The Table Part 5
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This Sunday we will be finishing up the series on the table. For the past couple of weeks we have been talking about the significance of the table and references to this all throughout the Bible. It has been an interesting study for me. I hope that you too have been challenge by it.
I remember growing up family meals were always very important in our household. It was a time where we would take time to eat a meal together, usually supper meal, and catch up . It was a time to chat, talk about daily/weekly events, it was a time to see where everyone was in their lives and my parents knew how we were doing overall by gauging our conversations at family meals.
Today’s society lacks these moments I believe. We are all so busy and overprogrammed these oppotunities slip by us. Most families eat on the run due to busy schedules and shift work, etc. It is harder to make time for these moments.
Also a lot of familes eat out more. When I was growing up we did not eat out often today it is almost an everyday thing for some homes.
Growing up in our small town I could roam around anywhere and mom and dad knew I was safe. I loved being able to have that freedom. Spent hours on my bike, swimming, skipping, softball, playing at the playground, hours playing spotlight, tv shows, red rover. So many great childhood memories.
I will never forget mom telling me to make sure I am home when the street lights come on. I would never dare not to disobey or else there would be consequences and I loved my freedom way too much to mess that up.
I also remember mom calling me home for supper! Melisssssssaaaaa! I could always hear here, maybe it was just my ear was tuned in for the call to come home. When I heard her voice I made sure I was on my way.
I did not want to miss mom’s supper. It was always super yummy. Too good not to get there for it.
After the meal or sometimes while eating we would share in conversation. It was a highlight of the day for me. Talked about our day, tell stories, talk about school or activities we were involved in and of course we would talk about God or the church. That was always something that was important even before my dad was saved it was always important that we knew about God. The table was a place where that happened in our house.
When I met Travis it was funny because there was no conversation at the table, you were there to eat. Head down and not up till done. They took time to chat and get to know each other but not while there was food.
My parents knew us and took time for our family meals.
God is very much meal focused.
Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
The church is a place where people come to get fed - to the table. God owns the church, runs the church and it’s God’s church. Is it not?
I am just the person who presents the good and each chair at the table represents stages in our Christian walk.
We all one day will dine at a forever feat, because we are the bride of Christ and Christ is the bridegroom.
When you have worship, you have intimacy. The result of worship should be reproduction. We come to the table to get fed because we have been drawn in by the aroma of the bread of life. God the Father draws up to the table.
This morning we will take some time to look at three things:
The Menu
The Venue
The Revenue
The Menu
The Menu
Jesus has a table spread
Where the saints of God are fed,
He invites His chosen people, "Come and dine";
With His manna He doth feed
And supplies our every need:
Oh, 'tis sweet to sup with Jesus all the time! Refrain:
"Come and dine, " the Master calleth, "Come and dine";
You may feast at Jesus' table all the time;
He Who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine,
To the hungry calleth now, "Come and dine."
What do you do at the table?
Where the saints of God are fed
We come to eat. Not a rocket science answer is it.
Some of us come to the table to eat, converse, receive nourishment
So do you eat to live or live to eat?
The church is a table where people come to get fed. God owns the restaurant. The pastor presents the food. Chair 1 is for the faithless. Chair two the new believer. Chair three the mature believer.
Aug. 1 1978 a baby girl was born to Alvin and Starlene Stuckless. I was born into my family.
A few years later, one Sunday afternoon kneeling by a wooden chair in SA church in Point Leamington during Sunday School my teacher led me to the Lord. I was born again into the family of God. I was adopted. I was born again into God’s family.
Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’
This was a time I will never forget, it was the beginning of my story. I love to share my story, because I love to share how meeting the Lord has transformed my life. More than anything this is the cry of my heart to point lives to Jesus. To bring people to the table where they can meet the bridegroom and He will change your life too!
The Venue
The Venue
The Venue
The Venue
What do we do around the table?
We talk to one another. Conversation is necessary around the table. You need to get to know who is in your family.
At the table we:
Talk
Ask Questions
Tell Stories
At the table we converse with each other. Conversatoin happens. We should talk to one another more. We should not bury our heads in our phones or rush off. Put the phone away, stay, linger, and get to know each other.
We learn conversation around the table. We learn things, we mentor, share experiences, ask questions.
Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
Eccles.
I remember growing up when I came to prayer meeting I sat close by those in my church who were prayer warriors why? So I could learn how to pray. I could learn through their example, how they led out, how they spoke. I wanted to learn and grow and those people who were old than I or on the road longer than I were the ones God had put in my path to help me grow.
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
That is the whole point of the church. To exhort one another to encourage one another. To mentor one another. I can learn from you, you can learn from me. Together we are in this and together we will bring others to Christ.
When you are at the table, at the church you ask the right questions to the right people and you will get the right answers. Ask the wrong questions to the wrong people and you will discover the right questions to ask and who to ask them to.
Around the table we need to ask questions. Table talk.
We need to share stories around the table.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
We all have stories that are unique, they need to be shared. We must share our stories - life experiences because this shows what God has done and what He can do for you. At the table we get to share in a family situation and in the church situation. This helps with growth.
We all have stories that are unique, they need to be shared. We must share our stories - life experiences because this shows what God has done and what He can do for you. At the table we get to share in a family situation and in the church situation. This helps with growth.
As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.
Conversation is critical around the table.
Everytime I ask a question it is like I am taking a vacation in my mind because I am putting myself in your shoes and seeing a new context or perspective.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
We must share stor
Jesus lef so that we could follow. This is the perfect example for us to follow. We ought to live our lives in a manner that others will want to live as we do. The church is where we learn this.
The Revenue
The Revenue
At the table we tell stories, we eat, we ask questions but there are other things that we need to learn and take away from because we have spent time at the table.
I use revenue to illustrate the fact that you have learned something that you can take away from the table.
This is manners.
Manners matter. There are things we take for granted because we have been taught but some have not. Some need to learn these things.
Growing up mom made sure that we knew how to behave. If we did not learn it well we would learn it eventually because she was not having us growing up with bad manners.
Dad’s do you open doors for your daughters? Showing honor and respect to them? This will also show sons how to treat a lady with honor and respect. Also daughters will see how she should be treated and not settle for less.
Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.
Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
Respect for authority figures - there is so much hatred in this world today, we often don’t agree with or always like everyone especially our leaders but don’t throw hate on them. We have to have respect for their position.
You may say well I am not going to respect their position until I like the person - well you will never respect the position with that attitude.
Growing up I did not always like what my mom and dad told me to do or the food that they served. But I respected them enough to eat the food, do the task because around he table we were taught these things - manners.
We learned manners like put your napkin in your lap - don’t tuck it under your chin or to the side. Sit up straight, have good posture. We need to teach our kids these things. These things help show the importance of respect. Respect and holiness go hand in hand.
We were fancy people but I was taught how to eat properly and which utensil to use. You may go somewhere sometime and not know where the bread plate is, or which fork to use. Here’s a tip remember BMW.
No not the car. Although they are quite nice. My cousin owned one and I sure loved it when I go to go with him. What a nice ride.
So when you sit at the table remember
B - Bread plate to the left
M - Meal in the front
W - Water to the right
At the table we learned to say please and thank you. These things are scriptural. The Bible says everything should be done in a fitting and orderly manner.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
For instance in Pentecostal Church we have times in our service where we have had someone give a word of knowledge or tongues and interpretation. There is a certain manner that this is to be done otherwise it is out of order.
The Holy Spirit gives some believers the spiritual gift of tongues to glorify God and, with the help of an interpreter, to edify the church. This gift is dealt with extensively in the Scriptures and its use should be encouraged. That said, it should be used properly with pure motives and intentions, of course in the power and prompting of the Holy Spirit.
The spiritual gift of interpretation of tongues is found alongside the gift of speaking in tongues in .
He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.
1 Cor. 4
The Greek word for interpretation is hermeneia and simply means to interpret, explain, or expound some message that is not able to be understood in a natural way. Thus, this spiritual gift is the supernatural ability to understand and explain messages uttered in an unknown language.
This is a revelatory gift, meaning that God “reveals” the meaning of the words or message being spoken and allows the interpreter to communicate its meaning to those who need to hear it. When this happens in the church two things happen: the church is edified and God is glorified.
No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.
1 Cor. 14:
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.
1 Cor. 39-40
The spiritual gift of interpretation is given by the Holy Spirit to certain individuals to reveal messages spoken in an unknown tongue to God for the building up of the church. Like the gift of prophecy, tongues that are interpreted have the effect of encouraging and blessing the church to love and serve God more deeply and effectively.
But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
In our spirutual journey we need to learn manners. We need to know the way things are in God’s house. We ought to understand the order of things. At the table it is not a free for all there is to be respect and order in the church. No one can just take things and go on as they feel to go.
What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
Do you say thank you?
Thank you is commanded in scripture. So in living this life I am commanded to be obedient.
After a family meal we had to say thank you to our mom for cooking the meal. Say Thank you I enjoyed it.
Hey kids do you say that?
Even if it is in a restaurant - say thank you for it.
Why do I have to say that they already know that or they are my parents they have to feed me.
There is nothing like expressing thanks - everyone needs to hear it.
Why do you think God needs to hear our thanks?
As a believer my appreciation should reflect my participation in worship - Thank you God for this meal, the clothes on my back, thank you for the table.
Think about these things before you critize leaders outside or inside the church. We are all in this together. Trying to do our best. Often things may not makes sense but we have to trust and respect those in authority over us and pray for them.
We live in a time where we feel that we are entitled to question everything and we have taken away from the respect and trust that we have been taught. At one time we would not question and examine things to death we would pray through and not grumble through.
There should not be chatter about this one or that one. If there is something of concern go to the source and get it worked out. Talking about it in a “concerned manner” to others rather than to the one that is involved is gossip and that does not belong here.
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Eph. 4:16-
It is easy to look at someone elses life and see all the wrong. But we must remember we are not without faults in our own lives. Pray for one another. Bear your brother and sister before the throne of grace. Deal with the issues or situations of concern by going to the person you are concerned about, no middle man. That is how things are to be done.
As we take all that had been spoken on here this morning, the challenge is this. Come to the table. The Menu - The message is served in a creative and complelling way. The venue - the table the church is where we come ask questions, share stories learn and grow. Think about the revenue - what can you take away? This morning as we consider all the thigs we have learned from the table: order, honor, respect, manners, holiness. What needs to be worked on in your life? Will you allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart and expose what needs to be exposed?
Sing: Come to the Table of the Lord by Chris Tomlin