This Sunday we had a very special theme – “God just wants to Party!” Alex, Susan and Ben worked with Jimmy to organise a different kind of service based around Luke 14 vs 15-24
There were 5 areas that we could visit during the 1st hour of our meeting.
Here are the notes from the section that I ran:
Introduction
This parable was triggered by a dinner guest expressing delight at the prospect of enjoying God’s presence at a party.
Jesus then tells a parable about people turning down invitation to a party, where those invited decline using understandable and acceptable reasons.
There are 3 heading below, spend up to 3 minutes on parts one and two and 5 minutes on the final section.
What are we being invited to?
Much teaching focuses on the afterlife, where the party is our heavenly reward after death. Jesus, however more often referred to the Kingdom of God as being “here” or “close”.
This parable is as much about being invited to the party in life as well as the afterlife.
The party is a living experience of God, relationship with Him and a place where His rules/attitude are lived out.
It’s like Jesus is saying, “I am here and my presence is the party…”
Action:
Take a few moments to note down the characteristics of God’s presence.
Our Busy Lives
In the parable, people were too wrapped up in the patterns of life (good things) to fully appreciate the invitation.
Their priority was to the circumstance of life rather accepting the invitation to enjoy the living experience of God.
Action:
Note down some of the circumstances, situations, activities you’ll be doing this week.
Hearing God’s invitation
• sometimes we don’t hear the invitation
• sometimes we are too busy to respond
• sometimes we don’t fully appreciate its importance
Look at your notes from part one about the characteristics of God’s presence.
Are you too wrapped up in ‘doing important things’ to enjoy the living experience of God?
What will you do this week to listen out for an invitation to enjoy the living experience of God?
How can you bring this living experience of God’s presence into the situations you find yourself in this week?
You can download the self-study guide in Word format: Luke 14 – God invites you to a party
