A PLACE AT THE TABLE

Dr. Marty Baker / Luke 14:14-24 / October 25, 2009
Good morning and welcome to The Creek. I want to specifically welcome those in our Grovetown Campus and those that are watching on television and at www.StevensCreekChurch.com.
Have you ever felt like an outsider? I have. When I was in the seventh grade, I joined the high school band. (Some of you watching today may remember this because this service is on channel 11 in Abbeville.) After the first competition that fall, it was evident that my legs were too short to hit the line or I was just uncoordinated. For whatever reason, I was just not measuring up, so I, along with six other folks, were pulled from the show.
From that point till the end of the season every time the band performed we had to stand at attention on the sidelines. As a seventh grader, this was not cool. It was humiliating. On more than one occasion, I can remember going home in tears because I wanted to be a part of the group and not on the sidelines.
Has there ever been a time where you felt like that? Maybe you were not in the band, but you were cut from the football team and your friends made the team. Or maybe you failed to get into the college that you wanted, or you were passed over for a position or left off the guest list at a party you wanted to attend. Along the way, every one of us has felt left out or have experienced some sort of rejection.
At times we bring those feelings into church thinking that because we have been rejected at other places that God has rejected us too. But, I have good news for you. God has a plan for you. He has a seat of honor for you. He has a place at the table for you.
Today, we continue our series, Amazed, with a look at a story that Jesus told about a great banquet. This parable shows us the incredible heart of God. In it we see His passion to include people, people who have been on the sidelines, people like you and me.
Luke 14:16-17
16 Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.
17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'
To understand this passage, you have to look at it in light of their customs. In Biblical days, people typically received two invitations to celebrations. When a feast was first proposed, a nonspecific invitation would go out to the intended guests, announcing the event and highlighting its significance.
They did this way because planning was so unpredictable. The host did not have the luxury of running down to the grocery store to stock up on supplies, so they may have to wait for certain ingredients to become available or they may have to wait for the cow to fatten up before they would slaughter it.
People typically sent out the first invitation without a specific day or time stipulated. Guests would then anxiously wait for the much anticipated second invitation that said, “The feast is ready, it’s time to party!” Those invited never quite knew when that second message would finally be delivered, but they prepared to be ready to go as soon as the invitation was extended.
The banquet that Jesus was referring to was a big deal; it was a great banquet. It was a big-time, guzzle-and-gulp-it-down feast. They did not use plastic-plated deli trays or cheesy cheese logs. They did not have rubbery chicken-ALA-king or dry sheet cakes. It was a meal fit for a king.
In those days, people knew how to throw a party. So many of the banquets we go to begin a 7:00 and we are out by 9:00 PM. In those days, people came early and stayed until all the food was gone and their energy ran out. Banquets were huge celebrations. It was a banquet that people look forward to attending; well that is, most people.
As the story goes, there were several people who excused themselves from the party. At times we have all made excuses. We’ve all had our schedules change for one reason or another and are forced to give an excuse for not being somewhere. We give an excuse. If we miss an appointment, we give an excuse. If we are stopped for speeding many of us try to give an excuse. If we are a few minutes late to the office we give a detailed explanation.
As a pastor, I am always on the receiving end of somebody’s excuse. They want to explain to me why they were not in church. I hear this a lot, “Pastor, things are crazy right.” What does that mean? When are things not crazy? One of the most random excuses for missing church came to me several years ago. Someone said, “Pastor, I am sorry I missed church because I had to get my oil changed?” Really, an oil change? Is that the best excuse that you can come up with? Just tell me that you had a hang-over.
Sometimes our excuses are elaborate and have very little truth in them. That’s what’s happening in our parable today. Jesus is telling a story about a generous host who wants people to come and share in a rather glamorous feast, but several of the people make excuses for not attending. What are they?
Luke 14:18-20
18 "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.'
19 "Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.'
20 "Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'
On the surface, these seem somewhat logical, but let’s look a little deeper. The first one said, “I’ve just bought a field and I must go and see it.” How many people buy land sight unseen? Very rarely do people make large land purchases without walking the property, examining the lay of the land, and admiring the view. This excuse was not realistic.
The next guy said, “I’ve just bought five yoke of oxen and I want to try them out.” In those days, five yoke of oxen would be like buying five John Deere tractors. If you are going to buy a tractor you are going to kick some tires and test drive it. Before anyone buys a yoke of oxen, he is going to check them out first. He is going to see if they are strong enough for the job.
The final excuse seems a little more logical. The guy said, “I’ve just got married so I can’t come.” That man was not out of the gate good and he was hen-pecked.
What is Jesus really saying in this story? He is using this story to teach us a lesson about God and His passion to bless His people. You see, God has invited us to a great banquet. It’s a celebration. It’s a family dinner where you feel accepted, loved and cared for. It’s a place where you feel secure and you feel like you belong. It’s life in His Spirit.
God sent out the invitations, but instead of accepting His invitation, many people have excused themselves from any kind of connection with you. They have excused themselves away from any spiritual experience.
When they are asked to come, they simply say, “I am not interested.” Many people are like the man who just bought a field, they allow their possessions to keep them away from God’s will for their lives.
Some are like the second man who felt like his business expansion was more important than his spiritual life.
Others are like the last man who allowed relationships with other people to take precedence over their faith. Each one of these individuals gave an excuse and thus rejected the offer to the great banquet.
Today, God is reminding you of His invitation to join Him. What’s your excuse? You have seat at the table. God has a place of honor for you. He is looking for you. He wants you here. God is not mad at you. He has not rejected you. So, what’s your excuse for rejecting Him?
This invitation is for all of you. It does not matter where you came from or where you are right now. God is searching for you. He has room for you at his table. Let’s look at God’s response.
Luke 14:21
21 "The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'
This is very interesting because the people that we would normally exclude from our guest list are found on God’s list. So, at this table here today, there is room for everyone.
Luke 14:22
22 "'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.'
God is bigger than we think He is. His heart is bigger. His compassion is bigger. His plans for you are bigger than you imagine. Just when you think that you have asked too much, God says, “There’s more.” There is still room.
Luke 14:23
23 "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.
This story is not only about those who are on sidelines, but here he speaks to those in the game. He told his servant to go. We, as believers in Jesus Christ, are his servants and we have the responsibility to go and make them come in.
We take this so lightly. We have bought into the cultural view of tolerance to the point that we do not care if someone dies without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We are too afraid that we may offend someone so we remain silent. Remain silent about the greatest gift that you have ever received.
You cannot watch a good movie without telling ten of your friends how great the movie is. You cannot go to a good restaurant without telling a number of people how good the food is.
Yet, when you go out of here, you are so timid to tell anyone what God has done in our life. Tell your story. Tell your friends how you felt before coming to Christ and how you feel today. Tell your friends what it feels like to be forgiven. Your friends aren’t looking for a lesson in theology, they are looking for hope.
When you talk to them, don’t talk down to them. Don’t preach to them. Don’t judge them. Just love them enough to share some good news. Just tell your story. Just tell that Jesus has changed your life and that He is room at the table for them too.
Jesus is telling us to go. He said, “Make them come in.” We need to be pro-active. We need to take the initiative. There will be people that we will see this week that are headed for a Christ-less eternity. Will we even notice them? What do they look like? Let go back to verse 21.
Luke 14:21b
21 ...Then the owner ... ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'
He specifically mentions the poor, the crippled, blind and the lame. He said to begin with the hurting people. Some of us immediately think about folks that under-resourced and disenfranchised. So, we sign up for a First Saturday Missions experience here at The Creek. I appreciate that. We need to be in the inner city. But, I believe that our vision must be broader.
When Jesus refers to those who are poor, could he be referring to those individuals who are poor in spirit? These are the people who are depressed and discouraged.
Here’s his message. There’s room at the table for people whose lives are broken and hurting. There’s room for people who are not perfect. This is a healing place for a hurting world. You can find healing. You can find hope in Jesus Christ.
What about the crippled? Could this include those individuals that have been crippled by life? What about those folks who have and are suffering through a divorce?
You never dreamed that your life would turn out like it has. When you exchanged rings on your wedding day, you thought that it was till death do you part, but it has not turned out that way. God hates divorces, but He loves divorced people. If you have been crippled by divorce, there’s room at the table for you.
Maybe you have been crippled by a financial reversal. You never thought that you would be in this situation, but here you are.
There are some here today that have been crippled by an unexpected death of a loved one. There’s room at this table for you. You can find comfort in Jesus Christ. If you are grieving a loss, there are people here at The Creek that will walk along side of you. You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone. We have a grief share group that meets on Mondays at 7:00.
Luke 14:21
… 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'
What about the blind? There are many people who are blinded by the world and cannot see the light of God’s love. Maybe we are to extend a loving touch to these individuals.
What about the lame? These are the people who have never been given a chance to walk. Could it be that God is calling us to help them get on their feet and get started on a new path?
Our vision must be broader. There’s room here at The Creek for people who have suffered, people who have lost their way, people who have stepped out of bounds. There’s room for you.
When you look back over this passage, the message is very clear: we are to bring them; we are to make them. God wants you to be involved in this work.
For years, we have encouraged you to invest your life into people and then invite them to church. Here’s an empty chair. We are the hands and feet of Jesus in this community. It is our responsibility to have a conversation with the people that God brings our way.
But, not only that, we are to go into our week and compel people to come to the banquet. There’s a place here for you and your friends.
God’s arms are open wide and He is saying to come to the table … those of you who are wounded, hurting, sin-laden and lost. Come, come to His table today.