Join Us for Dinner
Bible Readings
Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.
12 Then Jesus said to the man who had invited him: When you give a dinner or a banquet, don't invite your friends and family and relatives and rich neighbors. If you do, they will invite you in return, and you will be paid back. 13 When you give a feast, invite the poor, the paralyzed, the lame, and the blind. 14 They cannot pay you back. But God will bless you and reward you when his people rise from death. 15 After Jesus had finished speaking, one of the guests said, “The greatest blessing of all is to be at the banquet in God's kingdom!” 16 Jesus told him: A man once gave a great banquet and invited a lot of guests. 17 When the banquet was ready, he sent a servant to tell the guests, “Everything is ready! Please come.” 18 One guest after another started making excuses. The first one said, “I bought some land, and I've got to look it over. Please excuse me.” 19 Another guest said, “I bought five teams of oxen, and I need to try them out. Please excuse me.” 20 Still another guest said, “I've just now married, and I can't be there.” 21 The servant told his master what happened, and the master became so angry he said, “Go as fast as you can to every street and alley in town! Bring in everyone who is poor or paralyzed or blind or lame.” 22 When the servant returned, he said, “Master, I've done what you told me, and there is still plenty of room for more people.” 23 His master then told him, “Go out along the back roads and make people come in, so my house will be full. 24 Not one of the guests I first invited will get even a bite of my food!”
Luke 14:12-24
Memory Verse
1 Peter 4:9
9 Welcome people into your home and don't grumble about it.
One summer afternoon, Anna and her sister were playing hide-and-seek in the backyard with some kids from the neighborhood. When her mom called the kids in for dinner, Anna ran up to ask, “Can the neighbors’ kids join us for dinner?”
At first, Anna’s mom wasn’t sure what to say. She could have fussed or grumbled about whether there would be enough food and said “no,” but she was impressed with Anna’s hospitality. “Yes, that sounds great!” was her reply.
As soon as those words came out, Anna ran excitedly across the grass to invite the neighbor kids and their parents over for dinner.
Everyone had a great evening sharing a meal and talking together outside. They talked about the good things and not so good things going on in their lives. Anna’s parents also had a chance to pray and read the Bible with their neighbors.
It was an amazing night of getting to know neighbors a little better and sharing a bit about faith. And it all started with a simple and cheerful invitation to hospitality.
Are there neighbors that your family could invite over for a meal?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for our neighbors. Jesus, help us to offer hospitality to them in your name. Amen.Related Resources
Terence Schilstra
Terence and his wife Karen and their four kids live and serve among the urban poor in Downtown Thorold, Ontario. He is a pastor and author of the book Peace of the City; A Handbook for Missional Communities.