Meals have always been important across societies and cultures - a time for friends and families to come together. An important part of relationships, meals are vital to our social health. Or as author Tim Chester puts it, 'Food connects.'  
Tim argues that meals are also deeply theological - an important part of Christian fellowship and mission. He observes that Luke's Gospel is full of stories of Jesus at meals. And these meals represent something bigger. In six chapters Tim shows how they enact grace, community, hope, mission, salvation and promise.  
Moving from New Testament times to today, the author applies biblical truth to challenge our contemporary understandings of hospitality. He urges sacrificial giving and loving around the table, helping readers consider how meals can be about serving others and sharing the grace of Christ.

Tim Chester

Front Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Content

Introduction: The Son of Man Came Eating and Drinking

1. Meals as Enacted Grace: Luke 5

2. Meals as Enacted Community: Luke 7

3. Meals as Enacted Hope: Luke 9

4. Meals as Enacted Mission: Luke 14

5. Meals as Enacted Salvation: Luke 22

6. Meals as Enacted Promise: Luke 24

Notes

Meals are an important part of hospitality and can be used to foster grace in our communities. Chester draws from six narratives in the Gospel of Luke to urge sacrificial giving and loving around the table.

Drawing from six narratives in the Gospel of Luke, Chester shows how meals can be opportunities for serving others. Meals have always been important across societies and cultures, a time for friends and families to come together. An important part of relationships, meals are vital to our social health. Author Tim Chester sums it up: "Food connects." Chester argues that meals are also deeply theological--an important part of Christian fellowship and mission. He observes that the book of Luke is full of stories of Jesus at meals. These accounts lay out biblical principles. Chester notes, "The meals of Jesus represent something bigger." Six chapters in A Meal with Jesus show how they enact grace, community, hope, mission, salvation, and promise. Moving from biblical times to the modern world, Chester applies biblical truth to challenge our contemporary understandings of hospitality. He urges sacrificial giving and loving around the table, helping readers consider how meals can be about serving others and sharing the grace of Christ.

\["Are you passionate about hospitality?","Tim Chester shares how meals enact grace, community and hope in this illuminating read","You'll see how meals and serving are an act of sharing God's grace"\]

Tim Chester makes a compelling case for servant-hearted hospitality as a way of serving up God's grace and hope

The Good Book Stall

The book looks at the importance that meals had in the life of the Lord Jesus. Taking as his starting point our Lord’s words that ‘The Son of Man came eating and drinking’, the author goes through the Gospel of Luke looking at all the passages relating to sharing food together.   
One of the conclusions that Mr. Chester draws out is that meals are a good place for evangelism. Reaching out can simply start by asking your neighbours or work colleagues round for a meal or a cup of coffee. Eating together can provide one of the best ways to create an opportunity to share the Gospel.  
Unsurprisingly the book does not talk about other forms of evangelism such as Sunday School, door to door visitation and open air preaching so this is not the complete story. Also not everyone will agree with his apparent view that communion can be celebrated whenever Christians get together for a meal.   
However this does not detract from the overall helpfulness of this work. The last chapter is the best. Here he emphasises that Christ is known through his word as well as around the table. This is a refreshing book that will challenge and inspire.

A Meal With Jesus

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A Meal With Jesus

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