Love Feast

Galatians 2:13

And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, (Peter) so that even Barnabas was led astray by their (Christ-following Jews’) hypocrisy.

Something beautiful happens when people share a meal together. The church, from its inception, has been aware of this. Eating together seems to be baked into our DNA as something we just do.

There is an early church tradition that seems so typical that it gets confused with the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist, Communion). This additional element was the “Love Feast”. This practice was, to put it simply, a potluck that happened every time the church met. This sharing was countercultural because people of all types shared a meal. Jews and Greeks, Cultured and Barbarians, Hebrews and Gentiles, slave and free, so much diversity gathered at the same table. In this passage Paul is calling out Peter for creating division in this sacred practice.

If you’re a part of a Life Group you know that eating together is often, if not always a part of the togetherness that happens. We want to encourage this practice to be a part of your normal way of doing life together. We also want to encourage it to be a place where all are welcome and togetherness, rather than division are the marks of your time together.

If you’re a part of a Life Group or Learning and Growth group, keep on meeting together. If this isn’t a part of your life, we encourage you to adapt. Amazing growth and healthy life connections happen when we meet each other around a table.

In the next several weeks we will focus on the need for this kind of community from the platform. We need leaders and hosts who are willing to set aside time and open their hearts and homes to people so we can enjoy the goodness that grows through the Fellowship and prayer. (Acts 2:42)

Prayer for today:

Jesus, you made room in your life for people who were outcasts. You put your feet under the table of the isolated. We seek to learn from you, and we desire to welcome people into our fellowship that might be culturally different from us, who seek after you too. Make our church and our home a place of welcome. Amen.

Pastor Wes