Extending our table - Jesus Centered Guide
Introduction
Extending Our Table: A Jesus-Centered Vision for 2025
At Missio Dei, we believe God is always inviting us into something new while remaining rooted in our mission of joining Him in renewal. Each year, we discern a prayer or theme that shapes our journey. In 2024, we embraced "The Year of Good Risks," stepping into faith with courage. This year, we sense God calling us to "Extend Our Table."
Table is a central theme in our community and in the gospel. The early church gathered around tables, practicing shared life in Jesus. Today, we continue that tradition, yet we believe God is inviting us to extend our table further—to welcome the unexpected, to practice belonging, and to witness to the radical hospitality of Jesus.
But how do we do this in a divided world? How do we gather at the table when so much pulls us apart?
The Dilemma & The Dream
From the beginning, the Church has wrestled with this tension. Jesus called His disciples to be known by their love (John 13) and prayed for unity (John 17). Paul declared in Galatians 3:28 that in Christ, all barriers are erased. Yet, throughout the New Testament, churches struggled with division—over race, class, theology, and politics.
The vision of God's kingdom is a united family, but the reality is often messy. When faced with conflict, some have folded the table and walked away. Yet, at our best, we are a people so compelled by Jesus that we overcome divisions to belong to one another. Extending the table is not easy, but it is our calling.
Jesus-Centered Belonging
Paul gives us a way forward in Ephesians 4:13-15—maturity in Christ. He reminds us that unity isn’t built on agreement but on shared direction toward Jesus. Early Christians weren’t united by politics or ideology, but by their commitment to follow Jesus together.
The challenge is that right thinking does not always lead to love, and measuring belonging by uniformity often leads to smaller tables. Instead, we are called to build community not with walls, but with wells—centering our lives on Jesus, the source of living water.
Our Witness to the World
When we practice belonging, we embody the presence of Jesus. Paul describes this as being built into a living temple (Ephesians 2). When we extend the table, forgive, receive, and move toward Jesus together, our shared life becomes a witness to the gospel.
At Missio, we have seen this happen—when friendships form despite theological or political differences, when people of all ages and backgrounds are honored, and when those who never expected to find a home in the church discover belonging. This is the work of Jesus, reconciling all people, and we are invited to join Him.
Reflection Questions
Opening Reflection
What comes to mind when you hear the phrase "extending our table"?
Have you ever experienced a time when someone made space for you at their table? How did it impact you?
Biblical Reflection
Read John 13:34-35. What does it mean for us to be known by our love for one another?
Read Ephesians 2:14-16. How does Jesus break down barriers between people?
Read Galatians 3:28. What barriers still exist in our communities, and how can we work to overcome them?
Personal Reflection
What are some ways you have seen divisions—political, cultural, or theological—affect relationships?
What makes it difficult to welcome people who are different from us?
How does focusing on Jesus rather than uniformity help us build a more inclusive community?
Practical Application
What is one step you can take this week to "extend your table"—at home, work, or in your community?
How can we, as a group, create spaces of belonging for those who feel excluded?
Closing Prayer
Jesus, You welcomed the outsider, the stranger, and the unexpected guest. You broke down walls and built a table where all could belong. Teach us to do the same. Give us courage to extend our table, to love as You love, and to create spaces where Your presence is known. May our community reflect Your vision of a reconciled family, united in You. Amen.
