Central Truth: Believers should follow Jesus' example of engaging with sinners.

Focus: Evaluate how Jesus challenges conventional mind-sets and let Him renew our minds.

Evangelism Emphasis: In-group boundries must be expanded to welcome people to the table in the kingdom of God.

Key Scripture (Luke 14:23): “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.

• When our actions show we care about others, we are most like Jesus
• Our part in life may be small, but it helps complete the plan of the divine architect

Key Scripture (Luke 14:1-4): One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. 2 There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. 3 Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” 4 But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way.

Watched by the World

Anyone who servces Christ must expect tot be watched and observed, no less than was the Master. We must never forget that the eyes of the world are upon us and that unbelievers are observing our actions.

-- Eugene Christenbury

Key Scripture (Luke 14:5-6): Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child[a] or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” 6 And they had nothing to say.

Key Scripture (Luke 14:7-11): When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Q: When do you find it easiest to humble yourself? When is it the most difficult? How can you be humble when it is hard?

Key Scripture (Luke 14:12-14): Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

(Revelation 20:6): Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Key Scripture (Luke 14:15-17):  When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” 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.’

Q: How has Jesus Christ made "all things . . . ready" (v. 17) for sinners today, and how does He call them?

Key Scripture (Luke 14:18-20):  “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.’

Excuses, Excuses

In the cartoon strip Peanuts, Lucy blames missing the fly ballon the sun, the moon, the wind, the stars, and even the toxic substance in her baseball gove.

-- Who Said That?

Key Scripture (Luke 14:21-24):  “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.’ 22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ 23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

Q: How can we "compel" lost people to accept the Gospel invitation today?

• Jesus contradicted typical thinking
• We must continually fill our mind and heart with God's Word

M - The Sabbath Commandment (Exodus 20:8-11) 

T - Rich and Poor Feast Together (Psalm 22:25-31)

W - Prophesied Feast for All Peoples (Isaiah 25:3-8)

T - Jesus Welcomes the Marginalized (Matthew 26:6-13)

F - Jesus Reaches Out to Sinners (Mark 2:13-17)

S - Gentiles Invited to Table Fellowship (Acts 15:22-29)