Holy Hospitality

In this sermon, Pastor Samuel Nagel preaches on the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000, focusing on the abundant and compassionate hospitality of Christ. Drawing from John 6:1–15, Samuel highlights that Jesus not only sees the needs of the crowd but intentionally provides for them in a way that points beyond the bread to His divine identity.

Through three movements—the where, the why, and the who of hospitality—Samuel walks us through how Jesus initiates care for a crowd that is more curious than committed. Though their motives are mixed, Jesus, full of mercy, lifts His eyes and feeds them—not just physically but spiritually. This miracle, one of the few recorded in all four Gospels, becomes a window into Jesus’ mission as the true bread of life.

The sermon concludes with a pastoral challenge to distinguish between entertaining and biblical hospitality. While the former seeks to impress, the latter seeks to serve. Christians are called not merely to host, but to reflect Christ by creating space to meet deeper needs with gospel truth. As recipients of God’s abundant hospitality in Christ, we are sent into the world to offer others the same grace we’ve received.