As a church, we have been meeting and eating more and more in one another’s homes over the last 6 months. We are generally breaking out of traditional “home groups” or cells, where certain activities had to take place with the same people in the same house on the same night of the week each and every week.

We are now encouraged, and encourage one another, to either invite people to our own home for a meal, or respond to someone else’s invitation to go and eat at their home on any night of the week and with any combination of church members. Catherine Muyeba has written an article for the web about how she and Maybin were blessed in responding to the word of the Lord to buy a bigger table. I’m hearing more and more from different people in the church, how the atmosphere is different when everyone is sat round a table for the evening, as opposed to sitting round with food on their laps. This is not surprising when you look into Scripture and see how much happened around actual tables.

We read in Scripture that a table is often a place of grace. It’s a place where you receive. The first time a table is mentioned in Scripture is where Benjamin is astounded to receive five times more than anyone else as plenty is taken from Joseph’s table to his (Genesis 43: 33-34). The Bible says that all the previously starving brothers were “merry” at the table as they enjoyed the ample provision that Joseph sent to them. Saul’s crippled grandson Mephibosheth also found grace at the table. David showed kindness to him and he always ate at the king’s table just like one of the king’s sons (2Samuel 9:11).

The Canaanite woman who Jesus initially rejected as not being one of the “lost sheep of Israel”, realised that to present her case to the Lord by saying that even dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table (Matthew 15:27), would result in her daughter being instantly healed. She knew there was grace to be found at a table. As we gather in his name, so we can find the grace of God present as we sit round a table together and break bread together. Whatever our need is; whatever famine we’ve been living in; no matter how crippled we might feel; we can find fullness and provision at the table. We can leave a physical table saying that the Lord has indeed spread a table in our wilderness (cf. Psalm 78:19).

In Luke 7 we discover the table is also a place to receive forgiveness. A “sinful woman” went to Jesus while he was at a table broke open a box and anointed his feet with ointment. Pharisees watching were shocked, knowing “what sort of a woman” she was. Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven”. Those who have not yet received the forgiveness of sins can find forgiveness at the table. In 1 Corinthians 11:28-29, Christians are exhorted to examine themselves before eating the bread or drinking the cup at the table and to “discern the body of the Lord”. Not only can we receive forgiveness from Christ, but also from one another as we show by our eating together that there is nothing between those gathered round the table. If we didn’t, we would be guilty of insulting and betraying the host (Psalm 41:9; Daniel 11:27; Luke 22:21). However, as we eat together at a table with right attitudes towards one another, so the Lord just has to respond by commanding blessing (Psalm 133).

It’s not surprising therefore, that the table is also a place of miracle. The aforementioned Canaanite’s daughter was instantly healed from the table. Miracles can happen as we gather together around a table in the presence of the Lord.

As we believe the Lord is present, so the table can be a prophetic place. The prophetic word came to the “old prophet” in 1 Kings 13, as they sat eating at the table (1 Kings 13:20). Prophecy isn’t just for after a few worship songs on a Sunday morning; but even as we eat around one another’s tables so we can all prophesy so that as we eat we can all learn and all be encouraged (1 Corinthians 14:31).

The table is a place of abundance. 1 Kings 4:27 tells us about the officers who had to provide for Solomon’s table. They supplied enough so that there was never any lack. David says about the table the Lord prepares for him in the presence of his enemies, that at that table, as well as having his head anointed with oil, that his cup overflows (Psalm 23:5).

The table is also a place of intimacy. John was close to Jesus at the table (John 14:23). Jesus was often eating and sharing life at a table with his disciples (Matthew 26:30). When we gather round one another’s tables let’s make sure we break bread and remember Christ. Let’s allow him to be at the centre of our time together. Let’s be prepared to break open our alabaster boxes of worship to the Lord while sat at the table.

We often say that in King’s Church we are not like a family, we are family. The table is a place for family Psalm 128:3 portrays the blessing of God as a family sat around a table. King’s Church, with over 40 nations represented among us, is a prophetic statement to the world of Kingdom harmony; where people of different cultures and ethnic origin can gather and eat around one another’s tables not just without offending each other, but actually blessing one another. In Luke 13:29 Jesus declares that “people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God”. As we meet and eat together around the same table from the different continents of the world, so we are becoming a fulfilment of that scripture.

Just as the water we are baptised into has no value without faith, just as the £10 note is only a piece of paper without a deeper understanding of its worth, so the table in your house could be seen as just a table. With more revelation from Scripture that same table can be a means of grace; a means of receiving the blessings and life of God. As members of King’s Church let’s not give up meeting together; let’s meet and eat. And as often as we can let’s do it round a table!

During the November prayer meetings, a word was brought, which I believed was for myself and my family. It was based on the opening verses of Isaiah 54v1-3:

“Sing, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into loud and joyful song, O Jerusalem, you who have never been in labor. For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her husband,” says the Lord. “Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread out your home, and spare no expense! For you will soon be bursting at the seams.Your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the ruined cities” – (New Living Translation)

I firmly believed that the word was for us as a family. God was going to give us more children (spiritually speaking I hasten to add!) and there was need for us to expand. Maybin and I talked about adding an extra room over the garage, but one thing that was going to happen almost immediately was regarding our eating area.

We spent the next few weeks in and out of furniture shops, but none of the tables were big enough. Then Heather and Andrew told us about a table they had bought in IKEA. We went there at the earliest opportunity and I was delighted to see this huge table. I made sure we had enough chairs to sit around it and ’spared no expense’. (Actually God has since blessed us with all the money we spent on the table and chairs!)

We have been hosts for some time of one of the listed Open Homes.

We understand that these are only “listed” open homes and the elders have been encouraging the church to meet in one another’s homes for food and fellowship right across the church. Nevertheless we were a little disappointed that we had never had more than 10 people come to our Open Home. On the night of the Open Home, I insisted on extending the new table to its full length to sit 12-14 people despite the awkward feeling of potentially only having few people sitting around it. I was totally amazed to see the table “filled” with the body of Christ and we had a wonderful time in the presence of God! Sitting round the table together, it was undoubtedly the best “open home” we had had in our home. I was so excited about the Lord blessing as I obeyed his word in this practical way.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

Further to my post earlier this week on discipleship, the above passage highlights a great story that Jesus told to illustrate the importance of hearing the words of God and putting them into practice. As an Architect, this story interests me a great deal! It is all about the quality and right choice of foundations and how you can build your life on the solid ground of God’s Word.

As we see in the Kingdom of God, foundations are also crucially important in the construction industry. A building project can rise or fall (literally!) on the quality of the foundations. In any building project, foundations take time and they cost a lot of money in comparison to other parts of the building. A large building can seem ‘in the ground’ for many weeks and months before it even reaches ground floor level. But this stage is vital and crucial for that building to be a success and for that building to last. Once that building is finished, the quality and design of the foundations can be seen throughout the building in the way it is laid out, constructed and finished.

Jesus knew this and used the passage above to teach us that to have true success in life, you have to build your life on the rock of God’s word. This isn’t a quick & cheap solution. There are no ‘crash diets’ for living in the Kingdom of God! The call to follow Jesus, to hear his word and put it into practice is a call that will consume your whole life, and will require daily decisions to sacrifice living your own life in your own way in your own time.

Yes, the costs are great, but the rewards are priceless and they are for all eternity. The foundations of a good building may take some time and some cost, but that building is then used and enjoyed by millions of people over it’s lifetime. In the same way, when we build good foundations in our lives in the Kingdom by hearing the words of Christ and putting them into practice. Not only does this way of living impact our own lives, but it will bless, inspire and influence those who come into our lives for the advancement of God’s purposes. We are not disciples in isolation, we are disciples in community.

Make the choice today to build good foundations in your life. Hear the words of God and put them into practice. You will see the effect and fruit of a life founded on God’s word. This life will impact and effect your home, your community and your place of work or study. The decision to be a radical disciple of Jesus Christ is a decision to change. It’s a decision to change your life and the world around you for the glory and fame of Jesus Christ.

Gavin White

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you”
Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)

This is last in a mini-series I’ve being doing on the whole theme of Discipleship: Putting it into Practice. Click here and here for the first two articles in the series.

In this passage, we see the Apostle Paul bringing a word of encouragement and exaltation to the church in Philippi. He calls them to think about things that are ‘excellent & praiseworthy’. That’s one of the first crucial stages in being a disciple and follower of Christ – thinking correctly. Proverbs 23:7 (NASB) states that as a man ‘thinks within himself, so he is’ – what we think is so important. It’s foundational to our lives in God. Paul knew this, he was always reminding the people of God about their identity in Christ and who they were and what they were called to be and do.

Paul was also calling the church to look at his life as a leader. He was so confident that he could set an excellent example for them to follow in their pursuit and devotion to Jesus. Paul also states: ‘Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ’ to the church in Corinth (1 Cor. 11:1). He wanted them to see things in his life, hear his speech, watch his actions, receive from his heart as he followed after Christ with all his heart and passion. He wanted them to put the things they saw in his life that reflected Christ and his Kingdom into practice. That’s one of the true joys of christian leadership; to see people catch your heart and passion for Jesus, and then to watch them put it into action and practice in their own lives. That is so rewarding to see!

It’s like when your kids start to do something great on their own without any help from Mum & Dad – they see something, they learn something and then they do it. That’s the goal of discipleship – ‘See Jesus, learn from Jesus and then do all the things that Jesus did’ – e.g miracles, healings, moving with compassion, mercy & grace, ministry to the poor, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom etc.

The ultimate goal of discipleship is to put into practice & action what we see in the words, life and ministry of Jesus – Praise God that he is with us as we live out this exciting journey!
Gavin White

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)

We are so excited that God is doing a ‘New Thing’ in the city of Salford. We are even more excited that as King’s Church we all have the privilege to be a part of this in so many ways. We believe that God has spoken and in response we will plant a ‘New’ church in Salford in March this year. We know that we will see an abundance of ‘New Life’ as people are saved and added to the Church Community from all over the City of Salford. We will be a Church community full of the explosive ‘life’ of Jesus. Sounds very exciting doesn’t it?

Praise God that we are a ’sent’ people, and that we aren’t going in our own efforts! We have been sent, like Jesus, with all authority and power from heaven, to do the works that Jesus has done and even greater. We can know with a full assurance that Jesus himself has sent us to ‘GO’ into Salford, see him made famous, see his Kingdom come in that City and see his Church established, with awesome miracles, signs and wonders being the ‘norm’ for us everyday.

We can’t wait to see what God is going to do. Why not take time to pray this week for Salford, the ‘New Life’ Church and whether this is something you should be a part of? We want people from all walks of life, all ages, all professions, joined to this community, because we are excited about being a covenant community, a family, making Jesus famous together in Salford.

Again Jesus said,

“May peace be with you! The Father has sent me. So now I am sending you.” John 20: 21

Judah and Rachel Cole