Throughout the series that we have been in, Party Poopers, we have discovered that Jesus attended several dinner parties during His time on earth. In our study today, we are going to look at a dinner party that Jesus attended at the home of a religious leader, where He challenged the attendees' understanding of what it means to be great and who is invited to be a part of the Kingdom of God.
If you could have dinner with any person, past or present, who would it be? Why?
1. Read Luke 14:7-11. How was Jesus’ teaching counter-cultural (both in Jesus’ day and today)?
Luke 14:7-11
7 When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice: 8 “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? 9 The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table! 10 “Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. 11 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
2. Why did Jesus teach His listeners to live counterculturally in Luke 14:7-11?
3. Read Luke 14:12-14. Who did Jesus call listeners to include in their party guest lists, and why?
Luke 14:12-14
12 Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. 13 Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”
4. Read Luke 14:15-24. Summarize Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom of God in this passage of Scripture.
Luke 14:15-24
15 Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!” 16 Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. 17 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ 18 But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ 19 Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ 21 “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ 22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ 23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. 24 For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’”
1. What does it look like in today’s world to seek out the lowest seat at the table instead of the best seat?
2. What prevents people from treating others as Jesus calls us to in the Scripture we studied today?
3. How can we today reach out to the unexpected and outcasts in the way that Jesus called us to?
Who do you know who needs the hope of Christ today? What can you do to reach out to them this week to let them know that they are wanted and invited to be a part of God's kingdom? Share that with your group. After everyone has shared, pray together. Pray for all of the people in your lives to come to know the hope of Christ.
In our study today, we have seen that Jesus extends an invitation to follow Him to all people, even the most unexpected people. He also treated the people around Him with honor and respect, regardless of their background or past sin history. His actions served as an example to us of how to treat all people, especially the people whom most would avoid or consider outcasts. Let's take a look at what Scripture teaches about how we can follow His example.
While the religious leaders showed contempt for people who did not live according to their requirements and were caught up in sin, Jesus extended grace. He offered forgiveness to those whom the religious leaders condemned, proving that His grace is for everyone. That is the kind of grace that we, too, are called to show.
1. Read John 8:1-11.
John 8:1-11
1For Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. 4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” 6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. 9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” 11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
2. Compare the religious leaders’ treatment of this woman versus Jesus’ treatment of her.
3. How did Jesus show this woman grace?
4. Based on Jesus' treatment of this woman, define grace.
5. What does it look like today to show others this same kind of grace?
Treating people in a way that honors God also means telling them the truth, even when it is hard. That means calling sin, sin, and sharing with people that God has a better way for them than living a life of sin. We must be willing to speak this hard truth, even when it feels uncomfortable.
1. Read Ephesians 4:14b-15.
Ephesians 4:14b-15
14 We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
2. How are we called to speak to people, according to this passage of Scripture
3. What does it look like for us today to speak the truth in love?
4. What is the result of speaking the truth in love?
The defining marker for how Jesus treated all people, especially the outcasts, those caught up in sin, and those who most would consider “unlovable” was His love. And His love is far greater than any love on this earth. His love is life-changing, never-ending, and full of forgiveness. Take a look at how Scripture teaches us to love people in the way that Christ loves all people.
1. Read Romans 12:9-16
Romans 12:9-16
9Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
2. How are we to love people, according to this passage of Scripture?
3. What happens when we love people the way that this passage of Scripture describes?
4. What is one step you can take this week to demonstrate this kind of love to those around you?
Reflect:
Who is someone you are currently struggling to treat in the way that Scripture calls Christ followers to treat those around us? How can you take a step toward treating that person in the same way that Christ treated others this week? Share that with your group, and commit to taking that step this week. End your time praying, asking God to give each one of you an attitude of grace, the boldness to speak the truth, and Christ-like love to everyone around you, including those whom we struggle to show Christ-like love to.
©2025 Sagebrush Church
