It's Supper Time

TEXT: Luke 14:23 TOPIC: It’s Supper Time!

Pastor Bobby Earls, First Baptist Church, Icard, NC, 8/3/97 First Baptist Church, Center Point, Alabama, 9/18/05 When I was a boy growing up in the Upstate of South Carolina I loved to play outside. I loved the outside. Give me a bike, a ball and bat, and a good buddy or two and I’d play outside from dawn to dust. We’d play until we were exhausted and just about to die of starvation. It was just about then when we here those words I loved to here. Down across the hill and over the garden I hear mom called, “Children, come and eat. It’s supper time.” I’m here to tell you, she only had to call one time. In Luke 14 we are told of a supper to which our Lord Jesus was called. A wealthy, well-respected pharisee had invited Jesus to have supper at his house and Jesus had gone. (That’s why it’s biblical to eat out). During the supper Jesus told the Pharisee not invite just his friends and those he knew could offer him something in return. Jesus told him to invite the poor, the maimed, the lame and the blind. Then God would bless him in return. Look at verse 15 of Luke 14. (Read Luke 14:15-23) Church, it’s supper time! God has prepared a great banquet in Jesus’ honor and He wants you as His special guest. But watch this now. Not only does God invite you to sit at His table and eat of his food, but the Lord commissions us to go and bring others to the meal as well. It’s supper time. I. THE BLESSEDNESS OF BEING INVITED, Luke 14:15 The joy of salvation. We should never get over being saved.

What does it mean to be saved? Our sins have been forgiven. We have been made the sons of God. We have the joy of living the abundant life and we have the hope of spending an eternity with Jesus.

God help us never to never get over our salvation! II. THE BOUNTIFULNESS OF THE INVITATION, Luke 14:16 “a certain man” The Lord Jesus “a great supper” everlasting life with Jesus in heaven. “bade many” invited many III. THE URGENCY OF THE INVITATION, Luke 14:17 “sent” God sent, God commissioned His servant “at supper time” It’s urgent because it’s late. It’s supper time. Supper-last meal of the day. “Come” for all things are now ready.”

IV. THE REJECTION OF THE INVITATION, Luke 14:18-20

A. The first man rejects God’s invitation because of His possessions, v. 18.

B. The second man rejects God’s invitation because of His work, v. 19.

C. The third man rejects God’s invitation because of His family, v. 20.

V. THE EXTENSION OF THE INVITATION, Luke 14:21-23

The Lord reissues the invitation. He extends the same invitation a second time. He broadens the scope of those who are invited. But notice also,

A. Our Lord’s anger over those who reject His offer, “angry”

B. Our Lord’s instructions to His servant, “Go out quickly” “into streets and lanes of the city.”

C. Our Lord’s guest list, “the poor, the maimed, the halt and the blind” (the lost)

D. The Servant’s obedience

E. The fact that there’s still room for more

F. Our Lord’s further instructions in verse 23 “highways and hedges” the countryside

G. Our Lord’s purpose “that His house may be filled.”

APPLICATION:

Church, let me ask you a few questions. Does God change? Does God still extend His invitation to come to supper to all men? Do some still reject God’s offer?

Does the fact that some men reject God’s invitation alter the urgency and responsibility we have to invite others to come to Christ?

Does God still desire for His house to be filled?

This week God has really stirred my heart regarding the effectiveness of our church’s outreach and evangelism ministries.

It began last Sunday when I stood before our SS teachers and workers. Monday night, I was excited over the strong number who came out for our SS visitation and rally. I was thrilled to see so many actually going out to compel others to come in that God’s house might be filled.

It continued as I studied throughout the week in preparation to lead a SS workshop entitled, “Evangelism through the SS.”

What I believe God has been reminding me this week is that we need to seriously evaluate how we are doing evangelism here. We will continue to intentionally share the gospel through structured visitation and outreach, but we must return evangelism and outreach where it can most effectively be carried out--the Sunday School.

There are many ways of reaching people, and all are good, but vigorous outreach through the Sunday School is best:

1.3 % of those save through Crusade or Revival Evangelism will be baptized.

18-23 % of those who are personally evangelized will be baptized.

Only 1 of 268 persons who occasionally come to worship will be saved!

1 of every 3 persons who are enrolled and consistently attend SS will be saved and baptized with a 12 month period.

We must return to the basics of Sunday School work: REACH, TEACH, WIN AND DEVELOP. We must discover prospects, organize our classes for effective outreach and train our SS leaders how to reach, teach, win and develop the lost. “That God’s house may be filled.”

Church, it’s supper time. And everyone has the right to taste and see that the Lord is good.