“‘But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’”
Luke 14:13-14
The Table: Introduction
On September 30th, Pastor Brian launched a sermon called “The Table.” In Luke 14, Jesus tells two stories about banquets. These stories tell us a lot about the culture of that time period and point out the flaws in the system. Pastor Brian showed how this story is pointing towards the Great Banquet Table - God’s banquet table. This is a table of inclusion and of provision. All are invited to sit at the table…but the only way to sit at the table is to accept the invitation.
The Table: Worship
On October 14th, Pastor Brian preached the second part of “The Table” with a focus on Worship. At the heavenly banquet, the primary focus will not be on fellowship or eating, but on worshipping God. Worship involves three primary components: attitude, action, and awe. Our lives should worship our Creator. Our lives should worship the One who raised Christ from the dead. Our lives should worship the One who came to earth for us.
The Table: Service
When we eat at a restaurant or attend a dinner party at a friend’s home, we notice how attentive the server or host/hostess is. At the heavenly table, God is the perfect host, having made every preparation imaginable. But God has invited us to be participants in the preparation, invitation, and the celebration. After all, we are better together.