Why Dinner Parties?
The dinner table is a key context for mission for Jesus. ‘The Son of Man came eating and drinking’, according to Luke. As he eats with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus demonstrates and embodies the welcoming grace of God.
In Western society, there has been a marked decline in table fellowship. We live closer together than ever in high-density accommodation, and yet we live in a culture of isolation and loneliness. The average Australian has less than 10 visitors to their home every year.
We believe the church needs to rediscover the importance of the table for mission. Sharing a meal builds bridges of friendship between people. Eating together breaks down barriers and builds trust. Our hospitality creates space for the gospel and even displays the welcome of the gospel.
Tim Chester says:
Meals have the power to shape community and should be an integral and significant part of our shared life. Community and mission are more than meals, but it’s hard to conceive of them without meals … It’s not that meals save people. People are saved through the gospel message. But meals will create natural opportunities to share that message in a context that powerfully resonates with what you’re saying.
We encourage each of our Gospel Communities to throw missional Dinner Parties to invite their friends into our community.
Aims
- “Merge our universes”: introduce our 5 to Christian community and build friendships with one another’s non-Christian friends
- Demonstrate and create space for the gospel through hospitality
- Clear next step: invite to next event (eg Easter services, Alpha)
Start Well
- Emphasise missional identity. Purpose of Gospel Community: Disciple everyday missionaries
- 5FOR5: get everyone to write down & share their 5
- Set vision for Dinner Parties
Throughout the Term
- Share mission moments over dinner each week
- Weekly check-in re: 5FOR5. Use 5FOR5 to pave the way for invitations.
- Pray for people by name and keep each other accountable re: invitations.
- Celebrate victories as well as ‘rejections’. The invitation itself is a huge win requiring a courageous step of faith!
- Correct the media narrative: Many people are open/warm. We just need courage to invite!
- Promote your Dinner Party every week in GC announcements, and build expectancy about this as an effectiveplatform to reach people
Plan the Party
- Start planning early—at least a month before
- Confirm date and venue
- Key word: PARTY!
- Leadership: get people involved/give responsibility
- Food & drink
- Atmosphere: Music, Styling (create welcoming environment)
- Invitations: not bait and switch! Do you want to come along to an Easter dinner party that I’m throwing withfriends from church?
Content Ideas
- Don’t need to give a sermon: be attentive to people and open about your faith
- Huge welcome! Celebrate Easter. Say grace.
- Invite people to Easter services
- Show the Alpha trailer (below)
- Read the Easter story/Hold a Passover feast/Remembrance meal
- Ask people to share a poem/song/artwork/Easter reflection
Follow Up
- Send texts thanking guests for coming and inviting to next event (eg Easter)
Reasons for Ineffectiveness
- Doing a last minute job and failing to adequately prepare
- Culture of cynicism/pessimism, and lack of fervent prayer in the lead up
- Failure to celebrate ‘rejections’ and well as victories
- Lack of conviction that this is an effective platform to reach people