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Extraordinary Hospitality for Ordinary Christians: A Radical Approach to Preparing Your Heart & Home for Gospel-Centered Community
Prepare your heart and home to serve not only family and friends, but neighbors and strangers too! Make any space a haven of discipleship, connection, and comfort.
As Christians, we sometimes forget the power of an open door to a lost world. Using our homes to live out our faith in the true model of the Great Commission is challenging in our busy, over-scheduled lives. But having a home that is always open and available is key to living in community with others and being missional in our thinking. In this beautiful and inspiring book, wife, mom, and interior design enthusiast Victoria Duerstock offers simple and inspiring ways to prepare our hearts and homes to be open to friends, neighbors, and strangers.
You don't need an immaculate or professionally decorated home to be hospitable. In fact, there is beauty in being honest with others about our lived-in spaces, and great value in being humble enough to live life together in the midst of imperfection. But it'll be a blessing to you and to your guests to create a space that reflects the beauty, peace, and joy of life in Christ.
Whether you have a tiny apartment or a big old farmhouse, you can learn how to:
Declutter common areas
Bring hygge to your guest room (or even just to your couch, if that's all you've got!)
Create a peaceful, welcoming atmosphere
Schedule in regular housecleaning
Prepare freezer meals for no-stress last minute dinners
More importantly, be encouraged to have your heart in the right place, to engage in meaningful discussion with guests, and to take time to be a "Mary" in our works-driven "Martha" culture. Allow the Holy Spirit to overflow from your heart into your homes and community as you let your guard down and invite people into your lives.
As Christians, we sometimes forget the power of an open door to a lost world. Using our homes to live out our faith in the true model of the Great Commission is challenging in our busy, over-scheduled lives. But having a home that is always open and available is key to living in community with others and being missional in our thinking. In this beautiful and inspiring book, wife, mom, and interior design enthusiast Victoria Duerstock offers simple and inspiring ways to prepare our hearts and homes to be open to friends, neighbors, and strangers.
You don't need an immaculate or professionally decorated home to be hospitable. In fact, there is beauty in being honest with others about our lived-in spaces, and great value in being humble enough to live life together in the midst of imperfection. But it'll be a blessing to you and to your guests to create a space that reflects the beauty, peace, and joy of life in Christ.
Whether you have a tiny apartment or a big old farmhouse, you can learn how to:
Declutter common areas
Bring hygge to your guest room (or even just to your couch, if that's all you've got!)
Create a peaceful, welcoming atmosphere
Schedule in regular housecleaning
Prepare freezer meals for no-stress last minute dinners
More importantly, be encouraged to have your heart in the right place, to engage in meaningful discussion with guests, and to take time to be a "Mary" in our works-driven "Martha" culture. Allow the Holy Spirit to overflow from your heart into your homes and community as you let your guard down and invite people into your lives.
170 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2020
89 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 12, 2022
I really wanted to like this, but 2 stars almost feels generous.
The first section lacked focus. It was scattered, interspersing the author’s thoughts with personal stories and scripture references. I can’t remember a single point from that section except a story about taking on too much work without asking for help. (A decent story in context.)
The second section, on decluttering, was worse. One paragraph or two linked casting off “the sin which so easily entangles” with getting rid of excess stuff. The sentence I just wrote is clearer than what Duerstock said. All sorts of Bible verses and stories were used to inspire you to have negative space in your house. Some practical decluttering advice came at the end, but she had lost me by then.
I didn’t look closely at any of the recipes.
My least favorite part of the book were the photos. The author repeatedly encourages readers to open their homes no matter their state of imperfection. But every photo was perfect. Spotless, styled, perfect. Not even a picture of an in-process baking session, or a full laundry basket on the floor, or a pair of shoes next to the couch! So disappointing.
The first section lacked focus. It was scattered, interspersing the author’s thoughts with personal stories and scripture references. I can’t remember a single point from that section except a story about taking on too much work without asking for help. (A decent story in context.)
The second section, on decluttering, was worse. One paragraph or two linked casting off “the sin which so easily entangles” with getting rid of excess stuff. The sentence I just wrote is clearer than what Duerstock said. All sorts of Bible verses and stories were used to inspire you to have negative space in your house. Some practical decluttering advice came at the end, but she had lost me by then.
I didn’t look closely at any of the recipes.
My least favorite part of the book were the photos. The author repeatedly encourages readers to open their homes no matter their state of imperfection. But every photo was perfect. Spotless, styled, perfect. Not even a picture of an in-process baking session, or a full laundry basket on the floor, or a pair of shoes next to the couch! So disappointing.
October 8, 2025
Beautiful pictures! Some of the scripture applications seemed like a bit of a stretch. Good content, but I think her points would’ve been more compelling if she hadn’t been trying to draw out the call to extending biblical hospitality from such a long list of passages.
Published in 2020. Not sure why all the passages were in KJV 😆
Published in 2020. Not sure why all the passages were in KJV 😆
October 21, 2020
Victoria Duerstock’s thoughts on “using our homes as a missional extension of living out our faith” are honest, heartfelt, and practical. Her topics cover Biblical hospitality, cleaning tips and tricks, creating space in our schedules, decluttering, and a meal planning section with 40 easy-yet-delicious recipes… I’m excited to try some of them out!
October 2, 2020
”At the end of the day, it's really about our hearts.” Are you reluctant to have guests in your home? Maybe you feel inadequate, or consider your house a mess. Or perhaps, you think you don't have the time or money. Well, Victoria dispels all those doubts in her latest book, guiding the reader with insight, encouragement, and simple tips and tricks to make you confident and your home ready for visitors. You will be blessed and realise its easier than you think. And best of all, you will be God’s heart and hands to every person who enters your home — and that's what Biblical hospitality is all about!
July 14, 2021
This book was blah. The content of the book did not match the pictures within it. They were very much the opposite of what I believe the author intended in her writings. There was a lot of scripture taken out of context and exaggerated to mean what ever the author wanted it to say. While the pictures were beautiful and biblical hospitality is desired amongst Christians I was thoroughly disappointed and left feeling frustrated and confused as to what BIBLICAL hospitality should truly look like according to the word of God. I would not recommend this book to a friend.
December 3, 2020
Beautifully done book. Great, practical ideas to make hospitality easy and achievable.
January 15, 2021
Loved the photos, suggestions and overall message in this book!
March 26, 2021
3.5 stars.
January 3, 2024
Some Good Points
This book had some good points to ponder. As with most of this type book it was geared more to younger women, but as a senior I found some nuggets.
This book had some good points to ponder. As with most of this type book it was geared more to younger women, but as a senior I found some nuggets.
January 1, 2023
This is so encouraging! Your home doesn't have to be perfect, it doesn't have to be huge, and you don't have to be an amazing cook to host gatherings that bless people around you.
December 29, 2020
We read this book right before the holidays in our mom's group. I absolutely loved it. This book has it all. Tips for keeping an organized home, recipes, and it prepares our hearts and homes for spiritual growth. The author does a fantastic job reminding us of the importance to open our homes to others so we can spread God's word.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews