teddyreadingstuff’s Reviews > The Gospel Comes with a House Key > Status Update

Summary Ch. 8 Pt. 1: A partly comic story about taking care of a neighbors dying cat and the extreme lengths her hospitality extended to make that possible. Slightly silly, legitimately admirable

Summary Ch. 7: A heart-rending story of Rosaria's relationship with her mother and her mother's eventual deathbed conversion. It is in their weakness that people find Christ.

Summary Ch. 6: Q-Are church members being disciplined to be invited to table fellowship? A-If they are repentant, then yes. We are all sinners, and it is only by God's grace that we ourselves are withheld from sin, by God's grace that we are forgiven, and by God's grace that we even have the gift of the church. Sola Gratia, Sola Deo Gloria.

Summary Ch. 5 Pt. 4: In a married home, the structure of the family and marriage is critical to making it a safe and furthermore functional. The husband needs to lead and serve as a shepherd, and the wife needs to cultivate and care for others. Their teamwork makes the "magic" in the home.

Summary Ch. 5 Pt. 3: Grace enables the creation of a Christian community in a home that welcomes all sinners. Begin where you are.

Summary Ch. 5 Pt. 2: The decision to enter into "new life" in covenant with God means leaving the old life with all of it's perks and pleasures behind. When new life is offered through evangelism, it needs to come with a house key to enter into a new family. Participating in God's covenant can't just look like sacrifice and discomfort for the new convert, it has to include God's love, grace, and blessings too.

Summary Ch. 5 Pt. 1: Butterfield recounts her family being robbed. She shares how the Christian community reacted, lending aid and support in a time of need. She shares how her and her husband took this opportunity to invite people over for a cookout, a chance to witness or testify to their Gospel-centeted convictions about loving strangers despite what strangers had just done to them.

Summary Ch. 4 Pt. 2: This section focuses on the intersection between suffering, love, and Christian hospitality. In imitation of Christ and his love, we ought to dwell among others in love, sharing Christ goodness as it has already been shared with us. That's what Christian hospitality is (the imitation of Christ) and is for (the sharing of Christ's goodness).

(This summary has been short b/c of character limit.)

Summary Ch. 4 Pt. 1: Butterfield recounts formative experiences in homes that she's had. She recalls the instability and danger of her parents' home, and how it was a place she never felt safe. She also recalls the home of her Christian friends Ken and Floy, whose home was inviting, peaceful, and worshipful. It is through this environment that she began to be curious about Christianity again.

Summary Ch 3. Pt.2: This section has three charges. First, to progressive Christians, to be more brave in embracing orthodoxy, as it is only the true teachings of Christ that change us. Second, to Christians, to not be coconspirators in the sins of post-modern self-identification. Third, also to Christians, to be ready to give up comforts and vacations in order to live out the Gospel through Christian hospitality...