Ever talked yourself out of having someone over because the house isn't tidy, the food won't be good enough, or you just don't have the energy? Dan Orange gets it. And he's got a refreshingly honest take on why biblical hospitality looks nothing like a dinner party.
In this warm and practical conversation, Dan — who grew up as a pastor's kid in a house church full of "aunties and uncles" who weren't actually family — unpacks what the Bible really says about welcoming others. From Abraham running to meet strangers to Jesus' stark words in Matthew 25, Dan shows that genuine hospitality isn't about impressing people. It's about not walking past them.
The Conversation Street discussion takes things further with brilliant practical wisdom — including Matt Edmundson's concept of "fridge rights" and Will Sopwith's front-garden barbecue that connected neighbours who'd never spoken. Whether you're an extrovert who loves a full house or an introvert who needs recharging time, there's something here for you.
Dan addresses the pressure many of us feel around hospitality — the clean house, the perfect meal, the social performance.
"When we entertain strangers, we don't know how much we're doing. Sometimes it's an actual meeting with angels, sometimes it's just food, sometimes it's the love that those people at the time needed more than anything."
What we explore:
Key takeaway: The best hospitality has no motive behind it other than love.
Dan tells the story of the paralysed man whose friends ripped apart someone's roof to get him to Jesus — and asks what the homeowner's response would have been.
"I want to be in that first response, the blue plaque response. But sometimes I'm too worried about what it would do to my house, my reputation, my family."
What we discover:
Key takeaway: God can bring extraordinary things out of what feels like a messy, inconvenient moment.
Dan flips the conversation. Hospitality isn't just about giving — it's about learning to accept help, gifts, and generosity from others.
"If you can't receive, then you're not allowing someone to give."
Honest talk about:
Key takeaway: Receiving is part of hospitality, not the opposite of it.
The community digs into the practicalities with stories, questions, and honest reflections on what hospitality looks like in real life.
Highlights include:
