Monday Morning Pastor 2/18/07

Who: Eric Moore
Title: Kingdom Invitation
Text: Luke 14

It might just be me, but I love sitting under the preaching of Eric Moore. He captured my attention right away when he told us why he dislikes the month of June.

Eric framed Luke 14, the story of Jesus attending a party at the home of a Pharisee. He began by talking about Value judgments. The guests at this party were making judgments on where they should be sitting. Further investigation unfolded this theme further.

Jesus told a parable of a large party that was being thrown, invitation had been sent, and the time came for the party so the master sent his servant to make sure those invited were coming. But, one by one the guests turned the invitation down to pursue what they valued to be more important.

What do I value as important? I know that I should value the kingdom of God above all things, but when it comes down to it, sometimes I value my favorite TV show, or adding to my baseball card collection a little more. I believe that value judgments aren't made once and for all, they need to be continually made and acted on. The more and more the right value judgment is made the easier it gets to keep making the right value judgment.

Jesus parable goes on after the invited guests find something better to do, the master tells the servant, go into the streets, bring in the lame, the blind etc. Eric contrasted this group with the previous group. The people that did not accept the invitation were able but unwilling to attend the party; the second group was willing but unable. We often spend a lot of time on friends, family and co-workers who are antagonistic to the Gospel, they've heard the Gospel, they understand it, but they just aren't interested in changing their life. We pray for them, we think of other creative ways to enter into conversation with them, but the result is the same, they are unwilling. When this happens we often neglect those who are willing but unable. We expect someone else to reach those who are "unlovely". Both groups are important, our friends, and family that are not willing are important, but we can not neglect the other group.

The exciting part about chapter 14 is what the Master says to the Servant after the blind, lame, etc. Come to the party. The Master says "look, there is still more room, go and get..." The Kingdom of God is so much larger than we can imagine, we need to ask God to catch a vision of His kingdom and not fit His kingdom into our own perception.

I would highly suggest picking up this CD to listen to if you have not already heard it, and If you heard it, pick up the CD and listen to this message again!

One Question:

Faith Bible Church, [FUSION], Ebenezer, Aaron Walters what are you going to do to reach the "unlovely"