Building God's Table: Filling God's Table

 Luke 14:15-24 Common English Bible

When one of the dinner guests heard Jesus’ remarks, he said to Jesus, “Happy are those who will feast in God’s kingdom.”

Jesus replied, “A certain man hosted a large dinner and invited many people. When it was time for the dinner to begin, he sent his servant to tell the invited guests, ‘Come! The dinner is now ready.’ One by one, they all began to make excuses. The first one told him, ‘I bought a farm and must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I bought five teams of oxen, and I’m going to check on them. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ When he returned, the servant reported these excuses to his master. The master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go quickly to the city’s streets, the busy ones and the side streets, and bring the poor, crippled, blind, and lame.’ The servant said, ‘Master, your instructions have been followed and there is still room.’ The master said to the servant, ‘Go to the highways and back alleys and urge people to come in so that my house will be filled. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will taste my dinner.’”

The quote at the top of your bulletin from Martin Searcy is fascinating --- especially if we believe there is any truth to it.

He writes:

Not one person who comes through your door comes haphazardly. By sending that guest to you, God is giving you the privilege of cooperating with Him (God) to move someone forward in their journey toward Jesus.

Now before we argue over if God is indeed sending EVERY person in through the door with intentionality --- the bigger question is the second half.

Do we believe we have a responsibility for everyone who walks into our lives?

And I am not asking if we have a responsibility to “do” everything or provide everything for them --- No what I am asking is --- do we have a responsibility to be Jesus to them?

And the second question --- Do we have a responsibility to fill God’s table?

Over the past month we have talked about the importance of table fellowship

In my life --- I have witnessed to the power of the table over and over again, and I have shared a number of those stories.

Even yesterday I saw it once again

The Gathering of Men had their monthly meeting

What I love about the Gathering is that it is a diverse group --- 

made up of men of different ages --- OK mostly older guys

but of different political and theological bends

What brings this group together

To learn and grow about God and the world --- and each other

We don’t aways agree --- but we leave respecting and caring for one another

And seeking BETTER solutions

As we sat around the table yesterday I was reminded of the stories about Ronald Regan, when he was President, and Tip O’Neil (democratic speaker of the House)

They didn’t see eye to eye on many things

But they often got together and shared a meal to LISTEN to each other and seek to find compromise

Compromise once wasn’t a dirty word

Or the heresy that it is today

Why did it work?

Because there was respect and integrity

They SAW each other

And that rarely happens today

We neither see nor listen to the other ---

IF we see them at all --- we tend to put people into preconceived boxes

When we started this series, we were looking at the story right before our story this week --- do you remember?

It was the story in which Jesus encourages us not to just invite those who can “repay us” by reciprocating the invitation.

 

Jesus said:

“The next time you put on a dinner, don’t just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks. You’ll be—and experience—a blessing. They won’t be able to return the favor, but the favor will be returned—oh, how it will be returned!—at the resurrection of God’s people.” (The Message)

And then, in our story today Jesus tells us a parable and I believe we are left with a quandary.

The story seems pretty simple that Jesus tells.

A person arranges a wonderful dinner party and invites the usually suspects.

There isn’t anything out of the social norm of what he is doing.

But they all have excuses why they can’t come.

They’re too busy, wrapped up in all the usual concerns that make us not just pre-occupied but self-occupied.

I mean --- the excuses are pretty lame

Since none are going to show up --- the host --- clearly angered with his invitees --- sends out invitations to others.  And we are told the host says:

‘Quickly, get out into the city streets and alleys. Collect all who look like they need a square meal, all the misfits and homeless and down-and-out you can lay your hands on, and bring them here.’

All those who NEVER get invited to parties.

And the crazy thing is --- they come!

The host says there is still room --- so he sends his servant back out with the instructions:

“Then go to the country roads. Whoever you find, drag them in. I want my house full!”

It is a perplexing story!

The most common way this text is dealt with is to shame people 

--- QUIT MAKING EXCUSES

Excuses will get you excluded from the kingdom

“Let me tell you, not one of those originally invited is going to get so much as a bite at my dinner party.” (The Message)

So is this a message of EXCLUSION?

I don’t think so 

I think it is an invitation that God’s table is big enough 

If we have the courage to say YES

I may have told this story before --- and if I have I apologize, but I think it says what I want to say better than anything I can think of.

I heard Tony Campolo share this story probably close to forty years ago.

It’s about a trip that he made to Honolulu. 

Now for those of you who have traveled any distance, you know that sometimes it takes a few days for you to get acclimated to a new time zone.

Tony woke up his first morning in Hawaii, his body telling him it was time to get up, but the clock showing 3:30 in the morning. 

Since he was wide awake he went out looking for someplace to get some breakfast. 

As you can imagine, the only place that he could find open could safely be called a “greasy spoon.” 

The cook/waiter came up to him and said: “What d’ya want?” 

Deciding that the safest bet was a donut, Tony asked for one and a cup of coffee. 

While he was sipping his coffee and eating his donut, the door swung open and in marched a group of provocative and boisterous prostitutes. 

They sat down a short distance from Tony and he heard one of the women say: 

“Tomorrow’s my birthday. I am going to be thirty-nine.”

Her “friend” said, in a rather nasty tone: 

“So what do you want from me? A birthday party? What do you want? You want me to get you a cake and sing ‘Happy Birthday’?” 

“Come on!” the woman said. “Why do you have to be so mean? I was just telling you, that’s all. Why do you have to put me down? I was just telling you that it was my birthday. I don’t want anything from you. I mean, why should you give me a birthday party? I’ve never had a birthday party in my whole life. Why should I have one now?” 

After a while the women left. 

Tony said to the guy behind the counter: “Do they come in here every night?” 

“Yeah!” He said. 

“The one that was sitting right here, does she come in every night?” 

“Yeah, that’s Agnes. Yeah, she comes in here every night. Why d’ya want to know?” 

“Because I heard her say that tomorrow is her birthday. What do you say that you and I do something about that? What do you think about us throwing a birthday party for her – right here – tomorrow night?” 

The guy said sure. 

“Look, if it is OK with you, I’ll get back here tomorrow morning about 2:30 and decorate the place. I’ll even get a birthday cake!” 

“No way,” said Harry (that was his name), “The Birthday cake’s my thing. I’ll make the cake.” 

At 2:30 the next morning Tony returned to the diner and began setting up decorations, including a sign made out of cardboard that read: “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AGNES!” 

At 3:15 every prostitute in Honolulu was in the place. 

And at 3:30 on the dot, the door of the diner swung open and in came Agnes and her friend and everyone in the place shouted HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 

Campolo says: 

Never have I seen a person so flabbergasted . . . so stunned . . . so shaken. Her mouth fell open. Her legs seemed to buckle a bit. Her friend grabbed her arm to steady her. As she was led to sit on one of the stools along the counter we all sang “Happy Birthday” to her. As we came to the end of our singing with “happy birthday dear Agnes, Happy Birthday to you,” her eyes moistened. Then, when the birthday cake with all the candles on it was carried out, she lost it and just openly cried. 

Harry mumbled, “Blow out the candles, Agnes! Come on! Blow out the Candles! If you don’t blow out the candles, I’m gonna hafta blow out the candles.” 

After a few moments --- he did! 

Then he handed her a knife and told her, “Cut the cake, Agnes. Yo, Agnes, we all want some cake.” 

Agnes looked down at the cake. Then without taking her eyes off it, she slowly said, “Look, Harry, is it all right with you if I . . . I mean is it OK if I kind of . . . what I want to ask you is . . . is it OK if I keep the cake a little while? I mean is it all right if we don’t eat it right away?” 

Harry shrugged and answered, “Sure! It’s OK if you want to keep the cake, keep the cake. Take it home if you want to.” 

“Can I?” she asked. Then, looking at me she said, “I just live down the street a couple of doors. I want to take the cake home, OK? I'll be right back. Honest!” 

She got off the stool, picked up the cake, and, carrying it like it was the Holy Grail, walked slowly toward the door. As we all stood motionless, she left. 

Tony said: Not knowing what else to do, I broke the silence by saying, ‘What do you say we pray?’” 

When Tony finished, Harry leaned over the counter and with a trace of hostility in his voice, said: “Hey! You never told me that you were a preacher. What kind of church do you belong to?” 

“I belong to a church that throws birthday parties for prostitutes at 3:30 in the morning.” 

Harry sneered as he answered, “No you don’t! There’s no church like that. If there was, I’d join it. I’d join a church like that.”

That, to me, is GRACE.

Unmerited assistance --- unmerited love

That’s the kind of table that the Christ sets for the world

And he wants to know --- are you coming?

Building God's Table: A Table Filled with Joy

 Genesis 18:1-15 Common English Bible

The Lord appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre while he sat at the entrance of his tent in the day’s heat. He looked up and suddenly saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them, he ran from his tent entrance to greet them and bowed deeply. He said, “Sirs, if you would be so kind, don’t just pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought so you may wash your feet and refresh yourselves under the tree. Let me offer you a little bread so you will feel stronger, and after that you may leave your servant and go on your way—since you have visited your servant.”

They responded, “Fine. Do just as you have said.”

So Abraham hurried to Sarah at his tent and said, “Hurry! Knead three seahs of the finest flour and make some baked goods!” Abraham ran to the cattle, took a healthy young calf, and gave it to a young servant, who prepared it quickly. Then Abraham took butter, milk, and the calf that had been prepared, put the food in front of them, and stood under the tree near them as they ate.

They said to him, “Where’s your wife Sarah?”

And he said, “Right here in the tent.”

Then one of the men said, “I will definitely return to you about this time next year. Then your wife Sarah will have a son!”

Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were both very old. Sarah was no longer menstruating. So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, I’m no longer able to have children and my husband’s old.

The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Me give birth? At my age?’ Is anything too difficult for the Lord? When I return to you about this time next year, Sarah will have a son.”

Sarah lied and said, “I didn’t laugh,” because she was frightened.

But he said, “No, you laughed.”

As many of you know, I am a pretty serious guy.  

I take life and my calling seriously

I don’t easily laugh --- and doubt I ever have been, or ever will be considered the life of the party.

If anything, I am pretty steady and pretty consistent

Because of that, I am fascinated by stories like this one found in the book of Genesis.

This is the story of one woman’s laughter in the face of the unexpected. 

Strangers come and visit Abraham and Sarah. 

Earlier, the couple had left their home --- in the Tigris – Euphrates area for a new land that God had promised to them, 

As they were leaving their home God had told Abraham that he would be the father of many nations --- even though he had no children.

After their long journey --- Abraham and Sarah welcome these strangers by showing hospitality.

They prepare a meal of cakes, milk and meat. 

While they feast, the strangers share that Abraham’s wife Sarah will soon bear a son. 

When Sarah overhears their table conversation, --- she laughs out loud at the idea of finally having a child in her old age. 

Remember, earlier we were told that Abraham was currently 100 years old and Sarah was 90 --- 

I think I would be laughing too!

But the truth is, her laughter is born not out of joy but rather out of her pain. 

It’s not the laughter we would expect when being told that you would become pregnant, 

even though at 90 years old, that is downright funny.

No, Sarah’s laughter is one that could just as easily be tears. 

What was her pain? 

Sarah was childless and God had made the seemingly ridiculous promise that Abraham’s offspring would populate the world and be in a special relationship with God.

Remember, Abraham already has a child --- born to Sarah’s slave Hagar --- Sarah gave her slave to Abraham because she was old and barren.

That son is Ishmael, and he becomes the father of the Muslims

When Sarah does have a child, she names him Isaac, which means, “he laughs.” 

Sarah says: 

“God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me” (Genesis 21:6).

Frederick Buechner describes this kind of laughter as the kind of comedy that brings

“tears at the hilarious unexpectedness of things rather than at their tragic expectedness.” 

For each of us, God works in unexpected ways. 

I have no idea how God has broken into your life --- your experiences are yours and NO ONE else can interpret them for you.

Neither I nor anyone else can tell you the meaning of your painful experiences or how to respond to them. 

However, we can listen and laugh or cry with you.

But they are your experiences --- your reality 

Sarah’s laughter and her choice to name her son, Isaac --- LAUGHTER --- were ways she responded to her experience --- and made meaning of it alongside God. 

God promises that God is with us in the good and the bad of life and offers to help us make meaning of our experiences --- even when they seem ridiculous or unlikely!

Last week, Nancy and I celebrated 36 years of marriage.

I have been blessed with an amazing friend and partner on this journey.

We got married seven months after the death of my brother Stewart.

I was still grieving for his death.

And she was there every step of the way.

When I would share ridiculous stories about hearing him, or smelling him, or even seeing him on the street --- she didn’t laugh at me --- she laughed and cried with me.  

There is no greater gift!

A couple of years later, our daughter Jessica was born.

As the doctor turned to me in the delivery room and asked me what her name was to be ---I quickly answered --- Jessica Hope Conger

As I said that, Nancy looked at me --- perplexed --- because that was not the name we had chosen

We had decided on Jessica Lauren

But in that moment, God whispered into my ear (and I listened!) and together we laughed at death --- because every time I look at my daughter --- actually any of my daughters, their partners and my grandchildren --- I see the HOPE for the world.

Together, as a community --- we have a powerful opportunity to listen to other people as we sit together at the table.

Listening, and encouraging them to feel the presence of God who is with them through the unexpected moments of their lives.

We aren’t there to tell them how to act or respond to their pain.

We are there to share

To laugh

To Cry

And to help see how God works in and through us --- in all aspects of life.

In a few moments --- we are going to honor and celebrate a giant of Meridian Street.

No she isn’t tall enough to play basketball with the Indiana Fever

But she is a giant in our lives for the gifts that she has shared.

So let us laugh --- and cry --- as we celebrate Miriam and the ways God has been present in her life --- making us all better for it!

Building God's Table: Who's Table Do You Think It Is

 Luke 24:28-35 Common English Bible

When they came to Emmaus, he acted as if he was going on ahead. But they urged him, saying, “Stay with us. It’s nearly evening, and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. After he took his seat at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts on fire when he spoke to us along the road and when he explained the scriptures for us?”

They got up right then and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying to each other, “The Lord really has risen! He appeared to Simon!” Then the two disciples described what had happened along the road and how Jesus was made known to them as he broke the bread.

Throughout the story of Jesus --- there is one common thread that seems to bind most of the important stories in Jesus’ life together

FOOD

Think about it

It seems that whenever something major is happening or being taught it is centered around a table

In the Gospel of Luke alone there are 10 stories of Jesus dining with people

And that is not counting all the meals that are found in the parables

Just to name a few:

Mary & Martha story

When the disciples argue over who is most important

When we are asked who should be invited to a party (our story last week)

Prodigal son

The last supper

Virtually every post resurrection story of Jesus centers on food --- including our story today

Why is food --- or maybe we should say TABLE FELLOWSHIP

Why is it so important?

It certainly isn’t a new question --- Mark tells us this story

Jesus sat down to eat at Levi’s house. Many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples. Indeed, many of them had become his followers. When some of the legal experts from among the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why is he eating with sinners and tax collectors?”

When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. I didn’t come to call righteous people, but sinners.” 

(Mark 2:15-17 CEB)

What I find fascinating in this story is that Jesus seems to be proclaiming --- that table fellowship is vital to his mission.  

And that by accepting his invitation --- his guests are invited to partake not only in the meal --- but also his mission.

This emphasis on table fellowship was not the invention of Jesus --- it was a part of the fabric of first century Jewish life

New Testament scholar Joachim Jeremias described it this way: 

“in Judaism in particular, table-fellowship means fellowship before God, for the eating of a piece of broken bread by everyone who shares in the meal brings out the fact that they all share in the blessing which the master of the house has spoken over the unbroken bread.”

Last Sunday I shared how Jesus tried to turn some of the boundaries of table fellowship upside down --- reminding us that the table MUST be open to everyone --- not just a particular group or class.

EP Saunders, in his book The Historical Figure of Jesus, suggests that the existing importance of the meal in first century Palestinian culture as a communal, bond-strengthening events for guests and hosts --- provided the perfect vehicle for Jesus to express his central message of the kingdom of God in a way understandable to all levels of socio-cultural society.

Sarah Sahu in her article Life in the Kingdom: Meal as Realization of Jesus’ Mission writes:

Jesus’ table fellowship was a symbol of the Kingdom of God that he preached. His open fellowship was symbolic of the joyous union that God intends for his creation, and demonstrated the praxis by which the realization of the Kingdom can be fulfilled—through the mercy and grace of God shared with creation. Through the meal, Jesus broke through the boundaries constructed by his socio-cultural society, and even in the hearts of the ‘sinners,’ proclaiming a Kingdom whose arrival should not be dreaded through fear of chastisement, but through welcome and in hope of transformation. Modern day disciples are called to continue this open fellowship—to do otherwise would be an act against hope, and thus contrary to Jesus’ own actions and teachings. His dinner guests may continue to respond throughout the ages to Jesus’ invitation, “Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”

That was a mouthful

Meals are important for Jesus because they are transformational.

When we gather together around a table ---

When we share in a meal

We break down the barriers that can hold us back from experiencing the power and glory of God’s kin-dom.

When I think back on my life 

--- some of the most important events happened around a table.

And for me

It all started at the family dinner table

A place that was safe

A place where opinions could be shared

And even tried out

For many of us --- the family dinner table was that place where we grew up

Where we were transformed from being a kid to being an adult

Because I was blessed to learn the importance of table fellowship --- many, many important events in my life have happened while breaking bread with a brother or sister.

Close to 20 years ago, John Mybeck, Steve Rogers and I, sat down for breakfast at the Commander Restaurant in Munster Indiana.

The Commander was one of those typical Greek family run breakfast places that had some of the best (and reasonably priced) food around

We gathered to dream.

At that point I had been at Ridge UMC for at about 4 years

We had grown

And were facing the limitations that our current building had on our imaginations

At that meeting --- we dreamed of building a fellowship hall type of building

One that could be utilized by BOTH the church and the community.

We left that breakfast no longer with a dream --- but the beginnings of a vision

Many breakfasts later

With more and different people included

Ridge Church built their fellowship hall

--- it has been a godsend to the community

But those same transformational meals have taken place here

Sometime --- Pre-pandemic, Geoff DeSmit and I had lunch with someone we felt God was leading us toward 

The purpose of the lunch was to see if she could help us find someone to manage the communications of the church

To be honest --- neither of us knew her very well

But we were both feeling a tug from God

It was a marvelous lunch --- and transformational

For shortly thereafter – Kristin Sims (aka Special K) joined the staff

What a blessing

Have I told you before how blessed you are with the lay staff here at Meridian Street?

All of them are AMAZING!

Next Sunday we get to honor one of them for their commitment to Meridian Street Church

We get to honor Miriam and thank her for years of dedicated service to Meridian Street and the Bell choir.

I not only get to work with them --- but I get to call them FRIEND!

There is no greater gift!

In our crazy resurrection story today --- two men are walking from Jerusalem toward the village of Emmaus --- it is a strange, bizarre story that has some crazy twists to it.

If you haven’t already --- I encourage you to read all of Chapter 24 of Luke

It is post resurrection, and we find two men walking --- they are leaving Jerusalem because it seems as if they have no reason to stay

Jesus is dead

The mission is over

As they are walking a stranger joins them

And we get the first real twist to this story

Luke tells us that “their eyes were kept from recognizing him.”

The verb is in the passive voice

And even more strangely --- we are not told WHY!

Why could they not recognize Jesus.

• Were they so grieved by their experience and so sure that Jesus was gone that they simply didn’t expect him? 

• Did Jesus look different after the resurrection? 

• Was his face transformed? 

• Was Jesus wearing a mask with a goofy mustache? 

We just don’t know. 

Luke does not tell us.

And if that wasn’t strange enough --- this stranger asked them what they have been talking about.

They are stunned

Does this person not know what has happened?

Again listen carefully to the verb tense Luke uses:

“we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.”

HAD HOPED

They KNOW the tomb is empty and had heard stories of his resurrection

BUT THEY HAD HOPED!

Then, to and another of layer of weirdness to this story --- this stranger begins to explain how Jesus fulfills Jewish expectation

But they still don’t know who this person is.

Night is drawing close, and they are almost to Emmaus and the stranger appears like he is going to continue down the road --- when they invite this stranger to come and stay with them for the evening.

Listen as Eric Barreto describes the scene in his commentary on this passage:

They exhort Jesus to stay with them. They offer hospitality to one whom they believe is a stranger. They offer to be hosts to this traveling companion and “new” friend.

But as soon as the table is set, Jesus upends the expected social roles. He becomes the host by blessing the bread and sharing it. Now, remember, they still don’t know that they are dining with Jesus once again; they don’t realize that their dashed hopes are restored in the resurrected body of this “stranger.”

But when Jesus does the most Jesus thing of all, everything changes.

He continues:

One of the most characteristic activities of Jesus’ ministry in Luke is eating. He is accused early in the Gospel of being a glutton and a drunkard (7:34); worse, he eats with all the wrong people! So, it’s instructive that it’s not his teaching that open their eyes. It’s not his presence. It’s his sharing of bread with his friends. It’s his blessing of food. In this sharing of bread at an ordinary table, we catch a glimpse of Jesus’ transformative kingdom.

In Luke, eating is a radical act because it breaks down cultural boundaries. In Luke, the resurrected Jesus shares that bread once again with his followers. And in feeding them, Jesus opens their eyes, helping them see that Jesus was with them the whole time.

I am convinced that our job --- mine and yours --- is to create opportunities for table fellowship.

To help people to SEE Jesus

And we can do that in a variety of ways:

Whether that is putting together dinners to welcome Pastor Rachel

Or helping to ensure the success of our summer camp program

SOLD OUT!!!!

105 families --- over 85% are not connected to Meridian Street.

God is giving us a HUGE opportunity to share the love of Jesus

And it will happen over snacks more than anywhere else

As Frank reminded us last week --- some of the most foundational groundwork of faith take place at the snack table at VBS or things like Summer Camp

How many of you FOUND Jesus around a table at Camp Otto that changed your life forever?

So please --- keep this exciting new ministry in your prayer

And if you can

Volunteer your time to help at camp or VBS

Or support them by purchasing items on the wish list

I am convinced that our job --- mine and yours --- is to create opportunities for table fellowship.

To create safe spaces --- for people to experience Jesus