The Table

Radical Love At His Table

Story: When a storm approaches buffalo and cattle respond differently, cattle will run away from the storm and scatter and eventually the storm will catch up to them, buffalo will herd together then run against the wind into the storm, an the result is that the storm is over sooner for the buffalo than the cattle.

I believe that we are in a season that god is directing christians to herd together and run into the storm, in faith. Most times we want to run away.

2. Our mission story for Ireland about the The Table being the focus, all are welcome at His Table.

And as a body of christ we are meant to feel when someone is hurting, to mourn with them, and to rejoice with them. IT takes COURAGE TO OPEN UP YOUR LIFE TO ONE ANOTHER and to be vulnerable.

At His Table we learn about one another and together we focus on the presence and love of Jesus.

Our identity in the Lord is formed at His table.

Story:

John 13:21–27 (NIV)

21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”

22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant.

23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.

24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple (john) and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. ( i love what jesus does at this moment, he does not accuse judas, jesus does not get defensive, jesus doesnt stop Judas. Why? because he loved Judas.

what i find interesting is that in this part of the passover meal it was was called the sader- where they dip the bread in the sop (horseradish sauce), and the host would be the one to dip the bread into the sop and give to someone at the table, which proclaim love and friendship.

look at it from Johns perspective with his head rested on Jesus chest, John whispers “who will betray you?” Jesus says the “one i give the bread to” And in that moment John is looking across from Jesus and see Judas the betrayer,

What does John see?

He sees unconditional love.

He sees the body that will be given for the many.

John is given a frame work for viewing Judas. And provides us a frame work how we view everyone that comes to His Table and sets a definition of His Love.

communion:

bread:

We thank you when you hand us this bread representing your broken body,

thank you for your mercy Lord.

We humble ourselves before you Lord,

Take a minute to pray to yourself - ask for healing , forgive someone that you have not forgiven , this is a moment of healing for physical and relational .

take and eat

***wait 1 min**

blood: Around the same table after everything that just happened Jesus gives us a new command. John 13:34–35 (NIV)

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Take the juice representing his blood ,

thank you lord for you unconditional never ending love.

take and drink

** closing prayer**