- Lesson 8 in the Connect360 unit “Jesus Storyteller: Timeless Truths From His Parables” focuses on Luke 14:12-24.
The parable begins with a rich man inviting guests to come to a wedding feast. According to verse 16, it was a “great” banquet, and “many” guests were invited; it was the social event of the season. Of all the occasions in Jewish culture, the wedding feast was the most joyous celebration. It was Jewish custom to send an early invitation giving the day of the banquet, but no time was set. The guests would accept the invitation, and then on the day of the banquet, the servants would go out and announce the banquet was ready.
When the master learned the guests refused to come, he didn’t cancel the party. He just expanded his invitation to include everyone in the region. At this point in the parable, the message is clear. Those of us who have accepted God’s invitation to his salvation party are now the servants God sends out to invite others.
Every Christian is like a heavenly postal carrier, or UPS worker, or FedEx worker. God has issued the invitation of salvation to everyone. We are to deliver God’s invitation to come to him. And we are instructed to invite everyone.
A person who actively tries to lead people to Christ is called a soul-winner, based upon the words found in Proverbs 11:30. Are you doing as the Master commanded? Have you delivered God’s invitation to anyone? God’s servants must bring people into his house until it’s full.
Make room for more
After the first rounds of invitations, the servants returned and said, “There is still room.” He sent them out again and said, “Compel them to come in.” Sadly, that has been used throughout history to justify religious persecution and was the basis of the bloody Inquisition. We should always invite others in loving kindness and use tact and gentleness. However, God does want us to have a sense of urgency and fervency as we go.
We always must be making room for one more in God’s family. Make room in your church for more people to come into the family of God. God wants his house to be full, and God wants us to keep bringing folks into his family. When a church stops going on mission and stops bringing people to Christ, that’s when the church starts dying
Based on a lesson by David O. Dykes, pastor emeritus of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler. To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.
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