How to Minister through Our Homes

When setting up my first apartment, I was quite surprised when my major ministry purchase turned out to be a fifty-inch television.

 Originally, I planned to purchase a modest television for my first apartment. Yet when my family compared prices, brands, and sizes, a fifty-inch Smart TV presented itself as the best choice. When we installed it in the apartment, I felt rather sheepish. What would people think about my having this enormous television?

Despite my misgivings, I did have a vision for using this television for the Lord. There was a Christian conference about singleness coming up that would be on Zoom. If I invited other singles to attend with me, I could display the conference on this sharp, large television. Who knew what other opportunities would present themselves? Perhaps the Lord wanted me to have this television for specific ministry purposes.

A month later, I did display the Zoom conference on the large television for myself and a friend. From time to time, I lounge on the couch with friends and watch an edifying show or movie. Over time, I have learned to view my home as a space that is not only meant for me. It is meant to be a place of ministry to others.

People who walk through your front door need encouragement and refreshment. It may be other single girlfriends, siblings, parents, children, or a mixed group for an activity such as a Bible study. The world would say we are talking about entertaining. There is nothing inherently wrong with that description. Yet as someone who wants to use her home to serve an eternal purpose, I prefer to call hosting people in our homes ministering. The Lord expects us to minister to the people around us. When the disciples disputed who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus gave this instruction:

“Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever is chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.” –Matthew 20:26–28 (KJV)

If we are to be like Jesus, we are to serve others—especially our brothers and sisters in Christ. When we invite people into our homes, our purpose is to serve them. Perhaps we serve them a meal or coffee or tea. Perhaps we serve them by simply providing a place for them to rest. An eternal perspective acknowledges that hosting is not about how we look to others but about what God can do for others when they are welcomed into our space.

When we work to create a beautiful space in our home, we are working to create a space where others feel welcomed. Our homes should become a refuge for others as much as for ourselves. When we decorate our homes, we decorate them for those who enter. When we labor to keep our home clean and orderly, we are maintaining a place where others can come and relax. When we choose furniture with a ministry mindset, we plan how we can accommodate the people God sends us to serve.

When shopping for a couch, I became interested in the big round cushioned chairs that swivel. A chair like that seemed perfect for curling up with a book and a cup of hot chocolate. Since I would be the only one living in the apartment, I wondered about simply having a single seat. But as much as a chair like that could be fun, it would not be sufficient for conducting the ministry of hospitality. Instead, I purchased a couch that seats three. And I am glad I did!

You may not currently have a space where you can host people. But even if your only space is one bedroom in your parents’ or another family member’s home, you can use it as a welcoming space for talks with your siblings or parents. If siblings live in your home, do they feel welcome in your room? Or is there a “do not disturb” sign on the door—literally or figuratively? Determine to make your space a refuge for anyone who comes to visit.

One biblical woman who made her home a place of ministry was the Shunammite woman. We do not know this Israelite lady’s name—only that she was a woman from Shunem. But we know she practiced hospitality. At first, she compelled the prophet Elisha to come to her home to eat when he passed through town. But when she realized how Elisha often traveled through her town, she created a place for him to stay:

The Shunammite woman asked her husband to build Elisha a room on their house. But she also thought through each item that Elisha would need in that room. Of course, he needed a bed to sleep on. But the Shunammite woman realized he needed a table and a chair for studying and eating. She also knew she needed to provide a candle for light. These things seem basic, but the Bible includes these details for us. It shows us that she truly thought about Elisha’s needs and prepared to meet them.

Elisha was so touched by her thoughtfulness and ministry to him that he asked what she wanted in return. He would not accept her nothing as an answer. To bless her for this woman’s selfless ministry, God gave the childless Shunammite woman a son. This woman received a deep desire of her heart simply because she turned her home into a place of ministry.

Being a homemaker is so much more than designing and maintaining a space. Consider the biblical example of Rahab. Although we know her home was on the wall of Jericho, we have no idea what it looked like on the inside. Yet we do know Rahab chose to use her home to provide a refuge for others.

What made her home a refuge for others? Not the home décor or the furniture. It was her faith that opened her heart to serve others.

Dedicate your space—whatever it might be—to the Lord. Ask Him to use it for His glory and His purposes. God can use even the most basic of homes in His kingdom work. Who knows what blessings will follow?

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