We have been blessed over the last year with a steady stream of visitors to our assemblies.

Some of these are folks from other congregations in the area or abroad who are just passing through.

Others, like Paul when he arrived in Jerusalem (), are Christians seeking to join themselves with a group of saints in the work and worship of the Lord.

Still others are Christians who have left the Lord and are “trying out” congregations looking for a place to make their return.

And still more are people who are searching for some kind of religion in their life—they know not what for sure except that they need something. They come because we’re convenient, or because they’re your neighbor, or because you invited them, or because they’ve just heard about us somehow.

All of these people are prospects—in different ways.

We owe hospitality to the saints who visit from other places. They are prospects for the fulfillment of Paul’s instructions concerning Phoebe, “receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints” ().

Saints who are searching for a body of believers with whom to join ranks are prospects for our encouragement. Saul was kept at arm’s length by the disciples in Jerusalem when he sought to join himself to their ranks. They were suspicious of him. But Barnabas, the “son of encouragement,” took him in and recommended him to the saints who at last received him. We, like they, can’t help those whom we don’t receive warmly.

Those who are straying, whether wayward disciples or wandering sinners, are prospects for our hospitality, our encouragement, our instruction. But we can’t teach those that we don’t receive. And it’s hard to convict, much less convert, those who don’t know you care. They need to know of our genuine interest in them and our sincere appreciation for their interest in seeking the Lord.

Well, what shall we do? How can we help them?

Be observant. Watch for those who are unfamiliar to you. Welcome them warmly. The difference between a visitor and a guest is that a guest is welcomed, a visitor is just here. Nobody should leave our assembly feeling like a visitor.

Be interested. Someone who visits has faced their fear of coming to an unfamiliar place, meeting unfamiliar people, and hearing a potentially unfamiliar message. Such people are worthy of receiving your energy and attention. Be interested in them and you’ll be interesting. Interest yourself in them and you’ll interest them in returning.

Be kind. Do something for a visitor that makes them say, “They didn’t have to do that.” Offer them your seat or ask them to come sit by you. Escort them to their Bible class. Recommend The Family Together booklet. Introduce them to the elders or to another family. Invite them to lunch with your family. When our conduct says to visitors, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool” ().

Be reverent. “If therefore the whole church should assemble together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?” (). How many a visitor has left the assembly never to return because of the irreverence of neighboring teens who were permitted to play during the worship or because of a general feeling that the worshipers were playing church? If we have no respect for the Lord’s worship and if reverence for God is not communicated in our assembly we not only don’t teach our guests such respect, we offer the Lord sacrifices that are lame and blind.

Be observant, be interested, be kind, be reverent as you consider the presence of our visitors today. They are prospects for our attention, our hospitality, our encouragement, our teaching. Go out of your way to make them feel a part, so that they leave our company “declaring that God is certainly among” us ().