Come to the Table: Part 2 - Are you Sitting Comfortably

This Sunday, Rob Lea brings us the talk in the latest of our EBC Online services. Once you have watched the video, we encourage you to reflect on the bible text and join us in the prayer that follows below.

To listen to the talk click here.
 
Readings:

Luke chapter 14 verses 15 - 24

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”
Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.”
“Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
“Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
“The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’
“‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’
“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”


 

Prayer & Reflection

Lord God we confess that we allow ourselves to be distracted from spending time with you. Rather than reading our bible and engaging in conversation with you in prayer, we make excuses, and we neglect our spiritual growth. For this we are sorry, please forgive us.

Thank you, Jesus, for your promise that if we abide in you, we will bear much fruit. In these challenging times, we ask that you fill us with your spirit to equip us to be salt and light in our community. We ask this in your precious name and for your glory.
AMEN



Questions to Consider

1. What are the specific distractions that cause you to spend less time that you would like to with God? (In prayer and bible study).
2. What one thing could you/will you do to ensure that you overcome these distractions?
3. Think back over the past 12 months. In what way(s) specifically have you been ‘salt and light’ to your family/friends/community? What more can you realistically do?
4. Would your family and friends describe you as an ‘attractional witness for Jesus’? (or words that mean the same thing) If you don’t know, ask them!
5. Are you comfortable and secure with your relationship with Jesus? Do you fully accept that you really are loved and forgiven, a child of God, a friend of Jesus? If ‘no’, what will you do to ensure that you do become comfortable?
6. If you were asked to explain John 15:5 in ‘every day’ language, what would you say?