Divine Encounters at the Welcoming Church

I’m always amazed at how many people serve at a welcoming church. And today I want to look at what we’re doing from a heavenly perspective. Let’s consider something that God wanted us to know…

Hebrews 13:2 “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers,
for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!”

Hospitality is not just a friendly hello—it’s holy ground. Hebrews 13:2 reminds us that when we welcome strangers, we may actually be hosting heavenly messengers. But even if they aren’t angels, they are souls made in God’s image, eternal beings whom Christ died to redeem. The way we greet them should echo the way Christ has welcomed us: open-armed, genuine, and full of grace (Romans 15:7).

From God’s perspective, every encounter is a “divine appointment.” It’s not just random strangers that wander through our doors. They are people God loves who have been drawn by the Holy Spirit. And God entrusts them to us for a moment that may open the door to eternity. That means the few seconds we have matter. We can either draw a heart closer to Christ or leave it untouched.

Luke 15:7 “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

When you stand at a church door, in the lobby, or the parking lot, you’re not just greeting strangers—you’re stepping into eternity’s work. Every handshake, every smile, every word you speak may be part of someone’s first encounter with the love of Christ. Think about that: an eternal friend you don’t know yet is about to walk through those doors.

So how do we talk to eternal friends we don’t know yet? By listening more than speaking. By showing interest in them rather than talking about ourselves. By being willing to step into their world, not just inviting them into ours. Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is to remember someone’s name, make eye contact, and truly care about their answer when we ask, “What brought you here today?” or “Do you know where you’re headed?”

Consider these examples of divine encounters from the scriptures:

Genesis 14:17-24; Hebrews 7:1-10 – Abraham meets Melchizedek, King of Salem, who blesses him with bread and wine. – God reveals through Melchizedek a foreshadowing of Christ’s eternal priesthood, showing that salvation would come through a greater, heavenly Mediator.

Genesis 24:10-67 – Abraham’s servant meets Rebekah at the well while seeking a bride for Isaac. – God sovereignly directs the servant’s path to fulfill His covenant promise, ensuring the continuation of the Abrahamic line through which Messiah would come.

Genesis 37:12-36; 39:1–23; 41:1–44 – Joseph is sold by his brothers and later meets Pharaoh through a chain of “coincidences.” – God uses each meeting—from the prison to Pharaoh’s court—to preserve Israel during famine, securing the covenant people and the coming Redeemer’s lineage.

Exodus 3:1-12 – Moses encounters God in the burning bush while tending sheep. – A routine day becomes the turning point of redemptive history as God commissions Moses to deliver His people from bondage, foreshadowing Christ our Deliverer.

Joshua 2; 6:22–25; Matthew 1:5 – The spies meet Rahab in Jericho and find refuge in her home. – Rahab’s faith leads to her salvation and inclusion in the line of Christ, demonstrating God’s grace to repentant Gentiles.

Ruth 2:1-23; 4:9–22 – Ruth “happens” to glean in the field of Boaz. – God’s providence leads to the redemption of Ruth and Naomi and the birth of Obed, ancestor of David and ultimately of Jesus Christ.

1 Samuel 9:1-27 – Saul goes searching for lost donkeys and meets the prophet Samuel. – God uses this simple errand to appoint Israel’s first king, setting the stage for David’s later kingship and the promise of Christ’s eternal throne.

Esther 2:21-23; 6:1–3 – Mordecai overhears a plot against King Ahasuerus and reports it. – God preserves His covenant people through what seemed a minor act of loyalty, ensuring Israel’s survival and the Messianic line.

1 Kings 17:7-24 – Elijah meets the widow of Zarephath during a famine. – God sustains both prophet and widow, reveals His power over life and death, and extends His mercy to Gentiles—anticipating the gospel’s worldwide reach.

2 Kings 5:1-15 – Naaman, a Syrian general, meets the prophet Elisha through a captive girl’s testimony. – God heals Naaman’s leprosy, displaying His saving power to the nations and showing that faith, not heritage, brings cleansing.

Daniel 2:1-30 – Daniel meets Nebuchadnezzar to interpret his troubling dream. – The pagan king learns that the Most High rules over kingdoms, and Daniel’s witness strengthens the faith of exiles awaiting God’s kingdom.

Luke 1:26-38 – Mary meets the angel Gabriel with an announcement from heaven. – The incarnation of Christ is set in motion through her humble obedience—God entering human history to redeem mankind.

John 1:43-51 – Philip brings Nathanael to Jesus after a casual invitation to “come and see.” – A skeptical seeker meets the Messiah and becomes a disciple, reminding us that simple invitations can open the door to eternal life.

John 4:4-42 – Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well. – A chance encounter becomes a spiritual awakening; one woman’s testimony leads an entire village to faith in Christ.

Luke 19:1-10 – Jesus calls out to Zacchaeus, who had merely wanted a better view. – A curious tax collector finds forgiveness and transformation, showing that no sinner is beyond Christ’s reach.

Luke 24:13-35 – Two disciples meet the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus. – Jesus opens their eyes and their hearts, establishing the pattern of recognizing Him through the Word and fellowship.

Acts 8:26-40 – Philip meets the Ethiopian official on a desert road. – The gospel reaches a new nation; the Scriptures are opened, and a soul is saved and baptized by divine appointment.

Acts 9:10-19 – Ananias of Damascus meets the blinded Saul. – Saul’s sight is restored, his calling confirmed, and the great apostle to the Gentiles is sent forth.

Acts 10:1-48 – Peter meets Cornelius, a Roman centurion seeking truth. – God opens the door of salvation to the Gentiles, fulfilling His promise that the gospel is for “all nations.”

Acts 16:13-15 – Paul meets Lydia at the riverside in Philippi. – The first convert in Europe is saved, and the Philippian church is born—another link in God’s chain of global redemption.

Acts 18:24-28 – Priscilla and Aquila meet Apollos, an eloquent but incomplete teacher. – Their quiet discipleship strengthens Apollos’ understanding, multiplying gospel fruit throughout the early Church.

And there are many others. Millions of these divine encounters have happened without being recorded. But we will hear about them in heaven because God remembers our labors of love (Hebrews 6:10) Every encounter in our life could be an Emmaus road or a desert-chariot moment. Pray, listen, ask good questions, open Scripture when God gives the opening, and trust the Lord of providence to turn “random” encounters into eternally significant ones.

You are more than the serve team. You are ambassadors of heaven. You are living stones in the household of faith. You are brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ. Every Sunday, you stand between the lost and the Lord’s loving welcome. You are the first face of grace they may see today.

Let’s Pray: “Lord, help us be faithful to the divine encounters you have arranged today.
Help us welcome strangers with an open heart that mirrors your love for us. Amen!