Dinner With Jesus I Week 3 I Pastor Kevin Kringel
Dinners with Jesus
Week 3
"When They Say No, Keep Setting the Table"
Primary Text: Luke 14:15–24 (The Parable of the Great Banquet)
Big Idea:
Jesus never stops setting the table. The Kingdom is built by invitations. Our responsibility is not people's response; it is faithfully extending Christ's invitation until every seat is filled.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Opening Illustration
Most of us know the disappointment of preparing a meal, cleaning the house, cooking for hours... and then receiving text after text:
"Sorry, something came up."
"We're going to have to reschedule."
"Maybe next time."
Few things feel more personal than preparing a table that stays empty.
This message came from speaking with a number of you who have been touched by this series. You told me, "Pastor, we invite others over for a meal, and no one says yes. They always make an excuse." I just wanted us to see today that you are in good company.
Jesus understood that feeling.
We live in a world where we are scared to meet one another. We all desire to be known and seen, but we are all hiding. Trying to avoid hurt, rejection, disappointment. Or we think we are too busy, important, or perhaps we are waiting for the invitation to come from someone who can promote us, missing the beauty of the invitation to friendships all along the way.
One of Jesus’ most poignant parables is about exactly that: a banquet where the invited guests all made excuses. They even accepted at first, the dinner was prepared and ready and they bail at the last minute.
The Good News! The story doesn't end with empty chairs. Jesus simply kept setting the table, kept asking.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I. Jesus Is Always Setting the Table-Luke 14:16-17
"A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests..."
The Gospel begins with an invitation.
From Genesis to Revelation, God is inviting people to fellowship.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
II. Many Will Make Excuses - Luke 14:18-20
Three guests all decline.
Not because the banquet wasn't good. Because something else became more important to them. (not that it was more important)
The excuses sound reasonable:
But good things become dangerous when they replace the invitation of Jesus.
Application
If you're going to live like Jesus...You'll make many invitations that get rejected.
You'll invite people to church...
...and sit alone.
You'll invite coworkers...
...and they'll say maybe.
You'll invite neighbors...and they'll never respond. Jesus understands.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
III. Jesus Keeps Setting the Table-Luke 14:21-23
The master says: "Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in..."
He doesn't cancel dinner. He expands the invitation.
The Kingdom never stops because some people say no.
Notice who is invited next:
People outside the city.
People no one expected.
People nobody would have chosen first.
Grace always reaches farther than religion expects.
This category of people is interesting; if we look just before this parable, we see Jesus mention them again in vs. 12-14: invite people that cannot pay you back.
-Agape love is one-directional love. Love given without a demand for something back.
-My parents often had people over when I was growing up. Sometimes they would comment or feel a certain way about people never inviting them over in return. But that didn’t stop them from asking more and more. Sure, we all want to be asked over, not as repayment but as a friend. If no one returns your kindness, keep giving it. Keep asking.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
IV. Our Job Is to Set the Table, Not Control the Response
This is freeing. We cannot save anyone. We cannot convict anyone. We cannot force anyone.
We simply prepare the table.
Invite.
Love.
Pray.
Welcome.
Repeat.
Jesus never measured faithfulness by how many attended. He measured faithfulness by extending the invitation.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
V. Sometimes the Harvest Comes from Fields You Never Planted
Galatians 6:7-8 “Do not be deceived God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap…”
You may invite one person... they do not invite you back, or they never come, but someday someone entirely different comes.
But what if you got bitter and stopped asking?
Some who say yes may not show.
Some who say no today will surprise you tomorrow.
Don't quit inviting.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
VI. Imagine Who Could Have Been at the Last Supper
One of the saddest stories in Scripture is the Rich Young Ruler. Mark 10:17-22
Jesus loved him.
Jesus invited him:
"Come, follow Me."
He walked away.
Think about this.
Had he accepted...
He very likely would have been sitting around that table in the Upper Room.
Imagine missing that invitation.
Not because Jesus rejected him...but because he rejected Jesus’ invitation.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
VII. The Last Supper Is Our Invitation Too
Sometimes we picture the Twelve as though they belong there more than we do.
But Communion reminds us:
The invitation has expanded.
You are invited.
Not because you're worthy. Because Jesus is gracious.
The table includes:
Every nation.
Every background.
Every story.
We're not inviting people to a lesser table. We're inviting them to His table.
The same table where disciples became apostles.
The same table where ordinary people became world changers. (This is our vision of the invitation and why we are so passionate about it.) “What will they become if they sit at the Lords table?”
Closing: Come to the Table
The Lord's Table has already been prepared.
The bread is ready.
The cup is poured.
The invitation has gone out.
The only question is:
Will you come?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Altar Call
1. Have You Accepted His Invitation?
Jesus has invited you.
Not because you've earned it. Because He loves you.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Who Are You Inviting?
Ask the Holy Spirit:
Who needs an invitation from me?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Come to the Lord's Table (come receive your emblems from the tables as the worship team plays, see yourself coming to the Lord’s table, the same table he has called all of his children to for thousands of years.)
"Today we don’t merely remember the Last Supper; we recognize that the invitation extended to those disciples has now been extended to us. We come not as people who have earned a seat, but as people welcomed by grace. Around this table there is room for the successful and the broken, the mature believer and the new believer, the saint who has walked faithfully for decades and the prodigal who has just come home. Jesus is still setting the table, and today He invites us: 'Come, for everything is now ready.'"
I invite you to receive Communion with gratitude, remembering that Christ's invitation remains open and that, having received it, you are now sent to extend the same invitation to others.
Week 3
"When They Say No, Keep Setting the Table"
Primary Text: Luke 14:15–24 (The Parable of the Great Banquet)
Big Idea:
Jesus never stops setting the table. The Kingdom is built by invitations. Our responsibility is not people's response; it is faithfully extending Christ's invitation until every seat is filled.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Opening Illustration
Most of us know the disappointment of preparing a meal, cleaning the house, cooking for hours... and then receiving text after text:
"Sorry, something came up."
"We're going to have to reschedule."
"Maybe next time."
Few things feel more personal than preparing a table that stays empty.
This message came from speaking with a number of you who have been touched by this series. You told me, "Pastor, we invite others over for a meal, and no one says yes. They always make an excuse." I just wanted us to see today that you are in good company.
Jesus understood that feeling.
We live in a world where we are scared to meet one another. We all desire to be known and seen, but we are all hiding. Trying to avoid hurt, rejection, disappointment. Or we think we are too busy, important, or perhaps we are waiting for the invitation to come from someone who can promote us, missing the beauty of the invitation to friendships all along the way.
One of Jesus’ most poignant parables is about exactly that: a banquet where the invited guests all made excuses. They even accepted at first, the dinner was prepared and ready and they bail at the last minute.
The Good News! The story doesn't end with empty chairs. Jesus simply kept setting the table, kept asking.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I. Jesus Is Always Setting the Table-Luke 14:16-17
"A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests..."
The Gospel begins with an invitation.
From Genesis to Revelation, God is inviting people to fellowship.
- Abraham welcomed strangers to a meal (Genesis 18:1-8).
- Israel celebrated Passover around a table (Exodus 12).
- Jesus constantly ate with sinners.
- The church broke bread together daily (Acts 2:42, 46).
- Heaven ends with the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-9).
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
II. Many Will Make Excuses - Luke 14:18-20
Three guests all decline.
Not because the banquet wasn't good. Because something else became more important to them. (not that it was more important)
The excuses sound reasonable:
- Business
- Possessions
- Relationships
But good things become dangerous when they replace the invitation of Jesus.
Application
If you're going to live like Jesus...You'll make many invitations that get rejected.
You'll invite people to church...
...and sit alone.
You'll invite coworkers...
...and they'll say maybe.
You'll invite neighbors...and they'll never respond. Jesus understands.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
III. Jesus Keeps Setting the Table-Luke 14:21-23
The master says: "Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in..."
He doesn't cancel dinner. He expands the invitation.
The Kingdom never stops because some people say no.
Notice who is invited next:
- The poor
- The crippled
- The blind
- The lame
People outside the city.
People no one expected.
People nobody would have chosen first.
Grace always reaches farther than religion expects.
This category of people is interesting; if we look just before this parable, we see Jesus mention them again in vs. 12-14: invite people that cannot pay you back.
-Agape love is one-directional love. Love given without a demand for something back.
-My parents often had people over when I was growing up. Sometimes they would comment or feel a certain way about people never inviting them over in return. But that didn’t stop them from asking more and more. Sure, we all want to be asked over, not as repayment but as a friend. If no one returns your kindness, keep giving it. Keep asking.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
IV. Our Job Is to Set the Table, Not Control the Response
This is freeing. We cannot save anyone. We cannot convict anyone. We cannot force anyone.
We simply prepare the table.
Invite.
Love.
Pray.
Welcome.
Repeat.
Jesus never measured faithfulness by how many attended. He measured faithfulness by extending the invitation.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
V. Sometimes the Harvest Comes from Fields You Never Planted
Galatians 6:7-8 “Do not be deceived God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap…”
You may invite one person... they do not invite you back, or they never come, but someday someone entirely different comes.
But what if you got bitter and stopped asking?
Some who say yes may not show.
Some who say no today will surprise you tomorrow.
Don't quit inviting.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
VI. Imagine Who Could Have Been at the Last Supper
One of the saddest stories in Scripture is the Rich Young Ruler. Mark 10:17-22
Jesus loved him.
Jesus invited him:
"Come, follow Me."
He walked away.
Think about this.
Had he accepted...
He very likely would have been sitting around that table in the Upper Room.
Imagine missing that invitation.
Not because Jesus rejected him...but because he rejected Jesus’ invitation.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
VII. The Last Supper Is Our Invitation Too
Sometimes we picture the Twelve as though they belong there more than we do.
But Communion reminds us:
The invitation has expanded.
You are invited.
Not because you're worthy. Because Jesus is gracious.
The table includes:
- failures
- doubters
- sinners
- successful people
- broken people
- religious people
- irreligious people
Every nation.
Every background.
Every story.
We're not inviting people to a lesser table. We're inviting them to His table.
The same table where disciples became apostles.
The same table where ordinary people became world changers. (This is our vision of the invitation and why we are so passionate about it.) “What will they become if they sit at the Lords table?”
Closing: Come to the Table
The Lord's Table has already been prepared.
The bread is ready.
The cup is poured.
The invitation has gone out.
The only question is:
Will you come?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Altar Call
1. Have You Accepted His Invitation?
Jesus has invited you.
Not because you've earned it. Because He loves you.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Who Are You Inviting?
Ask the Holy Spirit:
Who needs an invitation from me?
- A neighbor?
- A coworker?
- A family member?
- Someone who's drifted away?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Come to the Lord's Table (come receive your emblems from the tables as the worship team plays, see yourself coming to the Lord’s table, the same table he has called all of his children to for thousands of years.)
"Today we don’t merely remember the Last Supper; we recognize that the invitation extended to those disciples has now been extended to us. We come not as people who have earned a seat, but as people welcomed by grace. Around this table there is room for the successful and the broken, the mature believer and the new believer, the saint who has walked faithfully for decades and the prodigal who has just come home. Jesus is still setting the table, and today He invites us: 'Come, for everything is now ready.'"
I invite you to receive Communion with gratitude, remembering that Christ's invitation remains open and that, having received it, you are now sent to extend the same invitation to others.