Fellowship Meal (Potluck)

Fellowship Meal (Potluck)                                     January 7, 2017 

What is nice about Potlucks. 

Sharing a meal is in many cultures is a special sign of fellowship or friendship meal. 

There is something about sharing a meal with someone that is so special. It loosens the tongue and is usually a place to discuss things and enjoy each other company. 

Food gives us something to talk about. It is a natural conversation starter. 

Fellowship meals are important so that people do not feel alone. Need to be a comfort to others who are hurting.  It is also a chance to eat other people good cooking.  

What did the early church do?  Not covering doctrine per say, just let us look only on the food part. 

Acts 2:42  And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 

(46)  So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 

Acts 16:34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. 

What days always include eating with joy and celebrations. 

The feast days of Jesus.  (Leviticus 23) We eat on all the feast days except for Atonement, which is a feast of the Word.  Passover, Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets, Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. 

These days always include eating with joy, family and celebrations.

Ever notice how many of meals Jesus ate, which is covered in the gospels.   

Basically, Jesus ate his way through the Gospels. He ate and drank with sinners and talked about the Kingdom as he shared meals with others.. 

Jesus events throughout the gospels are centered on and around food. 

We know individuals attack Jesus the Messiah, by giving falsehoods, lies. 

Mark 2:15-16 Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi's house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him.  (16)  And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, "How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?" 

What lies did the Pharisees say about John the Baptist and Jesus. 

Luke 1:13-15 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.  (14)  And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.  (15)  For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 

Luke 7:33-34 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.'  (34)  The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' 

Notice:  Jesus enemies said 3 things about Him. 

1.   They called and accuse Jesus as a glutton, refers that Jesus ate at feasts or dinners all the time.

2.   They called and accuse Jesus as a drunkard, referring that Jesus did drink wine.

3.   They said He was a friend of Tax collectors and Sinners 

What do they mean by friend:  means one who condones and participates in their sinful practices.  Lowest of the lowest Jew.  Levi ate with other Tax Collectors.   

Was Jesus a social drinker and eater – means to someone who drinks alcoholic beverages in moderation in public or semi-public settings with other people 

Luke 7:36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat.   

Luke 11:37 And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat.  

Luke 12:37  Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 

Luke 13:29 "People will come from the East and the West and North and South, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 

Luke 14:1 Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely. 

Luke 14:15 Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!" 

Luke 19:5-6 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house."  (6)  So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 

Luke 22:15-19 Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;  (16)  for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."  

Luke 22:30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." 

Meal following His resurrection on Emmaus Road and upper room 

Luke 24:13-14 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.  (14)  And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 

Luke 24:29-31 But they constrained Him (Jesus), saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them.  (30)  Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.  (31)  Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. 

Luke 24:34-35 saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"  (35)  And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. 

Luke 24:40-43 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.  (41)  But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?" 

(42)  So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.  (43)  And He took it and ate in their presence. 

Matthew 9:10-11 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.  (11)  And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 

Matthew 11:18-19 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'  (19)  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children." 

We know Jesus also feed the 5000 (Mark 6:44) and 4000 (Mark 8:9).

Mark 6:44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men. 

Mark 8:9 Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them away,       

Matthew 26:20-21 When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve.  (21)  Now as they were eating, He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me." 

Matthew 26:26-27 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."  (27)  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 

Lords miracle at the marriage in Cana. 

John 2:1, 7-10 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there (7)  Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 

(8)  And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it.  (9)  When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 

John 4:7-8 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink."  (8)  For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 

John 12:1-2 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead.  (2)  There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 

John 21:5 Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?" They answered Him, "No."  

John 21:9-10 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.  (10)  Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught." 

John 21:12-14 Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?"—knowing that it was the Lord.  (13)  Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.  (14)  This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. 

John 21:15a So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter 

Did you know there are angel’s foods in the heavens, which are not on the earth. The Bible reveals there is at least one. A fascinating and a golden nugget.  

Psalms 78:23-25 Yet He had commanded the clouds above, And opened the doors of heaven,  (24)  Had rained down manna on them to eat, And given them of the bread of heaven.  (25)  Men ate angels' food; He sent them food to the full. 

Revelation 22:2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 

Jesus second coming there will be a meal – the wedding super of the Lamb and we will be part of it.   

Revelation 3:20 I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 

Revelation 19:7-9 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."  (8)  And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.  (9)  Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." 

This is The “meal” we are looking forward to in the future.