Rom 12:13 "seek to show hospitality"
Rom 15:7 "welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God"
1 Pet. 4:9 "Show hospitality to one another without grumbling"
Heb 13:2 'show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares".
What is hospitality? "Providing a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere of kindness without expecting anything in return". (p.100)
So who would you invite?
Anyone.... members, non-members, guests, members of the governing body (elders/deacons) and such like. Invite one or more. Encourage the building of friendships.
When you ask people to come (unless very spontaneous), find out if there are food allergies and work around them.
If you ask, you are showing thoughtfulness, and that denotes kindness.
Keep your meal simple. The focus is on being kind and encouraging relationships, not on providing an elaborate meal.
Enlist the help of family to tidy up the house.
Get to know your guests, encourage them to help if they so wish to, ask questions of where they are from, what they do for a living and such forth.
You might want to consider having a guest book, something for people to sign showing they have been there. Gives you something to look back on with fondness.
My Thoughts:
I have to admit, this is a hard one for me... the whole hospitality thing. It's something that I have to work hard at. I'd rather people stay out of my house and I can go visit them. Then I don't have to worry about them gossiping about how the pastor's wife does, or does not, keep her house up. It also gives me the ability to leave when I just want to go and not have to wait for others to decide to get up and out.
BUT my needs or wants are not what this is about. it's about being kind to others. That's all it is. Can I work at being kind to others even in my house?