Easier Than You Think: How Eating Together Holds Spiritual Significance
When you stop to think about it, how do we celebrate the biggest moments in life—birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, promotions? We gather people around a table and eat together. Why? Because something powerful happens in the context of a shared meal. It’s more than tradition. It’s connection. It’s community. And, as Jesus shows us—it’s actually spiritual.
We’re in the middle of a series called Easier Than You Think, looking at the example of Jesus and his disciples as they shared their faith with others. What did He do? How did He interact with people? How can we follow His example to share our faith in natural, meaningful ways?
In the first week, we learned that Jesus always started by praying. We challenged ourselves to “talk to God about people before we talk to people about God.” Then last week, we saw that Jesus listened deeply—He asked questions and sought to understand, rather than just preaching.
This week, we look at something so simple, it almost feels too obvious: Jesus ate with people. A lot.
Eating Isn’t Just Social—It’s Spiritual
When you start reading the Bible with meals in mind, it jumps off the pages—eating is everywhere! From Eden’s fruit to Israel’s seven-day feasts, to Jesus feeding crowds and dining with outcasts, food is woven through the story of God.
Jesus didn’t just use meals to nourish bodies—He used them to break barriers, form connections, and transform lives. And He invites us to do the same.
Let’s look at four simple but powerful ways Jesus used meals as ministry:
1. Jesus Used Eating to Break Down Barriers
In Jesus’ day, sharing a meal wasn’t a neutral act—it was full of meaning. Who you ate with defined your social, moral, and religious boundaries. The religious leaders (the Pharisees) made the dinner table a dividing line: clean vs. unclean, righteous vs. sinful, insiders vs. outsiders.
But Jesus? He broke every rule. In Matthew 9, we find Him eating at Matthew’s house—a tax collector, someone considered a traitor to his people. And not just with Matthew, but with many tax collectors and “disreputable sinners.”
The Pharisees asked the disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” But Jesus overheard and responded, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.”
Jesus didn’t care about appearances or social norms. He sat at tables that others avoided. And it challenged the religious elite.
Here’s the hard question: when was the last time you shared a meal with someone very different from you? Different morals. Different background. Different worldview. It doesn’t happen often, does it?
One family meal with a homeless man 18 years ago still stands out in my mind—not because we did something amazing, but because it was so rare. And that’s the point. It shouldn’t be.
2. Jesus Created Real Connections
Tax collectors like Matthew weren’t just disliked—they were despised. They worked for Rome, overcharged their own people, and got rich doing it. But when Jesus said, “Follow me,” Matthew found a way out of that life.
So what does Matthew do? He throws a dinner party—and invites all the other outcasts he knows. Jesus and His disciples join in, and that dinner becomes a place of connection and grace for people who normally got neither.
When was the last time you connected with someone who never gets invited in?
Jesus wasn’t afraid to connect with people that others avoided. That’s powerful—and it’s the kind of love that can change a life.
3. Jesus Entered Their Space
Jesus didn’t say, “Come to the synagogue and I’ll tell you about God.” Instead, He showed up in their homes, their towns, their parties.
He didn’t ask people to come to Him—He went to them.
And that’s what He calls us to do. Where are the spaces you enter each week—your school, your office, your neighborhood? Those places are opportunities to bring presence, conversation, and compassion. That’s what Jesus did.
4. Jesus Used Meals to Create Sharing Opportunities
One of my favorite stories is the one about Zacchaeus—the “altitudinally challenged” tax collector who climbed a tree just to see Jesus in Luke 9.
Jesus sees him, calls him down, and invites Himself over for dinner. And though we don’t know what was said around the table, we do know what happened afterward: Zacchaeus’ life changed. He gave away money. He made things right. One dinner with Jesus completely transformed him.
Why? Because when people feel seen, heard, and welcomed, their hearts open. And when their hearts open, spiritual conversations become natural.
Jesus didn’t lecture people—He loved them. And meals were one of His favorite ways to do it.
Excuses We Use (and Why They Don’t Hold Up)
If this sounds doable but you’re still hesitating, maybe it’s one of these:
“I’m not a good host.” No one cares if your silverware matches or your house is spotless. You don’t even have to host—go out to eat. It’s about presence, not presentation.
“I don’t know what to say.” Ask questions and listen. Four categories can help:
History: Tell me your story.
Heart: What do you love to do?
Habits: What’s important to you?
Hurts: What’s been hard lately?
Good questions go a long way.
“I don’t have time.” Look—we’re all eating anyway. Just invite someone to join you. It’s not adding to your schedule; it’s rethinking how you spend what’s already there.
Your Challenge: Eat With Someone Far From God
We handed out magnets labeled “Who is My Neighbor?” with space to write the names of people near you geographically who are far from God. If you’ve got one on your fridge, great. If not, grab one at Connection Central.
Now, here’s the challenge: In the next 30 days, have a meal with one person on that list.
Someone close to you, but far from God. Not just another church friend. We need community with believers—but if we don’t also connect with the lost, we’re missing a huge part of Jesus’ mission.
And If You’re Matthew in This Story…
Maybe today, you’re not the inviter—you’re the outcast. You relate more to Matthew before Jesus. The outsider. The one no one invites in.
If that’s you, hear Jesus’ words from Revelation 3:20:
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”
He’s still knocking. He still wants to come in. He still wants to share a meal—with you.
Final Thought: The Table Is More Than a Place to Eat
The table is where stories are shared, relationships are formed, and lives are changed. And Jesus reminds us: it’s not just social—it’s spiritual.
So let’s start seeing it that way.
Let’s eat—intentionally.
Let’s eat—missionally.
Let’s eat—like Jesus.