#1 - In the Home of the Outcasts

This month our series is entitled Dining with Jesus and will run through Easter Sunday (March 31st).
In the gospel of Luke, there are some 50-60 references to food, drink, and meals. Luke pointed out that this became a point of contention with the religious rulers of the day in Luke 5:33. Jesus spoke to these critics in Luke 7:34.

The Lord incorporated hospitality into his mission strategy of disciple making. He often shared a meal around a table with people who were His family, friends, followers, and even His foes.
Being hospitable matters. Food matters. Meals matter and are significant. One author has written, "Few acts are more expressive of companionship than the shared meal. Someone with whom we share food is likely to be our friend, or well on the way to becoming one.

This series will stress the importance of opening your door and being hospitable. You must want to be hospitable...that is a key character quality of Jesus and those in the early church as well as an expectation of God the Father. 1 Peter 4:9
Jesus opened the door of His life to more than His family. He was accepting, loving, and inviting toward those whom He crossed paths with.
Dining with Jesus will...
- Enlighten you to see the difference between Biblical and cultural hospitality
- Encourage you to live more relationally with those in our church and community
- Equip you to live more like a Christ follower, and less like a church person

Jesus understood that having a relationship with someone is important to challenging their belief system and lifestyle. The book of Luke records numerous instances in which the Lord spent time with people. This month we're going to look at a few of these times, especially the mealtimes.

If you casually read through the gospel of Luke, you will see that Jesus often is found in the home of the outcasts.
Biblically, outcasts are those who are separated from God because of their sin and rejection of God's authority in their life.
Luke 5, 7, 11, 14, and 19 point out a few of those stories.
Luke 5 & 19 involve what society might call real sinners.
Luke 7, 11, & 14 deal with religious sinners.

Our text today is in Luke 5:27-32 and is referred to as The Call of Levi/Matthew.
The story takes place in Capernaum on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had just performed a miracle; the healing of the paralytic.
Both types of sinful people (real and religious) were present and aware of what Jesus had done.

- Levi/Matthew was a tax collector, sitting at a booth.
- These collectors had to bid for the privilege of collecting tolls. They had to pay the Romans a specific fee and then were allowed to keep the excess as their profit.
- These people were seen as traitors to God, the nation, and to their fellow countrymen.
- It's not likely that this was Jesus' first encounter with him.
- Verse 28 implies that Levi not only physically "got up" from sitting at the booth, but he was also spiritually transformed from death to life when he responded to Jesus' invitation.
- We should take note of the order of the words in verse 28...got up, left everything, and followed Him.
- In verses 29-32 we come to the food/meal/hospitality part. Jesus spent time with those who were alienated from God because He cared about His Father, and He cared about people. We can ask ourselves, "do I really care about people?"

As you look at this moment of hospitality, you become aware of the actions that resulted from the Lord's love...

First - GROWING

Who are you in relationship with? You have to be willing to open the door!

Second - CONNECTING

Is there a real interest on your part in getting to know people? Do they see any difference in your lifestyle, beliefs, and behaviors?

Third - SPEAKING

For many Christians, opening a conversation or injecting spiritual topics into normal day-to-day conversation is a skill they lack.
Have you thought about taking the Frontline class that provides help in the area of having spiritual conversations with people? It starts tonight at 6:30 pm at the church.

Practicing hospitality is a great way to grow in your faith, make friends, help others, and tell the Story...His Story of Jesus and our Story with Jesus.
Over the next few months you'll hear the phrase, "Open your door." This is the next step to "Walking across the room."