An Extravagant Invitation
Dec 17, 2020.
Here we are one week prior to Christmas, and I am so glad I understand what the season truly means. You and I have been invited by heaven to the Fathers table, and we have taken our place at that table. And what a life-changing privilege it has been. Yes? The Lord sought us, invited us, and we said “yes”. I am intrigued however, that not all invitations are the same.
#JesusStories: Among the Incarnation accounts, I love the bit about the shepherds found in Luke 2. These nomad sheep-tenders represented the lowest rung on the social ladder of early Palestine; they spent their nights sleeping in the fields with their sheep. Yet on the night Jesus was born, heaven orchestrated a spectacular invite to “them” performed by glowing angels speaking in prose and song. WOW! The contrast between lowliness and glory is breathtaking. And as expected, this invite resulted in the shepherds making their way to the side of the newborn Messiah. And when they got there, they did not walk into a palace or high-end Inn, it was an animal cave on the edge of town – a place chosen so they would not feel uncomfortable or upstaged. It appears God went out of His way to make this invitation perfect for them, even to the discomfort of the first family. Now it is true that much later, wealthy nobles found a place at the side of the Christ Child too, but their invite was not the same as the shepherds. For the lowly, God pursued them in a most marvelous way and literally swept them to the side of the infant Jesus; for the others, God posted a star and left the door open for them to find their way. So all were welcomed, but the poor were given an invitation of extravagance.
What does this mean to the leaders of Jesus’ Church through the ages? In rich America, it serves as a confrontation against any form of elitism. Many Christian leaders have missed-the-mark by envisioning their churches filled with impressive people, while overlooking the lower-third who live in the shadow of their steeples. This is exactly the opposite of the message that flows from the shepherds grand invite story, isn’t it? Further, it is exactly the opposite of the people Jesus pursued first during his ministry – the sick, the poor, the sinner, and the isolated at all levels of the social ladder. Could the American Church ever learn to reserve our most extravagant invitations for those left-behind and over-looked?
#DinnerChurchQuotes: “Those who abandon everything in order to seek God know well that He is the God of the poor.” -Thomas Merton
#PracticalStuff: This is the season to remember that the Divine Invite holds particular power for challenged groups. So here is the idea-of-the-week: 1)Call a holiday huddle with your core team and remember where your dinner churchs’ calling lies. 2)Then read the Luke 2:8-16, followed by Mt. 25:34-40. 3)End by leading them in a prayer of recommitment to set a table for the isolated knowing full-well that Jesus Himself will sit down with them.
Blessings & Boldness,
Verlon
Dr. Verlon and Melodee Fosner have led a multi-site Assemblies of God Dinner Church in Seattle, Washington since 1999 (www.CommunityDinners.com). In this decade when more churches in the U.S. are declining than thriving, and when ninety-six churches a week are closing, Verlon and Melodee sensed that a different way of doing church was needed for their 97-year old Seattle congregation. It soon became obvious that they were not the only ones in need of a different path. They joined the FX team in 2016 and founded the Dinner Church Collective. And then in 2019 founded the Dinner Church School of Leadership. There is a lot to be gained when church leaders begin to see open doors in the American landscape that they had previously overlooked. Therein lies the journey for those who will forge a new future for the American Church.
Categories: Uncategorized
12.20.20
By: Gary Johnson
AS you point out-
He came one unique way
To all variant of peoples
To achieve one inclusive goal
To provide salvation for all
Now “THAT” was a plan!
12.21.20
By: Marion Sortore
The shepherds were the 3rd shift workers. In the white and blue collar working worlds, 3rd shift workers are often marginalized. My husband worked 3rd shift for many years and he used to say: “Day is for show, night is for go!” He said that the day shift had a lot to worry about with following the rules because the boss was watching. The night shift had a certain freedom to solve problems without anyone telling them they couldn’t do it. Maybe, that is one of the reasons God chose the 3rd shift shepherds – they were better problem solvers and more open to doing something differently. Are we?
12.21.20
By: Josh Gering
I love this picture. The the Father rolled out such and extravagant invitation to the poor shepherds in the fields. In essence, this is goal of a dinner church. To roll out a meal that represents the abundance of the Gospel as much as it feeds the body. Is it possible that we make the Gospel too lofty? Do we study so much about it and analyze every paragraph of the Bible and learn so much about God that we fail to DO what Jesus wants us to DO? May this Christmas remind us to do what Jesus did…move into people’s neighborhoods, peoples lives, and BRING the Good News, not just learn more about God and teach what we know, but to reproduce the works of Christ. Merry Christmas!
12.22.20
By: Michael Cox
My blue-collar background has always endeared me to the Shepherds. I have countless stories of working twelve hours a day, outside in extreme weather, and then racing to church. As a member of the worship team, I was expected to dress up for service. The belief was, we had to approach King Jesus in a Spirit of excellence. And what’s more excellent than a pant suit? To worship God with reverence and honor, meant color coordinated ushers, singers, and musicians. For me, this meant changing into a suit and tie in the car. It meant having to dress in a manner and style, that had nothing to do with who I was. When did the church decide that dressing like a bank manager was holy? The Shepherds presence at Jesus’ birth, reveal he is fine with jeans and t-shirts.
The idea of divine invitation has me excited! The Gospel of Jesus comes to the social outcasts first. David was called from shepherding, became a great warrior, and anointed King (2 Samuel 7:8). The lowly circumstances of Jesus’ birth are consistent with his life and death. He eats with sinners and dies with criminals. He was numbered with the transgressors (Luke 22:37). Thanks be to Jesus for living his life with those who are not clean enough for church. Dinner Church creates the space for the lowly Shepherds of the field, to glorify and praise God, for all they have seen and heard (Luke 2:20). May we all feel the reassurance of God’s Spirit. “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people (Luke 2:10).” Even the unfashionably dressed!
01.5.21
By: Shawn
Jesus started his life on earth just like he lived it. He hung out with the lower 3rd way more than any other social-economical group. In reality, no soul is more valuable than another. Those who are poor understand their need for a savior. I need to practice that better myself. The poor are the “ripe” of the harvest. “theirs is the kingdom of God”. May we not hold back from going to the poor and learning from them as we love them.
01.7.21
By: Penney S Forbes
Given that this events of the day, Dr Fosner closed out class early and called us to prayer. As he was praying us out, this prayer by Howard Thurman came to mind. This was lifted up in 1961 during another time of civil unrest and uncertainty. Re-reading the words, his prayer is timeless. This prayer works breaks really well for a “Call to Worship.”
The concern which I lay bare before God today is,
My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.
I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.
There is food for all – many are hungry.
There are clothes enough for all – many are in rags.
There is room enough for all – many are crowded.
There are none who want war – preparations for conflict abound.
I confess my own share in the ills of the times.
I have shirked my own responsibilities as a citizen.
I have not been wise in casting my ballot.
I have left to others a real interest in making a public opinion worthy of democracy.
I have been concerned about my own little job, my own little security, my own shelter, my own bread.
I have not really cared about jobs for others, security for others, shelter for others, bread for others.
I have not worked for peace;
I want peace, but I have voted and worked for war.
I have silenced my own voice that it may not be heard on the side of any cause, however right,
if it meant running risks or damaging my own little reputation.
Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers,
to live up to the light and courageously to pray for the kind of world I so deeply desire.
I Confess
For The Inward Journey (1961) by Howard Thurman (1899-1981)
01.7.21
By: Verlon Fosner
I like that prayer.
01.12.21
By: Nicole Fike
Amen! I was a divine invite! This reminds me that God makes room for us, therefore we should make room for others. 1 Samuel 2:7-8 (NIV) 7 The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. 8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor.
Psalm 68:6 (NLT) God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
01.14.21
By: Carl Bauchspiess
My first thought: 1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? James 2: 1-5 Jesus, please always help me to see the 1/3.