The Meal Was the Ministry|06.07.26|Blessed to BLESS pt.4

Almost ten years ago, there was a story that was going viral on social media around Thanksgiving time. It started on a Thursday morning, when a young African-American man named Eric, wearing his baggy jeans and flat-brimmed Blackhawks hat, headed to his local McDonald’s to eat breakfast by himself.

Jan, a white seventy-year-old grandmother, had the same idea.

As they were both eating by themselves, Jan saw Eric sitting by himself. She approached him and said, “Could we enjoy our breakfasts together?”

Somewhat startled by her request, he reluctantly said, "Sure." And with that, Jan grabbed her food tray and took it over to Eric's table. Eric pulled up a chair so she could sit down.

The two of them sat together for 45 minutes talking about church, art, and Eric's young son. Eric said Jan even shared some life wisdom with him.

“She mentioned many times how we all should love one another and how we should never judge anyone because you never know how someone's day is going and what they've been through,” he said in an interview.

After they finished eating, they exchanged phone numbers, and Eric walked Jan to her car. A simple meal shared with a stranger became a lasting blessing.

And we have all experienced the incredible power of sharing a meal together with someone. Relationships build faster over food, because guards come down and you learn things about each other that you wouldn’t have learned otherwise.

This story spread like wildfire. I think it was so loved because stories like this seem so rare. Our world longs for the blessing of a shared meal.

But what if these stories weren’t so rare? What if we made them common in our communities? What do you think our neighborhoods would look like if our homes became hubs for expressing the love of Jesus by sharing a meal?

I'm convinced that eating with someone is one of the most powerful ways you can bless them.

I think most of us already know this is true, but most of us still aren’t doing it intentionally with the people God has put on our hearts.

[BLESS rhythms]

So that’s what we’re talking about today. Not some new program. Just a new level of intentionality with something all of us are already doing: eating at a table.

And we’re talking about that because we’ve been in this series about five everyday ways to bless our neighbors and share God’s love with the people around us.

Because we believe that ALL OF US are called to join Jesus in his work of making disciples and sharing his love with the people God puts on our path. We started the year talking about how Jesus says we’re supposed to be like the good shepherd who leaves the 99 sheep in order to find the lost One.

We think that each one of us are called to reach the Ones in our life. Who is your One? You probably know more than a few “Ones”: people who are close to you but who feel far from God.

And we know that God loves them and wants to reach them with his love and invite them into his fully-alive life that Jesus offers to us… but we aren’t sure HOW to do that.

And this series is designed to answer that problem. Each One Reach One is easier than you think… Sharing God’s love with the people he puts on your heart is easier than you think, because we can follow these five everyday rhythms to BLESS the people around us.

And so the last few weeks, we’ve prayed for our people. We’ve started listening to them with care and compassion so that we can get to know them and hear how God’s heart cares for theirs.

And today, we take the next step: eat together.

[Scripture Ref]

And Jesus actually shows us exactly what this looks like, because throughout Scripture, we see him eat with people, and Pastor Dave Ferguson points this out in his book.

Because if I asked you to list all the ways Jesus blessed the people around him during his time on earth, I'm guessing that eating with people wouldn't be on it.

You would probably mention teaching, healing, doing miracles, praying, walking on water, eventually dying on a cross, and three days later overcoming death and coming back to life. But did you ever notice that part of how Jesus blessed and saved the world was by… wait for for it… eating?

I know it may sound a little crazy, but eating was actually central to Jesus' mission of loving others and showing them God's love!

In fact, much of his ministry centered around meals. He performed his first miracle at a wedding feast. One of his most well-known miracles was feeding the 5,000 on a hill in the countryside. The night before his crucifixion, he brought together his closest friends for a meal. and after his resurrection he shared breakfast on the beach with his disciples.

As people who scarf down fast food on the go while steering with our knees. I'm not sure we really grasp how big a deal eating was in Jesus's culture. It was a statement of friendship. It was an affirmation of that person's value, dignity, and worth. who you ate with indicated who you loved and consider to be part of your social class.

That's why it was so scandalous to the religious leaders that he frequently ate with the lowest and most hated people of the day. Respectable rabbis didn't eat with those who weren't part of the “good people” group.

So open your Bibles with me to Luke ch19 (p???), so that we can read a great example of how Jesus shared meals to share God’s love. As you find it, I want to set the scene…

Jericho is prosperous tax hub for the region, and we’re going to meet Zacchaeus, who is not only a tax collector — he’s the chief tax collector. He’s the head of the corrupt system in that area. He’s jewish by birth, but he has declared his loyalty to the Roman oppressive powers.

And once word gets out that Jesus is arriving, Zacchaeus wants to see him, because he’s heard about Jesus. The whole town has. But he doesn’t know what Jesus LOOKS LIKE, because there was no social media or photographs at that time.

So he’s trying to see through the crowd, but they won’t let him through. His high status couldn’t overcome his low stature. So he climbs a tree. A grown man. A community leader… up in a tree like a farm kid. Okay, let’s RISE for God’s word...

[Luke 19:1-10]

[Luke 19:2-3]

Maybe you’re already familiar with this story, or maybe you’re familiar with the nursery rhyme about him. But I want to focus on some important features of this guy, because he’s going to go through an incredible transformation, but we need to see how he starts.

He’s trying to see which one was Jesus, but the crowd it making it difficult. Maybe he’s curious about Jesus. Maybe it’s just the spectacle of the crowd being there that brought him out that day. But notice this: he’s not repentant yet. He hasn’t been convicted of his need for Jesus or tried to change his life. He’s not kneeling in prayer.

He just wants a look. So he finally gets up in the tree, and I imagine him trying not to bring attention to himself by hiding up there behind the leafy branches.

[Luke 19:5]

But Jesus is the one that notices him. He looks up, and calls him BY NAME. “Zacchaeus, hurry! I must stay at your house today.”

Let’s just unpack that for a second: First, Jesus knew his name. And even though he’s surrounded by the whole crowd of people who are all trying to get a curious look, Jesus sees the one person that everyone else had written off. And he calls him by name.

Names communicate care. Jesus knew that.

And then notice how Jesus said he “must” stay at Zacchaeus’ house. Luke uses this word elsewhere when Jesus is making predictions about how he “must” suffer and die and rise again. This word isn’t just an improvised line. God is doing something powerful here.

[Luke 19:6-7]

And so Zacchaeus hurries down. Have you ever seen a grown adult “hurry” down out of a tree? He scrambles down. Because he’s so happy. And I’m not even sure if he understands the feelings he’s experiencing. But he knew he was curious about this Jesus guy, and he wanted to catch a glimpse of him, and then Jesus looks right at HIM and calls him by NAME and wants to share a meal with HIM?!

And for the first time in a long time, the chief tax collector who has had to spend his money to throw parties to even pretend he has friends, but who deep down is so lonely because no one wants to be around him… for the first time in a long time, Zacchaeus feels wanted. And he’s happy.

But the crowd isn’t so happy. They grumble. They say, “Doesn’t this holy man know how AWFUL this guy is?”

[Luke 7:33-34]

But this isn’t the first time that Jesus has heard that complaint. All the way back in Luke ch7, Jesus is defending himself against his critics, and he names his own method out loud:

“John the Baptist came, and he made a big deal of not eating or drinking, and his detractors called him out for being extreme, even saying he had demon. But then I come, the Son of Man, and I’m totally down to eat and drink. I share meals with people all the time. I attend parties and build relationship. And you call me a glutton and a drunk. Even worse than that, you call me a FRIEND of tax collectors and sinners.”

[Luke 19:10]

Back in Luke ch7, Jesus declares his method: sharing meals and practicing hospitality. And it seems like Jesus was always dining with the “wrong people” at the “wrong tables.”

But back here in ch19, he tells us exactly why when he declares his mission: the Son of Man came to SEEK and SAVE the LOST.

These are not two separate things. The method of Jesus IS the mission of Jesus. It’s not like Jesus planned to share a meal with Zacchaeus so that he could warm him up for the real ministry afterwards.

The meal WAS ministry. Drawing close, practicing proximity, laughing together, spending extended time over a shared meal… all of THAT is stuff that God works through to send his love through us to those he’s trying to reach.

[Luke 19:8]

And look what effect it has! After sharing a meal with Jesus, Zacchaeus stands up and promises half of his possessions to the poor. So that's a 50% asset donation. He's not talking about donating a tithe a certain percentage off of his income. It’s a true ASSET donation to support ministry to those in need

And then he also promises recompense (times four!) for his past shadiness. This is a big, huge transformation that involves repentance, confession, and transparency.

[Luke 19:9-10]

But it’s not like Zacchaeus’ declaration or promises is what unlocked the grace. Zacchaeus’ words and actions aren’t the cause that brought the effect of Jesus’ grace and salvation.

Jesus went straight to him FIRST. Jesus called his name FIRST. Jesus invited HIMSELF over for a meal. No, salvation came to Zacchaeus, and THAT caused the transformation. Connecting with Jesus leads to transformation.

And the transformation that we see in Zacchaeus is the fruit of the salvation, the healing, the freedom he’s received from Jesus. The transformation is the evidence of what Jesus’ impact on him has been.

“For he too is a son of Abraham.” Salvation and freedom also involves adoption and reestablishment into God’s family.

[Eating together]

Salvation isn't earned. It's given by God. And what we see in Zacchaeus isn’t the cause, it’s the overflow. It’s the fruit of what God has done inside.

Eating together wasn’t the warmup for Jesus’ ministry. Sharing the meal together WAS WHERE blessing happened. And it was initiated by Jesus.

Notice that Zacchaeus didn't push through the crowd to make a performative declaration of what he intended to do in order to earn good standing with Jesus.

No, Jesus leaned in to share a meal. And it's because of THAT that Zacchaeus was changed as a result of God's work through the simple blessings of Jesus's actions and connecting with him.

It really is that simple, friends. When God calls us to be a blessing to those around us, we begin with prayer, asking God to direct us. That blesses them.

Then we spend time listening to the people we want to bless. Listening with care and compassion. THAT blesses them.

Then we can simply share a meal with them. THAT blesses them.

Eating together isn’t the warmup. It’s where blessing happens!

[3 Excuses]

But let me warn you: when you start thinking and praying about blessing your neighbors through this third practice of eating, it will become very easy and also tempting to come up with all sorts of excuses for why you can’t do it.

Pastor Dave Ferguson gives us three common excuses in his book: [READ IT]

#1: “I don’t like having people in my home.”

When we start talking about this practice, some people tell me, “I’m not much of a cook. I don’t like to eat my OWN food, let alone ask someone else to eat it.” Or “I don’t feel good about the way my house looks; we don’t even really have a table.” If you don’t like to have people in your home, that’s OK. Eat out. If you can’t cook, order in. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to prepare an eight-course meal to invite someone to dinner. Remember, it’s not about what you’re eating or even WHERE you’re eating it. It’s about WHO you’re eating with.

Here’s another excuse. #2: “I wouldn’t know what to say.”

A lot of us aren’t used to entertaining guests. You may be anxious about what you’ll talk about. No one likes awkward silences.

But let me encourage you with this: Eating together provides a great opportunity to live out what we talked about last week: LISTENING.

Instead of worrying about what you’ll SAY, think about what you can LEARN about the other person… by LISTENING.

Here’s some questions that can help you start conversations:

[QUESTIONS]

Write these down or take a picture:

Where did you grow up? What kinds of jobs have you had in your career? What do you do for fun? What are your dreams for the future?

If they’re married or dating, you can ask: Where did you meet?

Instead of worrying about having the perfect words to say, focus on just being present, asking questions, and listening to the people God has put in your life. Remember, you’ve already been praying for and listening to them. Trust God on this adventure!

[3 Excuses]

Here’s a third excuse that may be the biggest barrier of all:

#3 “I just don’t have time.”

Many of us, myself included, can barely find time to eat meals with our own families, let alone with other people, right? I get it. Finding the time to eat with people can seem next to impossible.

Think about it this way: Eating is already on our schedules. In fact, most of us find time to eat at least two and probably three times every day, even when there is a lot of uncertainty in our weeks. That’s between 14 and 21 times a week!

You don’t need to ADD something to your schedule. You can just be INTENTIONAL with what is already there.

And I get it, because all three of these excuses point to a deeper fear: what if I do it wrong? What if it’s awkward? What if it doesn’t “work”?

[Eating together]

Here’s the good news: Jesus ate with the “wrong people” at the “wrong tables” his entire ministry… and the crowd grumbled every time. He didn’t let the grumbling stop him. Because he wasn’t eating with Zacchaeus to prove something or perform something. He was doing what the Father sent him to do. He was being obedient when he got a nudge from God. He was simply taking a next step and the power and love of God was working through his obedience to accomplish incredible things.

And now WE’RE able to do the same thing. Not because we’re the same as Jesus. But because Jesus reached out to us first. Jesus connected with us when we were the “wrong people.” He drew near to us when we had nothing to offer him.

He didn’t wait for us to clean up our lives before he showed up. He showed up… and his presence changed everything. That’s grace.

And it’s the same grace of Jesus that now overflows through us to the people God has put on our heart on our BLESS list. And we can bless them with something as simple as sharing a meal, because eating together isn’t the warmup. It’s where blessing actually happens because of the grace of Jesus.

[share a meal]

So here’s what I’d like you to try this week: Invite someone on your BLESS list to share a meal with you. It could be at your table, or a restaurant, or a backyard… anywhere works!

And when you share the time together over food, remember, the goal isn’t a spiritual conversation. The goal is simply a REAL conversation.

You’re not trying to get them to “pray a prayer.” You’re beginning with prayer on your own, and then practicing simply listening to them with care and compassion and building a connection.

Coffee counts. Takeout counts. However you’re able to create a space to be PRESENT with them.

That’s it. That’s the next step. Because you’ve been praying for these people God keeps putting on your heart. And I bet you’ve got more than one person that God has put on your heart that he’s inviting you to be a blessing to!

You’ve been practicing listening to them. Now share a meal with them. Eat together as a way for Jesus’ love and presence to be a blessing to them… through you.

[END]

Because this is how Jesus has always connected with people: over a shared meal, a shared space, a shared time of connection and grace. And if we take seriously the fact that he’s called us to join him in his work…

…if we take seriously the fact that he’s given each of US the Great Commission, to go and make disciples… to be his witnesses… to spread his good news…

Then we’d better take seriously the fact that he’s got some people for us to bless each and every day!

But we know that he’s leading the way. He’s preparing the hearts. He’s opening the doors. We’re just simply being obedient when he gives us a nudge and taking that next step to BLESS the people around us.

And just imagine what happens to your neighborhood if you were to treat your table as a place where blessing flows?

Imagine how your family is transformed when meals stop being just fuel on the go and start being a place where God works to reach people who are close to us but who feel far from him?

Imagine the incredible joy you’ll experience when the people on your BLESS list start to feel like they belong somewhere… like they are wanted… not because you gave them some spiritual speech, but because you gave them a seat at your table.

This is what Jesus did. And he’s already done the hardest part: he sought and saved the lost… including YOU. He reached out to you first. And now he’s inviting you to reach out to others: to show up, to be present, to let his love overflow through the simplest thing in the world…

A shared meal.

Isn’t that good news?