Unusual Kindness: The Heart of Welcome
Sunday Worship Service: AUGUST 17, 2025
Unusual Kindness: The Heart of Welcome
28 After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. 3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8 It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. 9 And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. 10 They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.
NOTES
UNUSUAL KINDNESS: THE HEART OF WELCOME
“The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold.” Acts 28:2
UNUSUAL KINDNESS
KIND Comes from the Old English word “cynd” which meant family or nature. It has the same root as “kin”
“There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us GENEROUS HOSPITALITY for three days.” Acts 28:7
KINDNESS To treat someone with benevolence as you would family or kin.
GENEROUS HOSPITALITY
GIFT ECONOMY
"For the WAGES of sin is death, but the GIFT OF GOD is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23
“In a gift economy, wealth is understood as having enough to share, and the practice for dealing with abundance is to give it away…”
“…in fact, status is determined not by how much one accumulates, but by how much one gives away.”
“A gift economy nurtures the community bonds
that enhance mutual well-being; the economic unit is “we” rather than “I,”
as all flourishing is mutual.” ~Robin Kimmerer
“When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured.” Acts 28:9
“Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
“THEN YOUR LIGHT WILL BREAK FORTH LIKE THE DAWN, AND YOUR HEALING WILL QUICKLY APPEAR” Isaiah 58:7-8
“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.” 1 Corinthians 12:26
…YOUR HEALING WILL QUICKLY APPEAR. Isaiah 58:8