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Sharing Our Faith at the Table

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” LUKE 19:1-10 NIV

Jesus brought people into the kingdom one meal at a time

“Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” LUKE 5:29-30 NIV

Hospitality is a powerful way to share my faith

Hospitality is the practice of welcoming in our neighbors through relationships, safety, and food in the same way God has welcomed us

… Practice hospitality. ROMANS 12:13 NIV

Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 PETER 4:8-10 NIV

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. HEBREWS 13:1-2 NIV

As I welcome others I can…

Ask about their story

Listen my way to the gospel

Share honestly what Jesus has done in my life

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a quiet place free of distractions that will help you relax and clear your mind. Take several deep breaths, and when you are ready, ask God to guide you through this time of reflection. Pray for God to impress upon you a person or couple within your circle that He would like you to show hospitality to over a meal. What are your attitudes, thoughts, and feelings about doing this? What doors might be opened by listening to their story? Reflect on how God has transformed your life and be prepared to share this experience with them if God opens the door to do so. Then, discuss with God the details of when and how to show hospitality over a meal with these people, asking Him for wisdom and help where needed. Have a conversation with Him about any excuses that come to your mind that would get in the way of you following through with this. Close your time by thanking God for His heart for hospitality, and ask Him to increase your own heart for the same.

Discussion Questions

  1. What obstacles do you think get in the way of people being hospitable?
  2. Share about a time when someone extended gracious hospitality toward you. What was this experience like for you?
  3. When we listen well, we hear the deep questions someone is asking. How has listening to the stories of others grown your relationships?
  4. Share about a time when your proactive listening to others paved the way for opportunities to talk about your own story.
  5. If someone asked you to share how Jesus has changed your life personally, what would you say?
  6. Next Steps: Throughout the next week, ask God to show you whom you can share a meal with and hear their story. Share with the group whom God put on your heart.