Big Idea

If we are going to revive evangelism, we need to live and tell new stories.

Scripture

Luke 15 and Matthew 9:9-13

Series Overview

In our current series, “Lost Cause”, we will learn how to revive our hearts to share God’s good news with others. Evangelism is not a lost cause, but a challenge to live and tell new stories over a shared meal.

Opening Question

What is your favorite restaurant and why?

Bible Discussion

1. Read Luke 15. What do you make of verse 2? What do the three stories Jesus told have in common? Discuss the significance of this and anything else that stands out to you.
2. Matthew 9:9-13 is a pivotal moment in the author’s life. How did this one meal change the trajectory of Matthew’s life? Who else was invited to this meal? How does this relate to verse 13?
3. Find some other examples of life-changing meals in the Bible. How did these occur and what were their impact? (Hint: Luke 7:36-50, Luke 22:14-38 and Acts 16:34, to name a few.)

Life Application

4. Why do you think eating a meal with someone can be so influential? How can you be intentional about sharing meals with neighbors? Which of your neighbors will you try to schedule a meal with first?
5. What do you think of this thought? “Sharing meals together is one of the most sacred practices we can engage in as believers. If every Christian family regularly invited a stranger into their home for a meal once a week, we would literally change the world by eating!” (Alan Hirsch and Lance Ford) Have you ever done this?
6. What obstacles do you foresee in carrying out the E (eat) in the B.L.E.S.S. practices? Brainstorm some ideas as a group to overcome these and consider trying one of these ideas this week with one of your eight neighbors, coworkers or friends you’ve been praying for since the start of this series.