A Home is for Community

I firmly believe that a home is meant to be shared—to be an inviting, comfortable place that fosters community and togetherness.

While some people feel their home should be immaculate before they can open their doors, I wouldn’t put it past myself to host a Bible study mid-renovation. With boxes still unpacked and some shelves bare, the setting might seem far from ideal—but I would arrange cozy seating areas amid the boxes, offer iced tea and sparkling wine, and the open space would encourage more mingling and conversation. We would laugh about the chaos, and friends would tell their own “unfinished home” stories, creating a night of unexpected connections and shared experiences.

These moments teach us that hosting isn’t about showcasing a flawless home. Opening your life to others is an invitation to finding joy in community. When guests see that you’re relaxed about a few out-of-place items, they relax too. This makes your gatherings remarkable for the warmth and friendship offered, not the perfection of your décor.

A true sense of home is found not in the walls that enclose us, but in the relationships we nurture within and beyond them. Community is the heart of this endeavor, offering a belonging and acceptance that radiates peace and comfort into the world around us. Shared experiences with neighbors eventually become memories made with friends. The mission for our homes, should they choose to accept it, is to become more than just places to live; they become scrapbooks of shared stories and mutual respect. The Bible instructs to practice hospitality and “share with the Lord’s people who are in need” (Romans 12:13). What better way to share our abundance with others than to throw open our doors and invite people inside?

Whether it’s a dinner party, game night, or book club, bring people together, and let them know that they are seen, heard, known, and loved, the way they are, right where they are.

Reflect

How often do you share your home with friends and strangers? How could your home be a more welcoming, comfortable, and generous place?

Pray

God, show me how to build community by sharing my home. Thank you for the roof over my head, and help me to bless others with what I have been given. Amen.