Recap of Parts 1&2 Over the past few weeks we've been considering an adaptation of a pamphlet I wrote some time ago, entitled "Kitchen Table Evangelists - Be One." In pt. 1 we considered the importance of inviting unbelieving neighbors, friends, or colleagues into our homes to share a meal together. We noted that this was not only a good way to do evangelism but also a very simple way. Moreover, sharing a meal with others was something that the Lord Jesus often did in His earthly ministry. For Christ these meals not only embodied God's generous grace but they also enacted God's mission. Before wrapping up last time we noted the first of five specifics about what meal-sharing accomplishes. Today we move on to consider the remainder of that list before concluding our consideration of this topic. Just incase you missed them.... click to read part one click to read part two what sharing a meal does - 5 specifics1. Meals Are The Great EqualizerWe covered this one last time. Want to reread it? 2. Meals Build Community
A friend is someone we depend on and food helps remind us of just how dependent we are on others - people like farmers, truck-drivers, shopkeepers, cooks, etc. And each time we bow our heads and pray before a meal we are acknowledging that over and above all we are dependent on God. Simply stated, we need to "refuel" or die. Refueling is a great blessing from heaven. 3. Meals Exemplify God's Lavish Grace Though food is fuel, food is much more than just fuel. Think of all your favorite foods. Think about the great diversity that exists in all things delicious. From chocolate to chops from apples to asparagus, from pumpkin pie to pork roast, from ham and eggs to turkey and gravy – God is wonderfully lavish in His creativity and generosity. It has always been this way, you know. God’s first act after creating humanity was to present us with a menu: the fruit of all the trees in the garden. Every meal is an opportunity to receive God’s good gifts with thankfulness and to acknowledge His grace. Food is also an opportunity for human creativity and generosity to display the lavish grace of the Creator. 4. Meals Exemplify Our Neediness
5. Meals Are a Great Gospel MetaphorIt is against the backdrop of food-gone-wrong that we see the Gospel in which God promises a feast. Again and again in the Bible, salvation is pictured as a feast with God. When God leads the Israelites out of Egypt, the leaders of the people are invited up to Mount Sinai to eat and drink with God. Even before this, the rescue from slavery in Egypt was commemorated with a meal, the Passover. Fast forward to the high point of Israelite history, in the reign of Solomon. During this period we are told in I Kings 4:20, ‘the people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy.’ Even when things begin to unravel, God promised in Isaiah 25:6-8 another meal on a mountain, ‘a feast of rich food for all people.’ On this occasion death itself will be on the menu and God will swallow it up whole. This is an eternal feast that no one need ever leave. In the Gospel records we read that Jesus, Himself provided a foretaste of this feast when He feds the five thousand. Here is a feast which need never end. Indeed there’s more food at the end than there was at the beginning. It’s all a foreshadowing of the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise: that great day when we will feast forever in His presence and be fully satisfied. In the final analysis the meals of Jesus represent something bigger than mere lunch-breaks or midnight snacks. They represent the consummation of all things in God’s coming world. But at the same time they give that eternal reality substance in the present moment. Meals are made up of things you put in your mouth, things you taste, things you touch, things you smell, things you see, and things you eat. More than this meals are social occasions that represent friendship, community, welcome and the lavish grace of God.
conclusionSo, will you do it? Will you become a kitchen table evangelist? Of course this will cost you something in terms of your time, resources and so forth, but this fact reminds us of something worth remembering as we conclude. Our invitation to the feast of God cost Him something too. One writer summed it up in this way: "The price of our invitation is the precious blood of Jesus his Son. We are outsiders, we are enemies, we are excluded. But Jesus takes the judgment we deserve. He becomes the ultimate outsider – pushed out of the world onto the cross; forsaken by his Father. As a result we become insiders, friends, included. The invitation goes out to all.
It’s not an accident that at the heart of what it means to be the church is a meal. Jesus told us to remember Him not only in a pattern of words, but in a meal – communion."  Therefore, around the table, whether it is the table of the Lord or the table of our kitchen we can offer friendship and celebrate life with others. Our meals offer a divine moment – an opportunity for people to be persuaded by grace into a better life, a truer life, a more godly human existence.
Jesus ate meals with people. If we routinely share meals with others and if we have a passion for Jesus then we’ll almost certainly end up doing His mission.
Yes, it’s true that meals alone cannot save people, people are saved through the gospel message. But meals create natural opportunities to share that message in a context that resonates powerfully with what we’re saying. To become more effective in our evangelistic enterprises we don’t need another church-program. We don’t have to be rich, trendy, attractive, or smart – we don’t even have to be able to cook! We just need to be people who eat, people who love Jesus, and people who want to tell others that they are invited to the great feast of God. Recap of Part 1 Last week we posted the first part of "Kitchen Table Evangelists - Be One," an adaptation of a pamphlet I wrote some time ago. In pt. 1 we considered the importance of inviting unbelieving neighbors, friends, or colleagues into our homes to share a meal together. We noted that this was not only a good way to do evangelism but also a very simple way. To put it another way, if you are interested in evangelism you can become an evangelist right now! You don't need a church-initiative, a program, or the permission of your church board - all you need is love for others, an understanding of the gospel, and a kitchen table. Also we saw that gathering around our tables with others is a wonderful way to follow the example of Christ, who in Luke's Gospel is practically always going to or coming from a meal. Having previously considered the "Messiah's Meal Ministry," today move on to consider "What Sharing a Meal Means" (If you missed part 1 and would like to read it in full please click here.) what sharing a meal means Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup It has been said that meals are a powerful expression of welcome and friendship in every culture. Having eaten meals in various parts of the world I have found this to be true. Though I did not personally care for the boiled bananas and chicken’s foot soup that I once ate in a tiny mountain community in Jamaica, I did appreciate the kindness and generosity of the poverty stricken natives who gave me a seat at their family table. This perhaps illustrates why Jesus’ meals are so significant – they embody God’s generous grace even as they enact God’s mission. For example, just think of the folks who Jesus often ate with. Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners. Tax collectors were traitors not only to their nation, but also traitors towards God for they were collaborators with the Gentile occupiers who had, according to Jewish belief “defiled” God’s holy land. Because of this the “kitchen table” companions of Jesus led the Pharisees and other opponents to conclude that Jesus couldn’t really be from God (see Luke 5:30, 7:39, & 15:1,2). This was, of course, a reasonable conclusion for Jesus’ opponents to reach – unless of course the grace of God is so great and so generous that all of our narrowly truncated ideas about it are exploded in a bomb-blast of divine mercy and kindness when we really see grace in action (see Luke 5:27-39). And this is exactly why meals are central to the mission of Jesus, they represent grace in action.... and they still do! What was true in 1st century Palestine is true in 21st century North-Central Ohio. When a Christian extends his or her hospitality to another he or she is putting generous grace into action! what sharing a meal does - 5 specifics Bathing Suits- making a laughingstock of nearly all of us since 1870 1. The Great Equalizer While sitting on a beach in Florida my father once casually voiced his belief that bathing suits are the world’s “great equalizer.” And in terms of the powerful businessman who at that very moment was slowly strolling the beach in front of us in a speedo that accentuated his pear-shaped frame, my father was right. Off of the beach in a 3-piece suit, sitting behind a desk in a penthouse office the man would have commanded respect. In a speedo, on the other hand, he was just another participant in the human freak-show that paraded past us, the sand on his feet, the sun on his back, a large straw hat on his head. Here’s another thought, greater even than speedos, kitchen tables are the greatest equalizer of all because of what happens when we eat together. We share food as friends. We sit at the same level around the table. We can talk about our shared need of God’s grace. To mix my metaphors, kitchen tables and meals together allow us to freely acknowledge that we are all part of the freak-show. This, very simply, is what sharing a meal does. To be continued.....Next time we'll discuss the remaining four things that sharing a meal accomplishes - namely:
-They Build Community -They Exemplify God's Lavish Grace - They Exemplify Our Neediness -They Are A Great Gospel Metaphor Thanks for reading!  Preliminary note: Over the next few weeks I am going to be posting portions of a pamphlet I wrote sometime ago entitled "Kitchen Table Evangelists - Be One: The Gospel Impact of Eating." Yeah, I know - it's not exactly the catchiest title ever dreamed up... but what it lacks in zip it makes up for in length. It is my prayer that these posts will be helpful to each of you and that the Lord will encourage you to use your kitchen table as a tool in the great work of evangelism. yours, -RC Pastor's Study, Green Camp, Ohio May 1, 2015 Kitchen Table Evangelists - Be One |
| Don’t start with a big program.... Start personally and start in your home. I dare you. I dare you in the name of Jesus Christ. Do what I am going to suggest. Begin by opening your home for community … You don’t need a big program. You don’t have to convince your session or board. All you have to do is open your home and begin. |  |
If you are like me you are probably reluctant to accept Schaeffer's challenge. And why? Well... um... it seems too easy... too simplistic... and maybe just a little too disorganized....
Ah-ha! Here's the real reason we're reluctant to accept Schaeffer's dare.
Go ahead and admit it! We are too program oriented for our own good. If there is a hiccup in the financial market we look for our government to implement some new program to resolve it. If there is a bullying epidemic in our schools we want our school systems to implement a strategic initiative to fix it. If there are too many concussions in football we expect the game to be changed to protect player’s brains. And on and on the list goes. Unfortunately, this tendency of ours to implement programs to address perceived problems is not limited to the realms of finance, education, or sports – this is also a mentality that we sometimes bring into the work of evangelism and community building. For example, if a church perceives that people aren’t attending because they don’t like neckties that church might implement a billboard campaign featuring ripped jeans and sandals. If another congregation thinks that the music of the church is perceived as dull and out-of-date they might implement a hipper, trendier, pop-culturally-acceptable genre. And on and on it goes.
Of course programs, initiatives, and strategies are not bad in and of themselves (in so far as they enhance Christian fellowship, encourage Christian growth and promote evangelism) but programs are not necessarily... well... necessary. There is a great deal that Christians can do to advance the Kingdom apart from the “official" programs, ministries, agendas, and/or gimmicks of any given local church.
I contend that all you really need is the example of Jesus, love for others, a kitchen table, and something to eat.
Let's start with the example of Jesus...
Ah-ha! Here's the real reason we're reluctant to accept Schaeffer's dare.
Go ahead and admit it! We are too program oriented for our own good. If there is a hiccup in the financial market we look for our government to implement some new program to resolve it. If there is a bullying epidemic in our schools we want our school systems to implement a strategic initiative to fix it. If there are too many concussions in football we expect the game to be changed to protect player’s brains. And on and on the list goes. Unfortunately, this tendency of ours to implement programs to address perceived problems is not limited to the realms of finance, education, or sports – this is also a mentality that we sometimes bring into the work of evangelism and community building. For example, if a church perceives that people aren’t attending because they don’t like neckties that church might implement a billboard campaign featuring ripped jeans and sandals. If another congregation thinks that the music of the church is perceived as dull and out-of-date they might implement a hipper, trendier, pop-culturally-acceptable genre. And on and on it goes.
Of course programs, initiatives, and strategies are not bad in and of themselves (in so far as they enhance Christian fellowship, encourage Christian growth and promote evangelism) but programs are not necessarily... well... necessary. There is a great deal that Christians can do to advance the Kingdom apart from the “official" programs, ministries, agendas, and/or gimmicks of any given local church.
I contend that all you really need is the example of Jesus, love for others, a kitchen table, and something to eat.
Let's start with the example of Jesus...
the messiah's meal ministry
Question: How did the Son of Man come?
Go ahead... what would your answer be?
You might say that He came preaching, or healing, or teaching, and of course you would be correct. But what was His modus operandi? That's another question entirely.
In Luke 7:34 we find Jesus, Himself providing an answer to this question; ‘the Son of Man came eating and drinking.’ Eating and drinking quite a lot actually! New Testament scholar Robert Karris says: ‘In Luke’s Gospel Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal.’ In fact, Jesus does this so much that His opponents accused Him of being a ‘a glutton and a drunkard’ – someone who eats too much and drinks too much.... hmmm.... these are interesting thoughts about Jesus wouldn't you say? So let's try to sort through them a little bit.
To begin with, whenever we see Jesus referring to Himself as ‘The Son of Man,’ we need to carefully note what He is saying. He is borrowing this title from the Old Testament prophet Daniel who foresaw the coming of a figure called the Son of Man. According to Daniel, this figure would be a representative of both God and God's people. He would come in glory and would receive from God authority over all nations (see Daniel 7). During His earthly ministry the Lord Jesus openly applied this title to Himself, indicating that He was - in fact - the person who Daniel foresaw... none other than the long awaited Son of Man.
Now that this is clear, let's again think through our question very carefully; when the Son of Man came to earth what did He do? The Jews expected him to come with a bang, defeating God’s enemies and vindicating His people. But this is not what He did... He will do these things when He comes the second time, of course.... But when He came the first time, according to Luke.... He came to share a meal. Because He did so there are many applications for His followers today.
Go ahead... what would your answer be?
You might say that He came preaching, or healing, or teaching, and of course you would be correct. But what was His modus operandi? That's another question entirely.
In Luke 7:34 we find Jesus, Himself providing an answer to this question; ‘the Son of Man came eating and drinking.’ Eating and drinking quite a lot actually! New Testament scholar Robert Karris says: ‘In Luke’s Gospel Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal.’ In fact, Jesus does this so much that His opponents accused Him of being a ‘a glutton and a drunkard’ – someone who eats too much and drinks too much.... hmmm.... these are interesting thoughts about Jesus wouldn't you say? So let's try to sort through them a little bit.
To begin with, whenever we see Jesus referring to Himself as ‘The Son of Man,’ we need to carefully note what He is saying. He is borrowing this title from the Old Testament prophet Daniel who foresaw the coming of a figure called the Son of Man. According to Daniel, this figure would be a representative of both God and God's people. He would come in glory and would receive from God authority over all nations (see Daniel 7). During His earthly ministry the Lord Jesus openly applied this title to Himself, indicating that He was - in fact - the person who Daniel foresaw... none other than the long awaited Son of Man.
Now that this is clear, let's again think through our question very carefully; when the Son of Man came to earth what did He do? The Jews expected him to come with a bang, defeating God’s enemies and vindicating His people. But this is not what He did... He will do these things when He comes the second time, of course.... But when He came the first time, according to Luke.... He came to share a meal. Because He did so there are many applications for His followers today.
To be continued.....
Next time we'll discuss "What Sharing A Meal Means" & "What Sharing A Meal Does."
Rev. R Crabtree
"...a son, a husband, a father of 6, a friend, a Presbyterian
(not the liberal kind), an eccentric, and a minister of the gospel... I am also the Pastor of All Souls Church and a Professor of Religious Studies at OCBC."
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