Embracing Diversity: Finding God at the Table

 

Summary

In today's discussion, we explored the profound idea of finding God in our differences, a concept deeply rooted in Jesus' mission and incarnation. Our world often struggles with diversity, seeking safety in sameness. However, the Gospel invites us to embrace diversity as a reflection of God's kingdom. The table, a central theme in our conversation, symbolizes a place of safety and story, where we can share our lives and be part of God's narrative. This is where we find God—at the table, in community, and in the embrace of diversity.

We delved into the challenges and beauty of interracial and intercultural relationships, both in marriage and within the church. As the world becomes more diverse, with predictions that by 2050, 50% of marriages in America will be interracial, the church must reflect this diversity. The Gospel calls us to tear down walls of hostility and create a community where differences are celebrated, not feared. This is not just a social imperative but a Gospel imperative, as the early church demonstrated by bringing together people of different ethnicities and backgrounds.

The table is where we find God, as it embodies hospitality, a practice that fulfills both the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. It is a place where we can grieve and rejoice together, recognizing our shared humanity. The communal life, as seen in the life of Jesus, is where we truly encounter God. While personal devotion is important, it is in community that we experience the fullness of God's presence.

In our journey, we must embrace the messiness of diversity, recognizing that no culture has it all right or wrong. By integrating the best of each culture, we create a richer, more vibrant community. This is the movement of the Gospel—reconciling us to God and to one another, celebrating our distinctions while forming a new, unified humanity.

Key Takeaways:

1. Finding God in Diversity: Embracing diversity is central to the Gospel, reflecting Jesus' mission to reconcile and restore humanity. The table symbolizes a place of safety and story, where we can share our lives and be part of God's narrative. [07:52]

2. Interracial and Intercultural Relationships: As the world becomes more diverse, the church must reflect this diversity. The Gospel calls us to tear down walls of hostility and create a community where differences are celebrated, not feared. [10:01]

3. The Table as a Place of Encounter: The table embodies hospitality, fulfilling both the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. It is a place where we can grieve and rejoice together, recognizing our shared humanity. [20:34]

4. The Messiness of Diversity: Embracing diversity is messy but essential. By integrating the best of each culture, we create a richer, more vibrant community, reflecting the movement of the Gospel. [24:53]

5. Community as the Context for Finding God: While personal devotion is important, it is in community that we experience the fullness of God's presence. The communal life, as seen in the life of Jesus, is where we truly encounter God. [21:01]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Diversity and Safety
- [00:25] - God at the Table
- [00:35] - Interracial Marriages
- [01:04] - Old School Practices
- [02:12] - Finding God in Your World
- [03:06] - Differences in Relationships
- [03:51] - Multi-Ethnic Community
- [04:52] - Jesus in the Temple
- [05:25] - Searching for God
- [06:06] - The Table as Safety
- [07:40] - Diversity and the Gospel
- [09:24] - Interracial Marriage Challenges
- [10:27] - Cultural Differences in Family
- [12:29] - Navigating Cultural Expectations
- [14:39] - Celebrating Cultural Differences
- [16:09] - Gospel and Diversity
- [18:29] - Communion and Cultural Bread
- [20:06] - Hospitality and the Gospel
- [21:43] - Community and Spiritual Formation
- [23:22] - The Movement of the Gospel
- [24:53] - Embracing Messiness in Diversity
- [26:10] - Creating a Worshiping Community
- [27:06] - Good News for All Peoples

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Ephesians 2:14-16 - "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility."
2. Galatians 3:28 - "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
3. Romans 1:16 - "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."

Observation Questions:
1. What does the sermon suggest is the significance of the table in finding God and sharing our stories? [07:52]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of diversity in the Gospel and the early church? [16:25]
3. What are some of the challenges mentioned in the sermon regarding interracial and intercultural relationships? [10:01]
4. According to the sermon, how does the communal life reflect the presence of God? [21:01]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of the table as a place of safety and story relate to the idea of finding God in diversity? [07:52]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Gospel calls us to tear down walls of hostility? How does this align with Ephesians 2:14-16? [16:25]
3. How does the sermon interpret the movement of the Gospel in terms of creating a new, unified humanity? [23:45]
4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of community in experiencing the fullness of God's presence? [21:01]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own experiences with diversity. How have you seen God at work in these situations, and how can you be more intentional about embracing diversity in your community? [07:52]
2. Consider the relationships in your life that cross cultural or racial boundaries. What steps can you take to celebrate these differences rather than fear them? [10:01]
3. How can you create a "table" in your own life—a space where others feel safe to share their stories and encounter God? What practical steps can you take this week to make this a reality? [07:52]
4. Think about a time when you felt uncomfortable in a diverse setting. What did you learn from that experience, and how can it inform your approach to diversity in the future? [07:40]
5. How can you contribute to a community that reflects the diversity of God's kingdom? What role can you play in tearing down walls of hostility within your church or community? [16:25]
6. Identify one cultural practice or tradition from another culture that you can learn about and appreciate this month. How might this practice enrich your understanding of God's diverse creation? [14:39]
7. Reflect on the communal aspects of your faith journey. How can you engage more deeply with your community to experience the fullness of God's presence? [21:01]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Diversity as a Reflection of God's Kingdom
In a world that often seeks comfort in sameness, the Gospel challenges us to embrace diversity as a reflection of God's kingdom. Jesus' mission was to reconcile and restore humanity, and this includes celebrating our differences. The table is a powerful symbol of safety and story, where we can share our lives and be part of God's narrative. It is at this table, in community and diversity, that we find God. Embracing diversity is not just a social imperative but a Gospel imperative, calling us to tear down walls of hostility and create a community where differences are celebrated, not feared. [07:52]

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:12-13, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a person or group in your life who is different from you. How can you intentionally reach out to them this week to learn from their perspective and share in God's narrative together?


Day 2: Building a Church that Reflects the Diversity of the World
As the world becomes more diverse, the church is called to reflect this diversity. The Gospel calls us to tear down walls of hostility and create a community where differences are celebrated, not feared. This is not just a social imperative but a Gospel imperative, as the early church demonstrated by bringing together people of different ethnicities and backgrounds. By 2050, it is predicted that 50% of marriages in America will be interracial, and the church must be a place where these relationships are supported and celebrated. [10:01]

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28, ESV)

Reflection: Consider your church community. What steps can you take to help it become a place where diversity is celebrated and all people feel welcomed and valued?


Day 3: The Table as a Place of Hospitality and Encounter
The table is a place where we find God, as it embodies hospitality and fulfills both the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. It is a place where we can grieve and rejoice together, recognizing our shared humanity. The communal life, as seen in the life of Jesus, is where we truly encounter God. While personal devotion is important, it is in community that we experience the fullness of God's presence. The table is a place of safety and story, where we can share our lives and be part of God's narrative. [20:34]

"Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." (Romans 12:13, ESV)

Reflection: Who can you invite to your table this week to share a meal and experience the presence of God together?


Day 4: Embracing the Messiness of Diversity
Embracing diversity is messy but essential. No culture has it all right or wrong, and by integrating the best of each culture, we create a richer, more vibrant community. This is the movement of the Gospel—reconciling us to God and to one another, celebrating our distinctions while forming a new, unified humanity. The beauty of diversity is found in its messiness, and it is through this messiness that we grow and learn from one another. [24:53]

"Bear with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgive each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." (Colossians 3:13, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you encountered the messiness of diversity. How can you embrace this messiness and learn from it to create a more vibrant community?


Day 5: Community as the Context for Experiencing God's Presence
While personal devotion is important, it is in community that we experience the fullness of God's presence. The communal life, as seen in the life of Jesus, is where we truly encounter God. The table is a place of safety and story, where we can share our lives and be part of God's narrative. In our journey, we must embrace the messiness of diversity, recognizing that no culture has it all right or wrong. By integrating the best of each culture, we create a richer, more vibrant community. [21:01]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you prioritize community in your life this week to experience the fullness of God's presence? What specific steps can you take to engage more deeply with your church community?

Quotes


This idea of finding God in differences seems like its core to Jesus and his mission and his Incarnation but our world is really wrestling with this well we're trying to do is bring people into the story of God and saying God is at the table the table should be the safest place where you can share your story be invited into the story of God. [00:12:12]

I think for me that's one of the most intriguing stories because we have a world that is looking for God whether or not they're willing to admit it there is a search and a hunger for God and I wonder if the reason we don't find him is because we're looking in places he's not. [00:17:00]

The table of the Father the table of Fellowship the breaking of bread the place of rest the place of communal Discovery and the table for me comes down to one story one one word it's the place of safety and story it's the place where I can lay out my story and be safe. [00:22:52]

Diversity often makes us feel unsafe we're entering into a story we don't know we're entering into a language we don't know we're entering into experience a culture a a story that we don't know and what we're trying to do is bring people into the story of God and saying God is at the table. [00:27:40]

We tell people none of us no human being can carry the weight of someone else's story we cannot carry the weight of someone else's story but we can create the space for that story to be held as sacred and so how do we grieve with people how do we celebrate with people how do we have moments of Joy moments of sadness. [00:32:47]

Marriage is difficult in in just in general two very different people coming together converging and then the two becoming one you know the Bible says the two shall become one and this seems magical and know it's going to happen overnight and it's a movement of two stories becoming one story. [00:39:59]

The gospel moves to reconcile and restore one another and so know the early church was the first time in history you walk into a room and you see people of different ethnicity and and races and ages the Philippian Church started with a a a Greek slave girl a Roman GI and a and an Asian fashion designer. [00:47:56]

God is restoring to himself all people to now create one new Humanity where we are celebrating one another's cultures and not seeing one as different one small practice we do at our church is we we do communion by intinction so you walk up and this is and you're talking thousands of people. [00:54:49]

I would contend that hospitality is the only Christian practice that accomplishes the Great Commission and the great commandment at the same time moving people together to break bread at the table to share our stories with one another finding Jesus in the communal life together. [01:01:06]

I think those are snapshots in the life of Jesus but the totality of the gospels shows him with people always with people and so one of my contentions would be there's this kind of New Movement of spiritual formation rising up which is building on the work of Willard and Nan and Jones. [01:06:28]

Finding God you cannot find God if you only aim to walk with him as you know spiritually isolated from the church from deeper Community from serving from serving the poor from giving your life to the cause of the poor and and from opening your home the table the table is the most important room in the house. [01:13:31]

The sign of God's activity in the world is a worshiping people and we want to create spaces where you have every nation tribe and tongue fueling the vision of that God is Worthy the worship of all people so let's bring all people Here and Now in America the world is coming here. [01:19:56]

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Transcript
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