This past weekend I had the privilege of going to the Expositor's Conference in Mobile, Alabama. I met my dad down there and we attended the conference and, as a result, were tremendously blessed and encouraged. I would like to take a few minutes over the next week or so and give a few lessons that I learned from listening to and observing Steve Lawson.First, I learned to be warmly hospitable and tenderly loving towards family and friends. This sounds so simple. It sounds so easy. Yet as I observed Dr. Lawson on Sunday night as he interacted with his wife and the other ladies from their church who served some of us guys dinner, I was encouraged by his warm spirit and gentleness with them.
Ephesians 4:1-2 walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love,
Furthermore, I recognized that a spirit of hospitality is more than simply opening the door and having someone over for a meal. Before our meal we interacted with Dr. Lawson for a while as well as after the meal we moved to his living room for a time of Q&A. It was a wonderful time. He guided the conversation and shared his heart with us. It was wonderful.
Specifically, he had studied for the whole day before we arrived and then when we came, he graciously hosted us until about 11:00pm hanging out with us guys, talking with us, showing us how he prepares sermons, and where he does much of his writing.
So, it sounds simple, easy and mundane, but as I observed Dr. Lawson and his gracious hospitality and his tender love throughout the evening, it was a great example to me of what Paul means when he says that a minister of Jesus Christ ought to:
1 Timothy 3:2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
