team/) - [Our Mission & Strategy](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/what-we-do/) - [Churches](https://chemistrystaffing.com/church) - [Hire New Staff](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/2021-churches-new-staff-hiring/) - [Free 30-Minute Church Consult](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) - [Chemistry Solutions – You Don’t Have to Do Ministry Alone](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/solutions/) - [Final Fit Assessment](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/final-fit-assessment/) - [Senior Pastor Succession](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/succession/) - [Job Seekers](https://chemistrystaffing.com/candidate) - [Add My Resume / Profile](https://chemistry.fyi/kwq) - [Current Openings](https://chemistrystaffing.com/jobs) - [Free Resume Assessment](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/free-resume-self-assessment/) - [Step-by-Step Job Search](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/cjb) - [How Chemistry Can Help](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate/) - [Resources](http://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate/) - [Free Playbooks & Downloads](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/resources/) - [Chemistry Blog](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/) - [2024 Youth Pastor Compensation Survey](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/resources/2024-yp-compensation-survey/) - [Contact Us](http://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) - [Candidates](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate-contact-page/) - [Churches](http://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) - [Find a Job](https://chemistrystaffing.com/jobs) - [My Church is Hiring](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) [Church DNA/Culture](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/tag/church-dna-culture) # Radical Hospitality in the Spirit of Thanksgiving Delve into the deeper meanings of Thanksgiving and explore the concept of radical hospitality in this blog post, offering church leaders valuable insights on extending kindness and inclusivity beyond traditional circles during the holiday season. ![Thanksgiving, Hospitality, Generosity](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/Radical%20Hospitality%20in%20the%20Spirit%20of%20Thanksgiving.png) # Thanksgiving and Radical Hospitality: An Invitation to Church Leaders As we approach Thanksgiving season, it's crucial to delve into the deeper meanings of this holiday. We relish gathering with family and friends, basking in the warmth of shared meals and memories. However, it's equally essential to extend our circle—much like Jesus advised in Luke 14. ## Thanksgiving and the Lesson in Luke 14 In the said scripture, Jesus addressed guests who prioritized the best seats at a banquet. He taught us to extend our hospitality beyond circles of friends, family, and affluent neighbors. Instead, he encouraged us to reach out to those marginalized or overlooked—the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind. Jesus emphasized that blessings come when we show kindness to those who cannot repay us. ## Practicing Radical Hospitality Thanksgiving season provides unique opportunities for church leaders to practice this radical hospitality. As we gather with our inner circles, we should also remember those excluded from such settings—those who might not have a place at the Thanksgiving table. It extends to the homeless, single parents struggling to get by, elderly living alone, or recently resettled refugees. As church leaders, here are some ways we could embody radical hospitality: - **Open Your Doors:** Inviting those who might be alone for Thanksgiving to join your family celebration. - **Volunteer Your Time:** Serving meals at your local homeless shelter or soup kitchen could make a significant difference. - **Organize or Contribute to a Food Drive:** Providing resources to struggling families can ensure that they too have a festive feast on Thanksgiving. - **Reach Out:** A simple phone call or visit could mean a lot to someone feeling isolated or lonely. - **Welcome Newcomers:** This Thanksgiving, make sure every new face at your church feels seen, valued, and included. ## Encouraging Gratitude and Generosity Thanksgiving is the perfect time to express gratitude for the blessings and show our gratitude by extending generosity and hospitality to others. Our invitation today is to emulate this radical hospitality—reflect on who our community's unexpected guests might be and devise ways to welcome them. Interested in further exploring the idea of Thanksgiving and radical hospitality? Tune in to today's [Healthy Church Staff Podcast episode](https://www.buzzsprout.com/2210840/episodes/16032043) to learn more. ### [![Todd Rhoades](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/883a0d42581424e9bbe7c77dccfeed6b) Todd Rhoades](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/author/todd-rhoades) Todd has invested over 30 years in serving churches, having served as a worship pastor for over 15 years, a church elder for more than a decade, and in various ministry leadership roles in both the business and non-profit sectors. As the original founder and developer of ChurchStaffing.com, Todd fundamentally changed the way thousands of churches search for pastors and staff on the internet. Todd is a graduate of Cedarville University, and lives in Bryan, OH with his wife, Dawn. [![Facebook Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/facebook.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/toddrhoades3) [![Twitter Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/twitter.svg)](https://twitter.com/toddrhoades) [![Linkedin Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/linkedin.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddrhoades/) [![Website Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/web.svg)](http://chemistrystaffing.com/todd-rhoades) ## Latest Resources Browse Articles ![What's Actually Killing Your Church? The Surprising 250-Year Diagnosis](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/blog-images/featured/featured_158.png) #### What's Actually Killing Your Church? The Surprising 250-Year Diagnosis Church decline isn't what you think. 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