HOSPITALITY: HOW ORDINARY PEOPLE CAN LIVE ON MISSION

164 HOSPITALITY: HOW ORDINARY PEOPLE CAN LIVE ON MISSION

Volunteers needed. I d be willing to serve, but I don t know what I could do. Living on mission? That s something full-time missionaries do but me? There is an amazingly simple and enjoyable way to serve others. If you can eat, you can be on mission! Deep within us, we all long to share good food with family and friends meals with lots of conversation, joy, and love. Something incredible in these meals moves way beyond just eating food. This may surprise you, but all of these experiences can point us toward the kingdom of God. How? I believe hospitality is essential for understanding the nature of God and the mission of God. Through Jesus teaching at a meal! we can learn to comfortably engage people with the love and grace of the gospel. Something about sharing a meal together can open the door to hospitality, the door to conversation, and the door to seeing Jesus. Let s learn to serve by creating a culture infused with hospitality. Tony Merida Tony Merida is pastor of Imago Dei in Raleigh, North Carolina, and associate professor of preaching at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of the study Ordinary. 165

SESSION 13 HOSPITALITY: HOW ORDINARY PEOPLE CAN LIVE ON MISSION 166 SeSSion 13

The Point Hospitality is a practical way to share Christ with others. The Bible Meets Life We love to share a meal with others. An enjoyable or memorable meal is not about the food itself, but it is about the company and the shared experience. Meals were a major part of many events in the Bible, and meals are a way of sharing life together. Jesus spoke of the blessing of being hospitable and inviting others to share a meal. Let s do lunch can be another way of saying Let s do mission. The Passage Luke 14:12-24 The Setting Jesus had already begun His journey toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:51; 13:22) with anticipation of the cross to come (13:33-34). Along the way He accepted a Sabbath invitation to dine with one of the leading Pharisees. He took advantage of the opportunity and setting to teach about humility and about receiving/issuing invitations to banquet in the kingdom of God (14:15). GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes DO: IN ADVANCE, display a place setting of china and eating utensils to represent hosting a meal. GUIDE: Direct the group to look at the picture (see p. 166; PSG, p. 166). DISCUSS: Question #1 (PSG, p. 166): What do you like best about eating with others? GUIDE: Direct attention to The Bible Meets Life (PSG, p. 167). Acknowledge that most of us love to eat, but what often happens around a meal is the truly memorable thing. Note the bulleted statements in the PSG. Ask if anyone would like to add to the list. GUIDE: Introduce The Point (PSG, p. 167): Hospitality is a practical way to share Christ with others. GUIDE: Comment that Jesus, who was constantly interacting with people over meals, teaches us we can use moments around the table to extend the kingdom of God to others. SUGGESTED USE WEEK OF AUGUST 30 167

THE POINT Hospitality is a practical way to share Christ with others. STUDY THE BIBLE Luke 14:12-14 15 minutes GUIDE: Use the Bible commentary 1 to help you set the stage for the focal passage. READ: Read verses 12-14. GUIDE: Note that Jesus words can sting those of us who would rather associate only with people who are like us. (OPTION: Lead members to sit in different locations in the room next to people they may not know as well.) Direct attention to PSG page 171. Identify two things Jesus taught in this passage: 1. Invite outsiders. Jesus did not oppose spending time with friends and family. Indeed, he made it clear that people will know we re disciples by our love for one another (John 13:35). Luke 14:12-14 12 He also said to the one who had invited Him, When you give a lunch or a dinner, don t invite your friends, your brothers, your relatives, or your rich neighbors, because they might invite you back, and you would be repaid. 13 On the contrary, when you host a banquet, invite those who are poor, maimed, lame, or blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. Invite others to your feasts. 1 Luke 14:12-24 is part of a larger passage that details the events surrounding a Sabbath day meal Jesus was invited to attend. The meal took place at the residence of one of the leading Pharisees and at least part of the purpose for the invitation appears to have been an attempt to trap Jesus in issues concerning Sabbath law (Luke 14:1-2). Jesus turned the tables on the Pharisees, healing the man at the center of their contrived controversy and confounding the Pharisees on the issue of their own laws (vv. 3-6). Then, noticing how those at the meal sought to sit at the best places, Jesus told a parable about humility, honor, and the danger of arrogance leading to humiliation (vv. 7-11). Verse 12. After discussing the proper etiquette of a guest, Jesus challenged His host (and the entire group) on how to be a counter-cultural host. The words for a lunch or a dinner in this verse encompass the meals common at that time in Jewish culture. Hebrews typically only ate two meals a day, breakfast (in late morning) and dinner (in late afternoon), the main meal of the day. The Pharisee had invited people he needed to repay for previously inviting him to a dinner and wealthy and influential people he wanted to invite so they would owe him a free Notes Distinguish between fellowship and hospitality. 168 SeSSion 13

dinner. This is known as the principle of reciprocity, which was widely observed during the time of Jesus. This principle held that when a favor or gift was given to a person, that person was under obligation to return a favor or gift of like kind. Thus, a person behaved generously toward those he hoped would treat him favorably in the future. The Pharisee s hospitality was motivated by pride and manipulation, not love and admiration. Jesus instructed the group to stop doing nice things for people just to get a reward. Jesus did not warn against inviting friends, family, neighbors, and the wealthy to dinner. Rather, Jesus condemned the habit of only inviting those people and never including others. Verse 13. The word banquet suggests an elaborate meal given at a formal dinner or reception. Jesus gave a list of people who should also be invited to such a meal. These are the same groups Jesus would identify later in verse 21. In Jesus day it was unacceptable for Jews to associate with these types of people, so it would have been unthinkable to have invited them to a public dinner. These people were from the lowest levels of society, the marginalized and excluded. They were not even allowed to enter the temple. Jesus ministered to these types of people and He expected His disciples to follow His example. Verse 14. The main requirement for inviting these guests was that they could not repay the generosity offered by the host. These people suffered emotionally, economically, and physically. Jesus made it clear that although these hurting people could not repay their host for his or her generosity, God would repay the host in the future at the resurrection. The phrase resurrection of the righteous also included the unrighteous (Acts 24:15). Jesus was not referring to two separate resurrections. Luke 14:15-24 15 When one of those who reclined at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, The one who will eat bread in the kingdom of God is blessed! Notes Fellowship is what we do with believers. Hospitality literally means love for strangers. DISCUSS: Question #2 (PSG, p. 172): Who are the outsiders in our community? 2. Invite those who can t repay you (PSG, p. 172). This is not always going to be comfortable. Jesus showed us grace. And grace can pour out of our hospitality. Let s collapse the distance between ourselves and the marginalized. DISCUSS: Question #3 (PSG, p. 172): Whom do you know who is actively hospitable to people on the margins? (Alternate: Why do you think Jesus emphasized not being repaid?) TRANSITION: Inviting others to a meal will show we care. But we can also invite them to a far greater feast. 169

THE POINT Hospitality is a practical way to share Christ with others. STUDY THE BIBLE Luke 14:15-24 GUIDE: Note that in this passage, Jesus told a parable about a man throwing a banquet to emphasize the importance of accepting God s invitation to join Him in His kingdom. READ: Ask a volunteer to read verses 15-24. 15 minutes 16 Then He told him: A man was giving a large banquet and invited many. 17 At the time of the banquet, he sent his slave to tell those who were invited, Come, because everything is now ready. 18 But without exception they all began to make excuses. The first one said to him, I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. I ask you to excuse me. 19 Another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I m going to try them out. I ask you to excuse me. 20 And another said, I just got married, and therefore I m unable to come. 21 So the slave came back and reported these things to his master. Then in anger, the master of the house told his slave, Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in here the poor, maimed, blind, and lame! 22 Master, the slave said, what you ordered has been done, and there s still room. 23 Then the master told the slave, Go out into the highways and lanes and make them come in, so that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will enjoy my banquet! Invite others to the King s feast. Verse 15. One of the guests responded to Jesus teachings, but his motive for doing so is unclear. This guest equated happiness with knowing he would one day share in heaven s banquet, which Notes 170 SeSSion 13

was a metaphor for the kingdom of God. The phrase eat bread referred to a full meal. The Jewish people likened the future kingdom to a great feast, and this man believed he would eat one day with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the prophets at the kingdom feast. This referred to salvation and eternal life. Verses 16-17. Jesus responded by telling a parable about another banquet. The large banquet refers to salvation and the kingdom of God; Jesus also was alluding to the man s belief that Messiah would come and share a feast with the elect of Israel. Many guests were invited to the banquet. It was customary in those days for the wealthy to send a slave to deliver two separate invitations. The first invitation was delivered ahead of time, announcing the day of the event but not the exact time. The second invitation announced all was ready and it was time to attend the event. This protocol was practiced in both Roman and Jewish cultures. To refuse the second invitation was viewed as a great insult to the host. Verse 18. Jesus revealed that all the invitees made excuses not to attend the banquet; He gave three specific examples. All three excuses involved family or material possessions. These reflect people s excuses not to accept God s invitation to be a part of His kingdom. Many people put higher priority on relationships with people and material wealth than on the things of God. This was the case for these three people who refused the invitation to the banquet. When these three people realized they each had to give up something to attend the banquet, they were unwilling to make those sacrifices. Instead, they chose to insult the host and sacrifice their relationships with him and harm their own character. The first guest asked to be excused because he had bought a field and needed to go out and see it. This individual s claim seems to be out of order. To purchase something without first seeing it is a risky venture. In addition, because buying property was typically a long process, the person would have had plenty of other opportunities to have seen the land. If this banquet were being held in the evening, the individual would have had little daylight available to see the land. This person gave a weak excuse for not attending the banquet, choosing instead to gravely insult the host. GUIDE: Note it was common in first-century Jewish and Roman culture to issue two invitations. The first invitation essentially asked if you wanted to come. If you responded yes, a second invitation was later sent, informing you that everything was now ready for the banquet. In Jesus parable, when the servant went to those who had accepted, they made excuses for not coming. This would be considered a great insult to the host. Notes 171

THE POINT Hospitality is a practical way to share Christ with others. SAY: We often hear similar responses when we try to share Christ with others or invite people to come to church with us. GUIDE: Call attention to the bulleted statements on PSG page 174: I can t. I m scheduled to be on the golf course then. Rain s coming, and I need to get the lawn mowed. It s not a good time right now. State that no matter a person s excuse, the excuse reveals that something in his or her life is more important than a relationship with Jesus. Verse 19. Similar to the first guest, the second referred to a recent purchase of five yoke (pairs) of oxen, which he apparently bought without inspecting them (something that would have been highly unlikely). His response implied he was already on his way to see his purchase when the slave found him and told him the dinner was prepared. The fact that he bought ten oxen revealed that this person was wealthy and owned a large section of land. A small farm would only need one or two yoke of oxen to do the work. This, like the first, was a weak excuse not to attend the banquet, and only added to the insult of the rejected invitation. Verse 20. The third person gave the excuse of having recently been married, which was actually no excuse at all. Jewish weddings were elaborate affairs that took months of preparation. This person knew well in advance that he had a wedding; yet, he accepted the first invitation to the banquet. In Jewish culture, only men were invited to banquets. The host would not have expected the wife to come to the banquet. Furthermore, a recently married man was exempt from going to war, but it was highly unusual for a man to use his recent marriage as a reason not to attend a social gathering. This man, unlike the others, did not ask to be excused. He assumed his response was an adequate reason not to attend. Jesus showed by these three examples how easily family, finances, and possessions can distract people from accepting God s invitation. Although these are all important aspects of life, they are not the highest priority. Jesus did not condemn these three people for taking care of family relationships or material things; He did condemn them for having their priorities out of order. Each of these men could have handled his situation at another time. Instead, they used them to cover for their lack of desire to attend the banquet and their lack of concern for the host s feelings or honor. They dishonored him by not accepting his invitation. In the same way, people put other priorities ahead of their relationship with God. Verse 21. The host reacted in justifiable outrage when he received the news his guests were not coming to the banquet. The host had gone to great trouble to prepare the food and Notes 172 SeSSion 13

prepare the room for a party. When he heard no one was coming, he did not want all the food and hard work to go to waste. In his anger, the host devised another plan. The refusal of his guests to attend did not stop the host s determination to throw a party. The banquet would go on. He did not plead with those on his initial guest list to come. Instead, he designed another guest list. He did this with a sense of urgency because everything was prepared and ready to be enjoyed. The food needed to be served immediately. They had no means to freeze or preserve the food; the time to enjoy all the blessings of the banquet was at hand. The host turned a negative into a positive by inviting a second group of guests. The host instructed his slave to go out into the wide streets and narrow alleys, throughout the city to all the places where those neglected by society lived. His slave was to seek out the poor, maimed, blind, and lame (Luke 14:13). Verse 22. The slave went throughout the city inviting all the people he could find. He did not go outside the city to find guests. When the slave found people, because of the urgency of the situation he was able to bring them in immediately. This second group of people were hungry and lonely and glad to receive an invitation to a fine dinner. They made no excuses; they just followed the slave to the banquet. This class of people was used to standing on the outside of society looking in. It was easy to see in but not easy to get in; an invitation was required. The poor, maimed, blind, and lame were more than happy to accept the invitation to go in and enjoy what they had only observed others doing in the past. However, once he brought all of these guests into the banquet hall there was still room for more. The master desired his table to be filled with people. Verse 23. The master instructed the slave to go outside the city to the highways and lanes and invite still more people to come to the banquet. This group would include beggars and outcasts excluded from the community life within the city, farmers and workers in the fields, and travelers on the roads. He was to invite anyone and everyone he encountered. The master instructed the slave to make them come in, not by force but by reasonable argument. These people understandably might be skeptical about being invited to a formal banquet in the city. They did not receive these types of invitations. The slave would have the task of convincing them DISCUSS: Question #4 (PSG, p. 174): Are you more likely to invite someone to church or to a meal? Why? GUIDE: Explain that in the parable, the host became angry at his guests refusal to come, so he invited the outsiders we discussed in the previous section. READ: Invite a volunteer to read verse 21 again. SAY: No one is excluded! All are invited to join the banquet. Notes 173

THE POINT Hospitality is a practical way to share Christ with others. SUMMARIZE: We ultimately want to invite them to the King s feast because there s room for all who will come. Everything needed has been accomplished so we can come to the King. Jesus came, lived a perfect life, died a substitutionary death, and rose from the dead. Everything is ready. The master sent his servant out to compel people to come in. It s a call to be vigilant and passionate. Let s invite others into our lives, and in the process, let s invite them to the King s party. DISCUSS: Question #5 (PSG, p. 175): What can we do as a group to make space at the table for outsiders? (Alternate: What does this story teach about the kingdom of God?) the invitation was sincere. He was not to leave until the people had accepted the invitation. There was a sense of urgency for the master and no time to honor traditional methods of invitations. The time for the banquet was at hand. Jesus used these comments to show how the invitation to come into the kingdom of God would eventually be carried to the Gentiles. It would come from believing Jews and they would have the task of convincing the Gentiles that the invitation was real. The Jewish religious leaders worked hard to keep Gentiles out of the Jewish traditions, the temple, and the lifestyle. Jesus was not suggesting for His followers to use physical force to convince Gentiles but rather to have a convincing argument that the kingdom of God was available to everyone, not just the Jews. In the story, the goal of the master was to fill his house with guests who wanted to attend the banquet. When the first list of guests, representing the religious leadership of the Jews, refused to attend the banquet, the master sent his slave to invite anyone he encountered, representing people of any and every social status and nationality, to come to the banquet. The master wanted the slave to continue to invite people so that his house may be filled. This was a very strong statement that carried the same idea of loading a ship. The process did not stop until there was no more room. The host was confident that his house would eventually be filled if the slave continued to deliver the invitations. Although many rejected the invitation, the master was confident others would accept, enough to fill up his house. Verse 24. In Luke s Gospel, Jesus often used the phrase for I tell you to emphasize His point. The host in this story summed up the reasons for his behavior toward the first group of guests. He declared, not one of those men who were invited will enjoy my banquet! Jesus told this parable in response to the man s statement about Jews receiving the blessing of God by eating bread in the kingdom of God. This statement revealed the mindset of some among the Jewish people (the Pharisees/religious leaders) who were sure they would eat bread in the kingdom. Jesus would bring the kingdom of God to earth and it would exist in the hearts Notes 174 SeSSion 13

of men and women. Jesus invited people to join the kingdom of God immediately. No one who rejected the invitation offered by Jesus and His followers would enjoy the banquet of the kingdom of God in the future. Those who thought their heritage earned them a place in the kingdom of God but rejected Jesus would find themselves excluded from the kingdom. But those people the religious leaders sought to exclude from their society and thought beyond saving (the poor, the maimed, the blind, the lame, the Gentiles), would enter into the kingdom through their acceptance of Jesus offer of salvation. DO: Lead into this activity by pulling another chair up to the place setting you have on display. Set another plate and utensils as you invite volunteers to share their responses to Making Space (PSG, p. 175). SHARING THE GOOD NEWS ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/JAMES MCCLEMORE Remains at New Testament Jericho. After visiting Zacchaeus in Jericho, Jesus taught about the kingdom. The following excerpt is from Luke s Use of Kingdom (Fall 1990). The emphasis for Luke [in the use of kingdom] follows from two realities that come into view in his Gospel. The first is that the gospel relates not simply to the Jewish experience and expectation of kingdom, but to the experience of the entire Roman world empire. The second is that, while this gospel announced a kingdom, it was clearly a kingdom of a different order and a different character. [For Luke] the kingdom of God, unlike the Roman Empire, is in an important sense timeless and invisible. The kingdom of God does not rely upon human power, wealth, and prestige. Instead, its power draws upon those who are faithful. Previous articles, First-Century Marriage Customs in Israel (Win. 1999-2000), and Feasting: First- Century Practices (Win. 1987) relate to this session and can be purchased at www.lifeway.com/ biblicalillustrator. Look for Bundles: Bible Studies for Life. Subscribe to Biblical Illustrator at www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator, or call 1-800-458-2772. When we become followers of Christ, God reserves a space for us at His banquet table in heaven. Let s celebrate that by making room at our table for those who still do not know Him. Each week, make yourself available either before or after the session to speak privately with anyone in your group who wants to know more about becoming a Christian. See the article, Leading Someone to the Greatest Decision of All, on page 2 for guidance in leading a person to Christ. Remind group members that page 2 in the PSG offers guidance in how to become a Christian. Encourage believers to consider using this article as they have opportunities to lead others to Christ. 175

THE POINT Hospitality is a practical way to share Christ with others. LIVE IT OUT 5 minutes DO: Emphasize The Point: Hospitality is a practical way to share Christ with others. GUIDE: Review Live It Out (PSG, p. 176; see text to the right). Invite group members to consider what God may be saying to them about reaching out to people outside their usual groups of family and friends. Wrap It Up GUIDE: Encourage your group to commit to helping one another to begin reaching out beyond your own group. Pray regularly about how to support one another and to seek to make a difference in the lives of those living on the margins. LIVE IT OUT Reaching out beyond our comfortable group of family and friends to people who are not just like us can be a little intimidating. How has God spoken to you during your study about the importance of hospitality? What could you do this week to take steps toward making hospitality a regular part of your Christian walk? > > Look on the fringes. In most neighborhoods and community groups some people tend to get left out. Identify one of these marginalized folks in your circle of acquaintances and meet him or her for lunch or coffee. > > Open up your home. If you have never invited your neighbors over for a meal, plan to do so. Use the opportunity to get to know them and express God s love and grace. Set a goal to make such a meal a regular event perhaps once a month. Consider inviting more to join the group. > > Mix it up. Before the next time your group of seniors goes on a trip, eats lunch together, or just meets for coffee, talk with one another about how to involve some people from your neighborhood or community who may not have any church affiliation. Be a group of ordinary people doing ordinary things with gospel intentionality. PRAY: Father, help us see others the way you see them. Take off our blinders so we may see clearly to offer others the same grace you showed to us. Amen. 176 SeSSion 13

My Thoughts My Group's Prayer Requests Additional suggestions for specific groups (women, men, boomers, and singles) are available at BibleStudiesForLife.com/blog. And for free online training on how to lead a group visit MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife. Summer in Beantown On a typical summer day at The Boston Project Ministries, a lot happens: 25 local teenagers are editing their job resumés and then heading out to clean a local park; 60 kids are eating lunch in the children s park and getting ready for games and a Bible story; 18 local junior high kids are planting vegetables, and teams of suburban teenagers are meeting elderly residents to help them with home projects while gaining life wisdom. To continue reading Summer in Beantown from HomeLife magazine, visit BibleStudiesforLife.com/articles, and enter the article title in the search bar. Or use your smartphone to access the article directly by scanning the QR code. 177