Main Thought
For many of us, Thanksgiving is a time of feasting and spending time with family and friends. Jesus told a parable about a man who hosted a magnificent feast. This banquet reveals God’s great love for us! We are all invited to experience God’s love through Christ. Yet, some of the people in the story refused the invitation and made excuses. In context, their excuses would have been understood as materialistic, the result of poor planning, or a simple unwillingness to come. Our hearts can be shallow. But God’s heart isn’t shallow! He relentlessly seeks to show kindness. When we are moved by God’s heart, we are also moved to show kindness.
Main Passages
16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”
- Luke 14:16-246 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” 7 And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.”
- 2 Samuel 9:6-7
Discussion Questions
God invites us to experience His love. What keeps you from experiencing God’s love?
How does kindness help us experience God’s love?
What can you do to be kind to someone near you this holiday season? How can you help them experience God’s love through that?
Family Questions
Were you kind to anyone this past week? What did you do?
How can you be kind to someone this week?