September 3, 1995
Communion Sunday

Luke 14

The scripture doesn't tell us, and I can't imagine, why a leader of the Pharisees invited Jesus to a formal Sabbath dinner. I can't imagine why Jesus accepted the invitation. You'd better watch where you ask Jesus to come, because he just might take you up on it.
Be that as it may, Jesus was definitely out of His usual setting.

['Would you pleez pass th' jelly?']

He was a carpenter from the highlands of Galilee. These people were Politically Correct, heavy-duty Very Important People from the capital City of Religion. It is obvious that Jesus was invited to the dinner for less than friendly reasons. There were people there who simply wanted to find fault with him. He was definitely something of a curiosity as the invited guests began to take their places. The text says ""they watched him intently." They just might have thought they could "put down" Jesus, and put Him in His place.

Have you ever been "put down?" Have you ever, say in your younger days, ever gotten into a situation where you came to realize you just didn't belong? Have you ever thought that maybe people might laugh at you because you didn't know which knife or fork to use? I have. And I don't think I'm going to tell you about it just now. [I do remember spilling a cup of tea on the wallpaper a long time ago.]

But Jesus was watching them, too. You can be certain that Jesus was not nervous or ill at ease in the least. He watched as the guests jockeyed for the places of honor nearest the power at the head of the table. He watched as they smiled insincere smiles, and made their comments behind their hands. He saw things they did not see, or did not want to see. He saw a man who needed help, and he helped him. Ultimately, Jesus is never 'on trial.' He is Truth.

I.  Jesus exposed the insincerity of relationships built on appearance rather than substance.

Before he healed the man with swollen joints, Jesus watched the insincerity of people jockeying for importance and ego satisfaction. He confounded his critics by asking them whether or not he should heal on the Sabbath. "Is it right to heal this man, or isn't it?" he asked them. Of course, the Pharisees weaseled on their reply, and this made Jesus angry.

Jesus absolutely turned the situation upside down. Now the Pharisees were looking awkwrd. When people do not dare to be who they really are, they say what they think people want to hear, or what will make themselves look good, rather than what is right and true.

If you find yourself always having to say what you believe people expect to hear instead of what you know is true, then you are running around with the wrong kind of crowd.
God's people, of all people, should be able to speak the truth in love.

[This is certainly not to say it doesn't matter how we act so long as we are "ourselves" and sincere. There is a definite place for social graces and tradition. Remember the parable Jesus gave that balances this one, of the man who came to the (free grace) wedding banquet but did not bother to put on the wedding garment that was furnished, and who was bound hand and foot and cast into darkness.]

II. Jesus explained that hospitality is a hands on attitude instead of giving alms at long range.

The Pharisees were big on PROGRAMMED ALMS-GIVING. They were tithers, and that is good. They believed in crossing the ocean if necessary to make a proselyte. But they weren't too good on simply being kind to someone they had invited home to dinner.

It may make you feel better to send $20 to Sally Struthers when you see pictures of poor little children half way around the world somewhere. But that doesn't let you off the hook if your next door neighbors, (who may even have a lot more money than you do,) need someone who will care about them and love them and tell them the truth instead of just passing the time of day. I've been impressed and deeply moved by the people who ministered to the desperately need in Bucharest. But you don't have to be in Romania to find elderly people who need to be ministered to. They might just be sitting next to you this morning.

Hospitality is having room in your heart for others. Hospitality is caring for the people where you live, not the people you are going to meet someday. Hospitality is loving people here and now. The "others" who desperately need the love of Jesus are not always far away.

What goes on INSIDE the church is the key to the quality of what will happen OUTSIDE!

NEVER despise the vital necessity of hospitality and fellowship by saying "Didn't Jesus say we need to get out into the streets and compel them to come in!"?? For before we can compel anyone there must be a climate of love into which to bring the lost. It is that very hospitality which the world doesn't understand but desperately needs. John put it this way: "They will say, "BEHOLD, HOW THEY LOVE ONE ANOTHER!"

Sometimes we are in the role of guests at the Lord's Table, responding to his invitation, and taking our place in the family meal. Sometimes we are called upon to be Christ's representatives as hosts, inviting others to the banquet. And Jesus has words here for us whether we are guests or hosts or both.

When we are guests at God's table we need the humility to realize we are not above our Lord, who washed his disciples feet. The epistle passage says "Let mutual love prevail!"

Our hope and prayer ought to be that our brothers and sisters have their burdens lightened, and not simply be concerned with our own.

When we are inviting others to Christ's banquet table, welcoming strangers into the friendship of the church, Jesus says our motive should be meeting their needs, and not simply compiling a list of names to drop. If we open our eyes, as Jesus did that day, we will see people that He can help, and we will be able to introduce them to Him.

The Epistle lesson underscores this kind of hospitality. Listen to it again in the words of The

Message:

"Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. Be ready with a meal or a bed when it's needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without even knowing it!

Regard prisoners as if you were in prison with them. Look on victims of abuse as if what happened to them had happened to you. Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex.

Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote, "God is there, ready to help; I'm fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?" (Hebrews 13: 1 - 5)

III. Jesus demonstrates his hospitality here at His table this morning: He has invited all who will to come, to partake.

The hospitality Jesus expects of us is simply a reflection of the kind of hospitality He extends to us as He invites us to His table. Jesus does not exclude those of us who are weak, or sinful, or imperfect in our service. He does not invite those who can afford to pay their own way. He calls to you and to me.

Will you come if he asks you? Will you try to be more like Him?

Prayer - Interim Hymn/Chorus

September 3, 1995

THE HOLY COMMUNION

The Law Read and Confession Made

The Lord Jesus Christ has said to us: "Thou shalt love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This if the first and great commandment. The second is like unto it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Shall we pray:

Search us, O God, and know our most private thoughts. Try us, and show unto us the deepest motives, the real state of our hearts. Forgive us where we have been selfish, or insensitive, or sinful in any way. We cannot keep the Great Commandment, and truly love You, O God, with all our heart, soul, and mind unless You in mercy grant to us the grace of Your indwelling Spirit. We cannot love each other as we should unless Your love is shed abroad in our hearts.

Brothers and sisters, let us search our hearts. In silence let us ask God to draw us near to Himself so that we can come to his table with confidence.

We do not presume to come to this table, O God, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your great mercy and grace. Grant us to eat the Bread of heaven, and drink the blood shed for the remission of sins, that we may live in Christ, and Christ may live in us forever. Amen

Let us confess our faith:

The Nicene Creed (STL # 14)

The Informal Invitation ("This is not my table . . . ")

Holy and gracious Father; in your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin, and were worthy of death and hell, you, in your mercy sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to You, the God and Father of all.
He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

The Words of Institution:

On the night in which he was betrayed our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had give thanks to You he broke it and gave it to his disciples and said, "Take eat: THIS IS MY BODY, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

After supper he took the cup and when he had give thanks he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you; THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE NEW COVENANT, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink this, do it in remembrance of me: Amen

We praise you for the mystery of our salvation! We truly believe
Christ has died!
Christ is risen!
Christ will come again!

Bless these emblems, O God, and make them to us the Body and Blood of your Son, spiritual food, and spiritual drink of new and unending life in Jesus Christ.

And now, together, we pray, as Jesus taught us:

Our Father which art in heaven . . .

Now, humbly we receive the Gifts of God for the People of God