As Gateway steps into a new year, Dominic Jackson invites the church to reflect on a simple but searching question: what kind of community are we becoming? Through two contrasting stories—one of radical welcome and one of painful rejection—he explores how the church can either embody the heart of Jesus or distort it. Drawing from Hebrews 13, Dominic reframes hospitality not as entertaining or hosting, but as something far deeper: loving the stranger as family, not just making space for them, but making them feel like they already belong.

In a culture marked by loneliness, fear, and disconnection, this vision of hospitality is both urgent and costly. Dominic challenges us to move beyond surface-level friendliness into real, shared life—where invitations are accepted, relationships are pursued, and community is formed across differences. Whether you tend to hold others at a distance or struggle to let others in, this sermon is an invitation to become the kind of church where people don’t just visit—they find a home.