The unwelcome mat.
Ice breaker : What jobs make you unwelcome at parties? Have you experienced suddenly feeling ‘unwelcome’. Would you use a ‘welcome/go away’ mat ? When have you felt welcomed ?
Pick out a role : Zaacheaus (the hated, corrupt one), The crowd, Jesus
Read Luke 16:1-9 – imagine what it’s like to be the welcomed, the unwelcomed, or the unwelcoming? At the end ask people what it felt like ?
When are we welcoming ? When are we unwelcoming ? What are our hidden standards ?
Luke 4:18-19 can be translated as “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s welcome.
How is that different the to the year of the Lord’s favour ? Is the good news of Jesus “You are welcome ?”.
In the 2nd story the people of Jerusalem put on a welcome for Jesus. Who doesn’t welcome Jesus ? Why ?
This welcome appears to have a series of catches. Who do they think they are welcoming ?What is it that eventually makes Jesus unwelcome do you think ?
(if Luke 19:7 a clue ? What about the temple money changers ?
It’s easy to welcome someone, until that means you have to make changes.
What changes have you made since welcoming Jesus ? Are there more changes you feel called to ?
This chain of hospitality and welcome continues. One writer says :” The ministry of Jesus can be captured in the phrase “Divine Hospitality to the stranger and sinner”.”,-What do you reckon ?
What does that look like to us?
Who among your friends neighbours,workmates are you offering hospitality to ? That includes going out for a coffee with. Who could you do this with this week ?