Hospitality: Open Up Your Home & Share A Meal
This past Christmas, we made an intentional effort to open our home and share the season with friends. Instead of planning big, elaborate parties, we invited smaller groups for cozy, intimate gatherings.
I’ve found that these quieter moments create space for deeper conversations and genuine connection. And really, that’s the heart of sharing a meal in your home—building relationships and truly knowing one another. That’s the beauty of hospitality!
Let’s Do This
We managed to schedule three gatherings over the holiday season. The first included six of us—three couples—gathered around our table.
The plan was to enjoy dinner together and then play games, but the conversation and connection were so rich and effortless that we never even made it to the games.
Instead, we continued with our fellowship and planned another gathering in January for games.
With two more gatherings still to come, we were on our way to accomplishing our goal of making “fellowship” a priority for the holidays.
Next up was a cozy evening with a sweet young couple I’ve had the joy of getting to know over the past few years.
We shared a wonderful evening—easy conversation, lots of laughter, and when they left, our hearts (and stomachs!) were full and grateful.
Our final gathering was meant to be with a dear family we’ve grown close to, but they had to cancel due to illness, which happens!
We took it in stride. Embracing a flexible mindset keeps things peaceful for everyone. Just make the best of it!
If someone cancels at the last minute and everything is prepared, invite someone else to join you. Sometimes people love spur-of-the-moment, especially when a free meal is involved.
Why?
Why am I encouraging you to open your home to others? Because hospitality is becoming a lost art in today’s world—and that truly saddens me. Some of our most cherished memories have been made around the table, sharing life with others.
Here are some reasons for this:
Busy Schedules
Modern life is fast-paced. Between work, kids’ activities, and other obligations, many people feel they simply don’t have the time or energy to host.
Perfection Pressure
Social media has created unrealistic standards around hosting. Some feel their home or cooking has to be “Pinterest perfect,” which leads to stress or avoidance altogether.
Loss of Habit or Tradition
Past generations grew up in homes where hospitality was the norm. Today, many didn’t grow up with that rhythm, so inviting people over doesn’t feel as natural.
Fear of Judgment
Some worry their homes aren’t clean enough, big enough, or nice enough. There’s a fear of being judged—whether about décor, cleanliness, or even cooking skills.
Why is it Important?
Inviting others into your home is deeply rooted in biblical principles and reflects the heart of God’s design for community, hospitality, and love. Here are several reasons why it’s important from a biblical perspective:
Hospitality is Biblical
Scripture repeatedly calls believers to be hospitable. In Romans 12:13, Paul urges, “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Opening your home is a tangible way to live out your faith and obedience to God’s Word.
Jesus Modeled It
Throughout His ministry, Jesus was constantly eating with others—tax collectors, disciples, friends, and even strangers. Meals were sacred spaces where He taught, loved, and revealed truth. When we invite others in, we reflect Christ’s example of relational ministry.
It Builds Community and Encourages One Another
Hebrews 10:24–25 reminds us to “Consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds… and encourage one another.” Opening our homes creates opportunities to uplift, comfort, and strengthen others in the faith.
It Breaks Down Barriers
There’s something sacred about sitting around a table together. Hospitality softens hearts, removes social walls, and allows room for vulnerability, trust, and deeper relationships to form.
It Provides Opportunities for Your Children to Practice Social Skills
You can read more about this in my post How To Prep Your Children For A Social Gathering. It might surprise you how modeling hospitality for your children can impact their lives in the future. You can also find more about this topic in my course, Intentional Motherhood & Home.
Opening your home isn’t about having a perfect space or a gourmet meal—it’s about reflecting God’s love. It’s about being a vessel for encouragement, connection, and grace.
Hospitality is an invitation to others, not just into your home, but into your heart, your life, and ultimately, into the presence of God.
Let’s Get Practical
Keep It Simple
I learned a lot from our intentional effort to gather people in our home at the holidays. Let me share a few with you.
It’s about Connection, not Perfection
Welcoming people into your home isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection. It’s about fellowship, sharing life, and building relationships around the table.
If hosting and creating a beautiful space is your gift, feel free to go all out and let your table shine. But for most of us, simple is best—and still meaningful.
Try tossing on a tablecloth, adding fresh flowers from Costco, Wegmans, or Trader Joe’s, and placing a few candlesticks to set a cozy tone.
I love adding placemats or chargers under the plates for a little extra charm, but don’t feel like you have to. And if you’re keeping it super simple, go for festive paper plates—there are so many cute options! Remember, the goal isn’t perfection—it’s connection. Have fun with it!
What to Serve
Here are three easy go-to meals I love to serve and think you’ll enjoy too.
Meal #1
Pork Tenderloin With Dry Rub cooked in the air fryer. Baked potatoes, roasted carrots, applesauce (pork and applesauce are a must) 😉, and rolls. You can ask your guests to bring a salad or dessert if they offer.
For dessert, one of my favorites is The Food Nanny’s Peanut Butter Pie with Chocolate Ganache
This meal is simple yet delicious, and it always gets rave reviews when I serve it! It’s also easy to make gluten-free—just swap the graham crackers in the pie recipe for a gluten-free version if you’re hosting someone with dietary restrictions.
Meal #2
Pizza Casserole served with sausage and meatballs on the side makes a perfect crowd-pleasing meal—especially if kids are joining the gathering!
Pair it with a Caesar salad (Costco has a great ready-to-go option), a warm loaf of garlic bread, and you’ve got dinner covered. For dessert, keep it classic and fun with brownies, ice cream, hot fudge, and a generous squirt of whipped cream.
TIP: Use Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Brownies. (Costco offers a big box)They are THE most amazing brownies and don’t taste like a boxed brownie. You and your guests will LOVE them!
Meal #3
Chicken Puffs are my family’s absolute favorite. It is always on the menu when everyone is home for a visit!
This easy, yet yummy, recipe will delight your guests’ taste buds, and they will more than likely ask you for the recipe!
We like to serve this with white jasmine rice, applesauce, and green beans. If you haven’t tried using the rice setting on your air fryer, give it a go! It comes out like the sticky rice you’d get at an Asian restaurant. I like to stir in a scoop of butter and a pinch of salt to make it extra tasty!
For the green beans, I use fresh ones—just trim the ends and give them a rinse. Then I sauté them in a frying pan with olive oil, minced garlic (jarred or fresh both work!), and sprinkle on coarse kosher salt. Quick, easy, and full of flavor!
This method takes about 15–20 minutes of tossing, and you’ll get those delicious little charred bits that add so much flavor. Your family and guests are sure to love it!
Be Yourself
Get your home guest-ready—but don’t stress yourself out trying to make it perfect. Just tidy up the two or three spaces where you’ll be spending time and leave the rest. Be yourself, and let your home reflect real life. The goal is connection, not perfection!
WHY?
Jesus Did It
I received this text from a friend a few days after we had them to our home for dinner:
“Thanks again for a lovely dinner. Your table is such a welcoming place. I read this year that Jesus did most of his earthly ministry around a table of food and we should do the same. If so, you are so good at it!”
This touched my heart deeply. There’s no greater example to follow than Jesus—and if He chose to live that way, that’s more than enough for me.
Mark 12:30-31 says this: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.”
What a beautiful way to love your neighbor—by welcoming them to your table and sharing a meal together in fellowship.
In Conclusion
It doesn’t need to be complicated—simple is often best! If you’re planning to gather with others over the holidays, consider scheduling your get-togethers close together on the calendar, like we did. That way, you only have to clean your home once, and you can even serve the same dessert for multiple gatherings. Win-win!
That being said, DON’T only invite people over at the holidays. DO it all year long.
Winter is great because people have more time on their hands, the days are shorter, and it gives you something to look forward to.
Summertime is fun because you can be outside, and that means your husband can barbecue (or you if you like to work the grill), and less cleaning is needed on the inside of your home!
Fall brings cozy vibes and cooler evenings—just right for gathering around the fire with s’mores in hand. It’s simple to pull together and creates the perfect setting for connection and fellowship.
Like I said, any time of year works great. Start thinking right now who you want to invite!
Let’s make it a practice to invite others into your home and build the art of hospitality back into our families.
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Much love, Kim ❤️
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