Luke 14:13-24 (The Message)

 

More than 80 percent of people say they will come to church if invited.

Thom S. Rainer

 

The Church Must Extend an Invitation to Our Lost World:    vv. 13-14

Then he turned to the host. The next time you put on a dinner, don’t just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks. 14You’ll be and experience a blessing. They won’t be able to return the favor, but the favor will be returned oh, how it will be returned!Ñat the resurrection of God’s people.

 

1.         The whole world must be reached.   Luke 10:2

He told them, The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

 

2.         The whole Word must be preached. Luke 4:18

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,

 

While the world has been multiplying, the church has been making additions.

                                                            Dr. James Kennedy

 

The Church Must Demonstrate Care and Concern to Our Needy World:       vv. 15-22

That triggered a response from one of the guests: How fortunate the one who gets to eat dinner in God’s kingdom!

16Jesus followed up. Yes, for there was once a man who threw a great dinner party and invited many. 17When it was time for dinner, he sent out his servant to the invited guests, saying, come on in; the food’s on the table.

18 Then they all began to beg off, one after another making excuses. The first said, I bought a piece of property and need to look it over. Send my regrets.

19 Another said, I just bought five teams of oxen, and I really need to check them out. Send my regrets.

20 And yet another said, I just got married and need to get home to my wife.

21 The servant went back and told the master what had happened. He was outraged and told the servant, Quickly, get out into the city streets and alleys. Collect all who look like they need a square meal, all the misfits and homeless and wretched you can lay your hands on, and bring them here.

22 The servant reported back, Master, I did what you commanded and there’s still room.

 

1.         A community of love .                      John 13:34-35

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

 

2.         A community of faith .                        Philippians 3:20-21

 

3.         A community of wisdom .       Colossians 3:16

 

 

The Church Must Energize Our Spiritually Barren World:   vv. 23-24

The master said, Then go to the country roads. Whoever you find, drag them in. I want my house full! 24Let me tell you, not one of those originally invited is going to get so much as a bite at my dinner party.

 

1.         The freedom factor.              John 4:24

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.

 

2.         The fellowship factor.                       Hebrews 10:25

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

 

3.         The fire factor.                      Acts 4:31

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.