More Than a Story: Responsiveness

[Great Feast: Luke 14:15-24]

In Luke 14 we see that Someone is hosting a dinner – the person is “a ruler of the Pharisees”

• Verses 1-6 speak about healing of a person with dropsy on the Sabbath
• Verses 7-11 speak about the place of honor [[PARABLE OF THE AMBITIOUS GUEST]]
  • This parable was told to the Pharisees and the lawyers
  • Seating rank & distinction / more important guests arrived later / those less important would be moved if no room – Pharisees loved the best seats – Lesson of humility
• Verses 12-14 choice of guests [[PARABLE OF THE FEAST / BANQUET]]
  • This parable was told to the “ruler of the Pharisees” – Lesson of hospitality
• Verses 15-24 heavenly banquet [[PARABLE OF THE GREAT SUPPER / FEAST]]
  • The great feast is ALREADY PREPARED.
  • The INVITATIONS ISSUED BUT DECLINED.
  • House will be FILLED BUT NOT BY THOSE ORIGINALLY INVITED.

Way of invitation – the invitation went out earlier for people to accept and have time to prepare. Later they went out again to touch base with those invited and tell them it was almost time.

Excuses:

• Bought a field & had to go see it (Livelihood / Career)
• Bought 5 yoke of oxen & had to go examine them (Possessions / Property)
• Got married (Social / Relationship)

The people were pleased to be invited but that’s it – the invitation did not result in attendance

The invitees did not desire fellowship

Excuses would have sounded pathetic to the group because of the way invitations worked

Truth – this is how they were treating God’s invitation – it had no influence on their daily lives

Lesson of self-examination – GOD’S INVITATION IS FULL AND FREE

“And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” – Revelation 22:17 [NKJV]

“If we give up and turn our backs on all we’ve learned, all we’ve been given, all the truth we now know, we repudiate Christ’s sacrifice and are left on our own to face the Judgment—and a mighty fierce judgment it will be! If the penalty for breaking the law of Moses is physical death, what do you think will happen if you turn on God’s Son, spit on the sacrifice that made you whole, and insult this most gracious Spirit? This is no light matter. God has warned us that he’ll hold us to account and make us pay. He was quite explicit: “Vengeance is mine, and I won’t overlook a thing” and “God will judge his people.” Nobody’s getting by with anything, believe me.” – Hebrews 10:26-31 [MSG]

Bible Study Questions:

1) The Jews were looking forward to the resurrection. They saw the resurrection as a great celebration in God’s presence. Read Isaiah 25:6-9.

What did the passage mention would be at the banquet? What does this mean?

What actions does this passage promise?

This passage ends by giving us a response. What should be our response?

How can we respond in this way?

2) Looking at tonight’s main parable, we read that there was a group invited first. These people initially accepted the invitation; however, they later did not join the banquet. Who were the people who rejected the invitation of God? They would have been on the receiving end of this message.

3) What did these people think about their salvation?

4) When the slave went out to get more people, he returned and said still there was room so he was sent out again. What does this say to us?

 5) Those originally invited made excuses for not attending. The excuses involved relationships, property / possessions, and livelihood. How can these things keep us from God’s invitation? What is your biggest road block?

6) God’s invitation is a daily invitation. How can you stop making excuses?

More Than A Story is a 12-week Sermon Series and Bible Study focused on the parables of Jesus.

Richness
Forgiveness
Persistence
Fruitfulness
Obedience
Humility
Compassion
Responsiveness
Repentance
Readiness
Faithfulness
Kingdom-Focused