Big Idea

There is power in who we invite to the table

Key Verses

Luke 15:1-3

Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! So Jesus told them this story:

Matthew 9:9-13

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.  But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Luke 7:34-35

The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.

Discussion Questions

1. What's the best meal you've ever eaten? Who was there? 

2. In what ways can you help make YX a place for people to come to the table? 

3. On a scale of 1-10. How honest do you feel like you can live when you show up to church? (10 being  I can completely be myself 1 being I am a totally different person here then I am at school or home. Be honest there is no right or wrong answer.) Why? 

4. What do you think would change if you started showing up and being real?

5. Where are you at with Jesus?

   1. Not sure but  i'm interested. 

   2. Curious and interested in next steps.

   3. Following Jesus / baptized wanting more

   4. I want nothing to do with any of this…

6. Who is someone you need to invite to experience the hope of Jesus? Go around and just say their first name out loud. Group leaders pray for boldness to invite and the courage to be the difference in someone's life.