The Party

Luke 15:6-7 > "Let's celebrate! I've found my lost sheep.' I tell you that it's just the same in heaven."

Luke 15:9-10 > "Let's celebrate! I've found my lost coin.' I tell you that this is exactly how the angels of God feel when even one sinner turns to him."

Luke 15:24, 32 > "This son of mine was dead, but has now come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found.' And the talking and laughing began... But we should be glad and celebrate! Your brother was dead, but he is now alive. He was lost and has now been found."

Have you ever felt like you had to earn your place at the table?

We live in a world that is completely based on performance. At school, you get grades based on how hard you study. On sports teams, you get playing time based on how well you perform. If you work on a ranch, you have to get your chores done. If you work a high-pressure shift in a hospital ER, you have to follow every protocol perfectly, or people get hurt. It is very easy to start treating our relationship with God the exact same way—like a shift we have to work, or a performance we have to perfect.

But over the last eight weeks, we have been looking at Jesus' stories of the lost. And the climax of all these stories is completely mind-blowing.

Think about it: the sheep didn't do anything to earn its rescue; it just wandered off and got stuck. The coin didn't do any work to be found; it was swept into a dusty corner. The younger son blew half of his father's estate and came home smelling like a pigpen. And the older son stayed home but was completely lost in his own mind, holding onto a mental clipboard of his perfect chores, refusing to go inside the house because he thought he had to earn his father's love.

Yet, what is God's response to all of them?

It is a massive, neighborhood-shaking celebration. The shepherd throws a party for the sheep. The woman throws a party for the coin. The father orders a huge banquet with music and laughter for both sons—the one who ran away, and the one who stayed home clutching his checklist.

This Monday night, we are celebrating exactly one year of FREE Community Dinners at ConnectDinners. When we started, we wanted to build a space that looked like the Father's house. A space where you don't have to show a resume, dress up, or prove you have your life together. We learned what that kind of love looks like from people who went before us—like my grandparents, Russ and Bunny DeTro, and Chet and Bertha Morrison. They kept their doors open and their tables set because they knew that belonging always comes before performance.

You don't have to wear a pinned-together jersey to fit in, and you don't have to check off a clipboard of good behavior to be loved. The search is over. The Father has already paid for the feast, and your seat is ready. It's time to step out of the dark, put down your clipboard, and join the party.

PRAYER

Jesus, thank You that Your house is characterized by music, feasting, and deep joy. Thank You that You don't ask me to work off my mistakes or prove my worth before I can sit at Your table. Forgive me for trying to perform for You when all You want is for me to sit with You. Help me to lay down my pride, drop my clipboard of performance, and simply let myself be found by You today. Today, I specifically want to talk to You about...

Text Pastor Vic at 509-919-1897 if you'd like to talk.