SERMON OUTLINE
“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.’” (Luke 14:23)
Dinner with Jesus (Luke 14:12-15)
- Jesus Invited to Dinner
- Jesus Challenged the Status Quo
- Response of Pharisee (Luke 14:15, Isaiah 25:6)
Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:16-24)
- Invitations Sent
- Excuses Made
- Invitations: Round 2
- The Banquet is a Picture of Heaven
- God is _______________________________
- God longs to be with _______________________________
- The Banquet will not be _______________________________
- The only responsibility for people is to _______________________________
Being Ready for Dinner
- Beware of Arrogance (Luke 14:24)
- Lose the Excuses
- Being Ready to Celebrate
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- This weekend at Eastbrook, we continue in our summer series, “Luke: Stories Worth Living.” Ask God to speak to you before reading Luke 14:12-24 aloud.
- What is the greatest celebration/party you have ever attended? What made it great?
- In the parable, who is the host of the party? How does the host (God) make it easy for people to attend? (is there a dress code, gift registry, etc.)
- The first invites bring 3 different excuses for not attending the banquet. Would you say that the excuses are sincere? Discuss. How is this a picture of how humans respond to God?
- How would you react if you went to great efforts to put together a great banquet and everyone you invited replied with excuses for not attending?
- The host sends a servant out to invite all other people. What types of people are invited? How might this challenge the status quo of religious elites of the day? What does this indicate about the heart of the host?
- Read verse 24. Who are the people that will not be allowed in the banquet? Why might this be a surprise to them?
- What can we learn about making excuses that keep us being with God? What are excuses that we make for not being with God in our daily lives?
- What are some ways that we include celebration in our spiritual lives? Might we need to make celebration a greater part of how we live as Christ followers? If we lead celebratory lives, what message are we sending to our city and world?
- Take time and close in prayer for one another.