Luke 5:27-32 In the coming weeks, we will be looking at times when the gospels tell us that Jesus sat down to have a meal, or even to take part in a banquet.  Who was He with, and what does it teach us about His mission as God’s Messiah? We begin early in Jesus’ ministry as He was calling together His band of disciples.  Matthew the tax collector seemed an unlikely choice, but immediately upon being called, he invited Jesus to his house to celebrate with his friends.

• An Invitation (verse 27)
• A Redirection (verse 28)
• A Celebration (verse 29)
• An Objection (verse 30)
• A Clarification (verse 31-32)

We learn an important lesson about Jesus.  He is the Messiah who welcomes!  There is certainly a place at his table for us.

1 Corinthians 11 As the Apostle Paul sought to heal some of the problems in the Church at Corinth, he tackled the issue of misguided worship.  Some in the church had lost focus on what was most important in a Christian fellowship.  Even the communal meals at which the Lord’s Supper was observed were, in Paul’s words, “doing more harm than good.”  What seems to have gone wrong? Rituals had become more important than relationships.  Matthew 5:23-24 Freedoms were used for selfishness rather than servanthood.  Galatians 5:13 The focus had become pleasing themselves rather than pleasing God.  John 4:23-24

“Flee from sexual immorality.  All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.  Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body.”  1 Corinthians 6:18-20 The Apostle Paul was very concerned when Christians ignored immorality in their own lives and within the fellowship of the church.  Confronting the “elephant of immorality” is necessary for several reasons:

• To help those who have fallen into a sinful lifestyle.
• To protect the integrity and the future of the church.
• To strengthen the witness of the church in a fallen world.

“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”  2 Corinthians 7:1

Hebrews 13:11-16 The Old Testament sacrificial system involved the killing of animals.  But when Jesus died on the cross as the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice for sins, animal sacrifices were no longer necessary for those who put their trust in Him.  But Scripture reveals there are still sacrifices which Christians should make to God.

• The Sacrifice of Our Person
• The Sacrifice of Our Praises
• The Sacrifice of Our Possessions