Today’s message teaches us that Jesus used meals as a powerful way to share God’s love and proclaim the Gospel, showing grace and compassion through simple acts of breaking bread. Focusing on Matthew 9:9-13, it highlights how Jesus ate with sinners and outcasts like Matthew, meeting people where they were and extending mercy instead of judgment. By doing so, He modeled what it means to be “blessed to be a blessing.” The message will call us to follow His example—inviting others to the table, listening, serving, and building relationships that reflect God’s heart. True evangelism, it reminds us, often begins with the grace of a shared meal.

((Audio Only))

STUDY GUIDE

1. Jesus and Meals:
   The sermon highlights that Jesus often used meals as a key part of His ministry. What are some examples of this from the Gospels, and what do these moments with Jesus reveal about His approach to evangelism and relationships?
2. Being Where You’re Welcomed and Needed:
   The sermon says, “Jesus was always willing to be where He was welcome to be and needed.” What would it look like for you to live this way in your own neighborhood, workplace, or social circles?
3. Eating as Evangelism:
   How can sharing a meal be a spiritual act or an opportunity for ministry? Why might food and hospitality open hearts in ways that words alone cannot?
4. The Great Banquet (Luke 14:16–24):
   How does the parable of the Great Banquet reflect God’s heart for inclusion and mission? What excuses do people (including us) often make that keep them from participating in God’s invitation?
5. Personal Application – Being a Blessing:
   The messages from the past several weeks repeat the phrase “blessed to be a blessing.” What does this mean in practical terms for your daily life? Who might God be calling you to “bless” through the simple act of sharing a meal?
6. The Challenge of Willingness:
   The sermon ends with the question, “Are you willing?” Are you? What might it cost you to be willing—to eat, serve, and share life with those others overlook—and what blessings might come from saying yes?

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

Genesis 12:1-3
Galatians 3:13-14
Ephesians 1:3
Matthew 11:19
Matthew 9:9-13
Luke 5:29
Hosea 6:6
Luke 14:16-24