At the Door with Pastor Ben Carruthers

What if the heart of Christmas isn’t a slammed door but a home that made space when it mattered most? We take a fresh, text-driven look at the Nativity and discover how a single Greek word—kataluma—shifts the scene from a hostile inn to a crowded family guest room in Bethlehem. That shift reframes everything: instead of rejection, we see courageous hospitality that risked reputation to welcome a scandal-marked couple into community.

From there, we bring the story to our own thresholds. We talk honestly about how busyness blinds us to the small moments that save lives, why pride keeps us from the hug or apology that heals, and how grief can fill the doorway until it’s all we see. Along the way, we share vivid stories—a split-second train-window decision, a parenting standoff softened by compassion—that show how ordinary choices become holy when we slow down, notice, and act. The message is simple and demanding: make room. Open the door. Let love interrupt your plans.

You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of the biblical context, practical ways to practice countercultural welcome, and a grounded hope that Emmanuel meets us in the mess, not after it’s cleaned up. If you’ve ever wondered how to live the Nativity rather than just admire it, this conversation offers both clarity and courage.

If this resonated with you, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a reminder to make room, and leave a review to help others find it. Who’s at your door this week?

Join us! Facebook | Instagram | www.clcelkriver.org