The Table - Part 1
Passages (NIV): Genesis 1:29; 2:9, Exodus 16:4,12, Psalm 23:5, Luke 5:29–30; 7:34; 15:2, Luke 22:19, Revelation 19:9
Preacher: Mark Kingston
Mother Teresa once said, “The greatest disease in the West today is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for.”
She was right. The ache beneath so much of modern life isn’t just physical sickness — it’s loneliness. Research says one in eight Canadians feel lonely most of the time. That’s not just a statistic; that’s some of us. And it’s not just emotional. Loneliness harms the body almost as much as smoking fifteen cigarettes a day. It’s like our hearts and our health are both saying the same thing: we were never meant to live life alone.
That’s why this President’s Choice “Eat Together” film hits home. A woman, tired of eating by herself, sets a table in her hallway. One neighbour joins her, then another, until the hallway becomes a feast. No slogans. No sermon. Just one act of courage — and connection happens.
We resonate with this story because it speaks a deep truth: life is better together…
The Bible tells that same story again and again. The table runs like a golden thread through Scripture. For example:
In Genesis, creation is pictured like a banquet: trees heavy with fruit, everything good to eat.
In Exodus, God feeds His people with manna and quail: daily reminders that He provides.
In the Psalms, He prepares a table even in the presence of enemies
In the Gospels, Jesus spends His ministry around tables, healing, forgiving, welcoming outsiders.
And the story ends in Revelation with the great banquet of the Lamb, where every story is welcomed and every tear wiped away.
The table, it turns out, is God’s chosen way of saying, “You belong. You’re provided for. Come and eat.”
So, when we gather around tables - in church, at home, in cafés, on beaches - something sacred happens. Fear loosens its grip. Gratitude grows. Hope flickers back to life. The table becomes holy ground.
But there’s more to the story. The table isn’t just a place to connect — it’s a place where we grow. Every time we gather, the table helps us remember how God has cared for us in the past, trust that He’s providing right now, look ahead with hope, and make room for others to join in.
Next week we’ll see how the simple act of eating together could change not only us, but our whole town. Don’t miss out!
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Feeling the ache: Why do you think loneliness has become such a common struggle in our culture? Where do you see it most clearly in everyday life?
Ordinary courage: In the “Eat Together” story, one woman simply sets a table in her hallway. What might that kind of small, courageous step look like for you?
The golden thread: Which moment in the Bible’s “table story” (Genesis, Exodus, Psalms, Gospels, Revelation) speaks most to you, and why?
Holy ground: Think of a time when sharing a meal brought comfort, healing, or laughter you didn’t expect. What made that table feel sacred?
Carrying it forward: How could our church make space this week for connection around tables, whether in homes, cafés, or community gatherings?
