For years I have followed Jen Schmidt on her blog, Balancing Beauty, and Bedlam.
As a (then) stay-at-home mom of two young boys struggling more days than not, I was drawn in by her transparency to share real life with a home overflowing with children and animals (now young adults) and stories of the crazy things that happen.
I’ve gleaned many great ideas over the years from Jen, everything from 10-minute meal ideas to frugal fashion tips. I’ve laughed about the son who had one of the worst roommate struggles ever. I’ve prayed for her as she openly shared their financial struggles in a season of unemployment.
She feels like a dear friend, even though we have yet to meet IRL (in real life). Maybe someday!
The cornerstone of Jen’s blog has always been one of true, often messy, authentic, hospitality.
When I heard she was writing a book and a Bible study I couldn’t wait to apply for the launch team!
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Just Open the Door: How One Invitation Can Change a Generation is a book you need to add to your reading list.
Actually, it’s a book you’ll want to dig into with your book club, women’s ministry team, and Bible study group too!
Just Open the Door is not just another book on entertaining or reaching out to your neighbors. It goes deeper, digging into the scriptures and examining the impact and legacy that can happen when we open our physical and metaphorical door.
As Jen says, “Biblical hospitality offers our best to Him first, understanding that our best to others will then fall into place…The posture we assume in hospitality is one that bends low, generously offering our heart to another despite whatever interruption to our own plans or comfort.”
Though Jen’s primary focus is on hospitality out of one’s heart and one’s home, I couldn’t help but ponder the power of hospitality in women’s ministry.
- Are we really offering Biblical, Jesus-like hospitality?
- How could we make some changes so that every woman that walks through the door feels truly welcomed?
- Are we giving our women enough time to connect when we eat together or are we rushing through the meal to get to the next item on the agenda?
- What would happen if we tried to break up our holy huddles by encouraging our team members to embrace the Rule of Three – talking to three new people they don’t know at every women’s ministry event? (Jen challenges herself to do this during her son’s football practices.)
- Jesus repeatedly used food as a tool to connect and teach people. How can we do the same?
Am I stepping on anyone’s toes, yet?
I highlighted many things in Just Open the Door, but this one of two quotes that I starred and ear-marked:
As women, our souls ache for an invitation to be included and welcomed. We possess a hidden longing for rooted relationships that journey through life with us.
Women’s ministry can, and should, offer that invitation and come alongside women in their journey.
Jen pushes readers beyond décor, food, and serving dishes, (though she does share fabulous tips about all three!) to examine the three main purposes of hospitality revealed in scripture:
- Encouragement to others
- Discipleship
- Evangelism
But is this how we’re approaching hospitality as a women’s ministry team? I think we’re often falling short… I know I’ve sat in on 15-minute napkin color debates without a concern for how the Gospel was going to be shared. Can you relate?
Ladies, it’s time “we reshape our preconceived notions about hospitality and align them with God’s Word.”
When our focus is on the décor and not the people walking through the door we are missing out on being a part of God’s plan.
Our goal should be to create a special place where people are welcomed into community and can encounter Jesus more fully.
Did you get that?! Yes! This is the goal! (And, yes, this is the other quote I dog-eared and starred.) Maybe you even want to re-write your women’s ministry mission statement to include this gem.
Whether God’s calling you to open the door of your home or open the door of your heart, this book will encourage and equip you to take steps of faith forward trusting God with the outcome. Because it’s really okay to invite people over to a messy house and use red solo cups.
For those of you interested in the Bible study. There is a Bible study kit available with 7 video sessions. Participants will only need the Open the Door Bible study book. You can get a glimpse at the Bible study sessions on LifeWay’s website here.
Disclosure: I received a copy of Just Open the Door for review from DaySpring. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.
You may also want to read:
Invite Your Women to the Turquoise Table
Answering the Call to Biblical Hospitality
One year ago: How to Get Women to Show Up
Two years ago: Book Review: Audacious (with a Bonus Study Guide)
Three years ago: Mission Project: Operation Sandwich
Four years ago: Reno Project #4: Updating Your Publicity
The videos for the “Just Open the Door” study will be available for free on the My Lifeway website from March 7, 2019 to May 31, 2019. That’s what led me to stumble across your post. It’s been nearly a year and your post is still just as helpful. You go, girl! Thanks for your insight
Thanks for the tip! A year later and I’m actually co-leading the Just Open the Door Bible Study at our church. <3 You're going to love the videos and the study! Our group is really enjoying it!
Thanks for the opportunity to win this book!
This is great! I love it.
I would love to win a copy of this book! I can’t wait to read it.
This is definitely on my list of books I want to read. 🙂 I’ve been convicted on this lately. I need to open my door more.
Would love to win a copy for our church and ladies ministry
I would love to win!
If I don’t win it will go on my “to-read” list….which grows all the time! Thank you for this opportunity to win and all of your great work!
Our group is just finishing Becoming Heart Sisters by Natalie Snapp. Your book would make a great follow-up. I live in a neighborhood where I am never invited to participate in anything.
Gwen…this hurts my heart… Praying you’ll be the catalyst for change in your neighborhood!
so many ways this could be used in ministry!
This looks like a great book for a ladies night out discussion.
This really tugs at my heart. I am contemplating retirement, a big change in my path. I need a new purpose in life and this just may be it!!
This comes at the perfect time.
I so need to read this! Thank you for the inspiration!
I enjoy reading your information, love the games, and all the wonderful information you provide for women’s ministry. I am solo pastor of small church and your toolbox has been very helpful in cultivating a good women’s ministry. I would love to win the book and do the bible series with my women group. thank you, thank you and thank you. You have been a life safer for my ministry. God continue to bless you abundantly. Pastor Persida
Thank you so much for all your insight and tips! I look forward to your emails and enjoy your website. This book sounds wonderful and I can’t wait to read it!
I always look forward to posts from your website Cyndee. Each time there are new ideas along with tried and proven ones as well. The book sounds great.
Deborah
I look forward to each of the posts from Women’s Ministry Toolbox. There are always great new ideas.
I’d love to read this new book
Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of, Just Open the Door. Engaging others, getting out
of “the box’, be what I need & crave. These things I constantly must work on….I want to love others
and my goal is striving to learn how to communicate this. I would be humbled to receive & share a copy of
this book.
This looks great, and I feel it is so imperative when teaching women that we focus more on His word, than the napkins!! Or even whose study we will be using! Theologically sound study and Bibles open with water in our red solo cups are what we desperately need… not fancy napkins or a well known name. We should be seeking His word and using that to reach women, first and foremost!
Oh Mylanta, I need to purchase me a copy of this book.
Very encoraging, yet challenging as well.
Thank you for sharing this with all of us.❤
Prayer fully I can win the book and do a bible study with the ladies from our church. Thanks
I’d love to use this as a door prize for an upcoming women’s study.
It sounds wonderful! Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
Christian hospitality seems to have gone by the wayside but I think we need it greatly. We just recently finished up a Lenten Bible Study with 5 couples at a home in our neighborhood and it helped me realize how much we are missing in fellowship in our homes. I know I will love reading “Just Open the Door”.
Looking forward to reading this book. Food has been MY ministry for the past 24 years. It opens up a lot of doors to people that wouldn’t normally talk to others. Praying that I will be the blessed recipient that wins this book.
I would love to have a copy of this book. If I don’t win, I’ll probably buy one!!!
This would be a great study for my ladies at our church. We are small and live in Ks. in the middle of nowhere. So I am excited to do this study with or without winning. It is something I will purchase. Thanks for the chance to win.
There are several ladies in my ministry who would love to read a book like this. We share books <3
Hmmmm…almost didn’t even respond because hospitality is NOT my strong suit…but that’s EXACTLY why I might read/use this book.
Would love a copy of this book. Always on the lookout for more good books on biblical hospitality.
Thank you for introducing me to this book and the author. And thanks for a chance to win a copy. Looks like this would be a great book for me to read and also for a study.
This sound like a book every leader needs!!
THis book sounds like a great resource for ministering to women!
Just last night I read that in order to influence future generations we must begin with this generation!
What a delightful book! I will share this with others! Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of this book!
I will be ordering a copy of this book. Hopefully I’m selected to receive a free one as well so I can share with the rest of the group! ?
Sounds like a great read!
Sounds wonderful and inspiring! I most certainly desire the book!
I love the idea of the Rule of 3 and something I look forward to encouraging our women to think about applying each Sunday morning. I think this is the book I have been looking for to launch a book club at our church. Thanks for sharing!
A great book to invite other ladies in my condo community & friends to take part in a Bible study. Stepping outside my box to let my light shine for Jesus
I read nvite Your Women to the Turquoise Table – loved it. Would love to win a copy of Just Open the door.
Can not wait to get a copy of this book what an inspiration and encouragement. Would love to win a copy!
I would love a copy of the book. It sounds like it my give me the push I need to put myself out there and ask.
This sounds like something I need to read. Am trying to find ways to get together with ladies in my semi-rural neighborhood. Need some inspiration and a push to do it!
Would love to win a copy of this book. Thanks!
Would love to win a copy. How often do we invite then ignore the women. We need to be intentional with our acts of hospitality to those new women and ones who have been around that seem to fall through the cracks in our ministries.,
Would love to have this book to learn more about showing hospitality to other women in my neighborhood & community.
Sounds great! Would love to read!
This sounds like a very worthy book. I would love to win a copy. I’m already considering the Bible study kit for our Wednesday night ladies group.
I would love to win a copy. My heart has always been on fellowship as an avenue to encourage and disciple women, Christian and non-Christian.
Would love to wing this book. So need to show hospitality wherever I am at the moment. Would love to share it with our Women’s Ministry Team and others in the church.
I would love to win a copy!
Wow! I can’t wait to read this book! Seems like what I need to share with my ladies at church!
I can’t wait to read this book. I am so excited to share it as well with all the women in church. I would love if I could win a copy it will be a dream come true.
I’m hearing so much goodness about this book! It sounds like a great resource to read and then to inspire others!
Would love to win a copy
I love this! I keep telling my teams, it’s about the “ask”. People want to know that you thought of them, that you took the time to ask them, or that you think they can accomplish whatever you are asking of them. This book idea resonates with me.