One, often overlooked, method of dealing with folks about the Lord is to eat with them. Invite them to a meal at your house or at a restaurant where you can talk with them about the Lord.

In a few weeks, we will preach what an old friend of mine calls a “Wall to wall, tree top tall gospel message”.  You should invite coworkers, neighbors, and friends to this service.  Afterwards, you can eat with them.  Anne and I are going to prepare Sunday lunch at home, so that the people we invite can join us for a meal after church.

Notice just a few instances where a meal was part of delivering the message from the Lord.

In Gen 24, Abraham’s servant ate and drank with the men at Laban’s house following the errand he was sent to tell.  Read Gen 24:31-33.  He told the errand in v.34-49.  Laban and Bethuel agreed to the arrangement in v. 50-52.  And then “they did eat and drink”, v.54.

In Acts 10, Peter went to Cornelius’s house to preach the gospel.  When Peter arrived at the house, Cornelius met him, v.25-29.  Cornelius explained why he sent for Peter in v.30-33.  After which, Peter began to preach the gospel, v.34-43.  Cornelius and those who were with him believed the Lord and were baptized, v.44-48, and afterwards, they ate together, v.48, 11:2-3.

In Acts 16:30-34 the Philippian jailer invited Paul and Silas into his home to eat with them after he and those in his house had heard the gospel and had believed on the Lord and been baptized.  In this passage, you see the order of hearing the message and then eating together repeated again.

This was a common way for Jesus to deal with sinners when he was here during his earthly ministry.  In Lk 15:1-2, “the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receivers sinners, and eateth with them”.

This is the same order that we hope to have on Easter Sunday.  We’ll preach the gospel.  Then we’ll hope that our guests will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.  And then we’ll eat and drink together with them at our homes.  Invite someone to join you.