You Were Blessed to BLESS - Week 4: “Eat Together.”

Devotional

Day 1: Blessing Others by Eating Together

Like Jesus, we can bless people by eating with them.

Jesus’ ministry was centered around meals at a table, showing that sharing food is not just a social act but a spiritual one. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus used the table as a place to connect with people, especially those who were considered outsiders or sinners. By simply inviting someone to share a meal, we create space for God’s love to be experienced in a tangible way. The act of eating together breaks down barriers, fosters genuine relationships, and opens doors for God to work in hearts. Every meal is an opportunity to reflect the hospitality and grace of God, making the ordinary sacred and the simple act of eating a means of blessing others. [05:21]

Luke 5:27-32 (ESV)
After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Reflection: Who is someone in your life you could invite to share a meal with this week, simply to show them God’s love and hospitality?

Day 2: God’s Hospitality Welcomes All

God is a gracious, generous, welcoming host who invites anyone—even the worst of us—to come to the table.

The God of the Bible is not distant, cold, or angry, but is portrayed as a loving host who welcomes all to His table, regardless of their past or status. This radical hospitality is seen in Jesus’ willingness to eat with tax collectors, sinners, and outcasts, offering them acceptance, validation, and friendship. At the table, people who are starved for love, justice, or hope can encounter the grace and kindness of God in a way that words alone cannot convey. When we extend this same hospitality, we reflect God’s heart and invite others to experience His love firsthand. [08:39]

Luke 7:34 (ESV)
The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.

Reflection: Is there someone you know who feels like an outsider or unworthy? How can you extend God’s welcoming hospitality to them this week?

Day 3: The Table as a Place of Transformation

At the table, God’s love can be encountered and embraced, leading to real life change.

Tables are powerful places where people are seen, heard, and valued. Jesus used meals to validate those who were rejected by society, offering them dignity and a sense of belonging. When we sit down with others—especially those who are spiritually hungry or far from God—we create opportunities for meaningful conversations and for God’s Spirit to work. The simple act of sharing food can open hearts to spiritual truths, foster repentance, and spark transformation, just as it did for Levi (Matthew) and Zacchaeus. [12:37]

Luke 19:9-10 (ESV)
And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Reflection: Think of someone who may be spiritually hungry or searching—how could you use a meal or coffee to help them feel seen and valued this week?

Day 4: Joining God’s Mission Through Everyday Meals

We join God’s mission by adopting Jesus’ practice of eating with others and keeping His purpose in mind.

Jesus’ purpose was to seek and save the lost, and He often accomplished this through the simple act of eating with people. We don’t need to add more to our busy schedules; instead, we can use our regular meals as opportunities to bless others, build relationships, and point them to Jesus. Every table we set can be a place where God’s love is shared and His mission is advanced. By being intentional with our meals, we become partners with God in helping others find and follow Jesus. [33:52]

Mark 10:45 (ESV)
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Reflection: How can you be more intentional with your meals this week, using them as opportunities to serve and bless others in Jesus’ name?

Day 5: The Eternal Table—God’s Ultimate Invitation

Every earthly table points to the greater feast God has prepared for His people.

The Bible ends with a vision of an eternal feast, where people from every nation are welcomed to recline at God’s table as family, not just guests. Jesus stands at the door and knocks, inviting all who are spiritually hungry to open their hearts and join Him in fellowship. Our acts of hospitality and shared meals are small glimpses of this ultimate reality, where God’s grace, acceptance, and healing are fully realized. When we invite others to our tables, we are participating in God’s grand story of redemption and hope. [42:28]

Revelation 3:20 (ESV)
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Reflection: What does it mean to you that God’s end goal is to welcome you to His table? How can you reflect this eternal invitation in your relationships today?

Sermon Summary

Today’s focus is on the profound spiritual significance of sharing meals together. The shortest distance between two hearts is a plate of food, and throughout the life of Jesus, meals were not just about eating—they were about connection, validation, and transformation. God uses tables to bring people together, to break down barriers, and to invite those who feel far from Him into His family. The act of eating together is woven deeply into the story of God’s people, from the wedding at Cana to the feeding of the 5,000, the Last Supper, and the meals Jesus shared after His resurrection.

Tables are powerful because they are places of equality, where stories are shared and relationships are built. Jesus’ ministry was marked by table fellowship, especially with those considered outsiders—tax collectors, sinners, and outcasts. In a world hungry for love, justice, and hope, the table becomes a place where God’s love can be encountered in tangible ways. Jesus validated people who were rejected by society, offering them dignity and friendship simply by sitting and eating with them.

There are different kinds of hunger—physical, relational, and spiritual. While food can satisfy the body, only Jesus can satisfy the deepest hunger of the soul. When Jesus called Levi (Matthew) to follow Him, He didn’t just offer a new direction; He offered acceptance and a new identity. Levi responded by throwing a feast, inviting his friends to meet Jesus at the table. This act models how those who have experienced God’s grace are called to invite others to the table, to experience that same grace.

Sharing a meal is not about forcing spiritual conversations, but about creating a relational context where validation and genuine dialogue can happen. Jesus saw sinners not as villains, but as people in need of healing. His kindness and hospitality led people to repentance and transformation. The table is where God’s love can be both encountered and embraced, where spiritual hunger is met with the bread of life.

Practically, this means adopting Jesus’ practice of eating with others, keeping His purpose in mind—to seek and save the lost—and sharing His promise of welcome and belonging. Every meal is an opportunity to reflect the hospitality of God, whose ultimate vision is a great feast where people from every direction are welcomed as family. The invitation is simple: share a meal or coffee with someone who doesn’t yet know Jesus, and let God use that table to change a life.

Key Takeaways

1. The Table as a Place of Transformation Tables are not just for eating; they are sacred spaces where God’s love is made tangible. Jesus used meals to break down social barriers, validate the rejected, and invite outsiders into relationship. When we invite others to our tables, we participate in God’s work of transformation, offering acceptance and dignity to those who may feel unseen or unloved. [04:34]
2. Meeting Deeper Hungers Physical hunger is obvious, but beneath the surface, people are starving for love, justice, and meaning. Jesus recognized these deeper hungers and met them at the table, offering not just food but Himself. When we share meals with others, we have the opportunity to address spiritual hunger by embodying the presence and compassion of Christ. [13:49]
3. Validation and Spiritual Conversation Jesus’ willingness to eat with tax collectors and sinners was a radical act of validation in a status-driven society. By sharing a meal, He communicated acceptance and opened the door for honest spiritual conversations. We are called to do the same—offering personal validation and creating space for God to work in the lives of those around us, without pressure or pretense. [22:08]
4. Hospitality as a Reflection of God’s Character God is not a distant, angry deity, but a gracious and generous host who invites all to His table. Our hospitality is a reflection of His heart, and it is through acts of welcome and kindness that people are often led to repentance and faith. True hospitality is not about impressing others, but about making space for them to encounter God’s love through us. [28:23]
5. Every Meal as a Kingdom Opportunity We don’t need to add more to our schedules to make an eternal impact; every meal is already an opportunity. By adopting Jesus’ practice of eating with others, keeping His purpose to seek and save the lost, and sharing His promise of welcome, we turn ordinary tables into places of eternal significance. The ultimate vision is God’s kingdom as an everlasting feast, and every meal we share is a foretaste of that celebration. [33:52]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:28] - The Riddle: Shortest Distance Between Two Hearts
[00:54] - Introduction to the BLESS Practices
[02:22] - The Power of Tables in Our Lives
[04:22] - Christianity Shaped Around Tables
[05:21] - Like Jesus: Blessing Others by Eating Together
[06:38] - Meals in the Ministry of Jesus
[08:08] - God as a Gracious Host
[09:33] - The Five BLESS Practices
[10:51] - Jesus: Friend of Sinners at the Table
[12:20] - At the Table: Encountering God’s Love
[13:49] - Three Kinds of Hunger
[15:28] - Jesus Calls Levi: Validation at the Table
[22:08] - Table Fellowship and Social Barriers
[24:11] - Spiritual Conversations at the Table
[29:38] - Embracing God’s Love at the Table
[32:11] - Adopting Jesus’ Practice of Eating with Others
[35:38] - Keeping Jesus’ Purpose: Seek and Save the Lost
[39:07] - Sharing Jesus’ Promise: The Ultimate Table
[41:40] - Every Table a Picture of God’s Kingdom
[44:08] - Responding to God’s Invitation
[47:23] - Next Steps and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 5:27-32 (ESV) — > After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Luke 7:34 (ESV) — > The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

Revelation 3:20 (ESV) — > Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Observation Questions

In Luke 5:27-32, what was Levi’s response to Jesus’ invitation, and who did he invite to the feast at his house?
According to the sermon, what did sharing a meal with someone mean in Jesus’ culture? [[22:08]]
What criticism did Jesus face from the religious leaders because of the people he ate with? [[32:11]]
In Revelation 3:20, what does Jesus promise to those who open the door to him?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus chose to spend so much time eating with people who were considered outsiders or sinners? What does this reveal about his mission? [[11:06]]
The sermon says there are different kinds of hunger—physical, relational, and spiritual. How does Jesus address these deeper hungers at the table? [[13:49]]
When Jesus says, “Follow me,” to Levi, what kind of change is he inviting Levi into? How does this relate to the idea of finding a new identity and acceptance? [[19:08]]
The sermon describes God as a gracious and generous host. How does this image of God challenge or encourage your understanding of who God is? [[08:39]]

Application Questions

Think about your own life—when was the last time you shared a meal with someone outside your usual circle? What was that experience like, and how might God have used it? [[05:21]]
The sermon challenges us to see every meal as an opportunity for God to work. What is one practical step you could take this week to invite someone (especially someone who may feel left out or far from God) to your table or out for coffee? [[41:12]]
Jesus offered validation and acceptance to people who were rejected by society. Who in your everyday world might be “starving for validation,” and how could you reach out to them in a simple, relational way? [[23:14]]
The table is described as a place where spiritual conversations can happen naturally, not forced. How can you create a welcoming environment at your table that allows for honest and meaningful dialogue about faith? [[25:28]]
The sermon says that God’s kindness leads to repentance (Romans 2:4, referenced at [27:53]). How can you show kindness and hospitality to someone who may not share your beliefs, without any pressure or pretense?
Jesus’ ultimate vision is a great feast where people from every direction are welcomed as family. How does this vision shape the way you think about hospitality and who you invite into your life? [[42:59]]
Is there a specific person God is putting on your heart to invite to a meal or coffee this week? What’s holding you back, and how can you take a step of faith to extend that invitation? [[41:12]]

Sermon Clips

All through the Bible, we don't see a mean, angry God. We see God as a gracious, generous, welcoming host who invites anyone, even the worst of us, to come to the table. That's the God of the Bible. In other words, the God of the Bible is the God of hospitality. [00:08:30] (22 seconds) #GodIsHospitality

God loves you. God loves people. People love food. You could eat food with people as a way to show them that God loves them. Factor that. What a powerful way to help people encounter the love of God. [00:25:37] (17 seconds) #LoveThroughMeals

By eating meals with sinners, Jesus was expressing the gracious hospitality of a loving God. To turn from your way and come down my way. Follow me. And for many of us Christians who really, really want to see people come to God and really do have concerns about sin issues, let's remind ourselves of Romans 2, 4. God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance. It is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. [00:27:38] (31 seconds) #KindnessLeadsToRepentance

How can you accept the gracious hospitality of God and withhold it from other people? How? You can't. You can't. You can't. You can't. If you can, something is wrong. You were invited to the table. What's our job? To invite others to the table. Until the whole table is filled with people. [00:29:13] (18 seconds) #InviteToTheTable

You don't have to add a single thing to your calendar to bless people the same way Jesus did, to bless by eating. You don't have to add a single thing. Here's why. You already eat every day. You eat every day at least once, some of us three times. So it's pretty much for many of us. You got 21 ready-made opportunities throughout the week to bless somebody. All you have to do is invite them to the table. [00:33:39] (19 seconds) #BlessThroughMeals

Behold, I stand at a door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him and he with me. Notice this is the ultimate promise of Jesus to all who are spiritually hungry. If you're here today and you feel like, man, I know what that's like. I feel like I'm starving in some ways. Then hear Jesus call to you. [00:39:18] (33 seconds) #JesusKnocks

What does that say about God? That his goal, his end game, is to be face-to-face with you, seated at a table and feasting together. Do you know this, God? Do you know this grace, this kindness, this hospitality? Because that's, that's the God of Scripture. May every table that we initiate be just a little picture of yet a bigger picture. [00:43:11] (25 seconds) #GodsTableGrace

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

1. How does eating together demonstrate God's love?

2. What is the significance of tables in Jesus' ministry?

3. How can hospitality lead to spiritual transformation?