Hospitality: Neutral Territory

There is a concept called "the 3rd space". The other 2 spaces are work and the home. Social relationships aren't often equal at work, and the home can feel like it is dominated by the host. The 3rd place is neutral territory that all are equal in. It can be a barber shop, coffee shop, meetup group, etc.... but it is definitely NOT a church building.

We need to meet in neutral territory in order to be taken seriously sometimes. It is a place where everyone can be real. It's an elusive atmosphere to find, but it's essential for sharing the good news of Jesus that you avoid any possible barriers to accepting it.

In American culture, we tend to build friendships according to our common interests. Finding a meetup group or a club that participates in your favorite activities is a great way to find a 3rd place where people aren't defined by their obligations, but instead by their passions.

Some friendships might be based on long-held relationships from childhood or school, as well. In these cases, you have a deep relationship or at least one waiting to happen if you are reconnecting to an old friend. Your house might be a neutral ground to build on that relationship in that case.

The point of this post is to get you thinking outside the box of the house and the church building. Sometimes a change of venue is needed to talk about a change in life, so let your setting work in the favor of change.
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One other issue that I have seen disrupt neutral spaces is, regrettably, mixed gender groups. Let me share my opinion about what to do about this and why.

Titus 2 teaches us that older women should teach younger women, and older men should teach younger men. It may be that some people feel more comfortable discussing certain subjects in male-only and female-only groups. This may not apply to all things.

I will say from anecdotal evidence that many of my friends have experienced sexual temptation when trying to use relationship-building with the opposite sex in one-on-one talks in order to share the good news. Might I suggest that we could use Titus 2 as a safety cushion to relieve any sense of duty you might have to share with the opposite sex, unless specifically authorized by the Holy Spirit to you? 

Connecting spiritually with someone is a deeply personal and emotional attachment. We must be able to maintain our own integrity throughout. It is necessary then for us to remain in neutral spaces and groups for our own safety as much as for the benefit of communication it is for the people you are trying to befriend.
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Another useful thing to know is that you are not always meant to be the one "doing something". Sometimes hospitality is letting someone else do something for you. If you can begin to think of visiting someone and accepting their hospitality as service to them, then do it. I fear that within American society, we place way too much weight on "what WE do" rather than "how we receive" from others. It makes others feel closer to you if you accept their hospitality.
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Religious word of the day: Glory. Glory has a religious and a secular definition. A secular definition of glory is the fame and power that comes from celebrity or accomplishment. In Greek mythology, it is the highest ideal, rather than moral integrity. The Hebrew thought of glory is linked to weight, and thus to power over another. When we give glory to God, we are acknowledging that He is greater than all others and that he is more famous, more powerful than all others.