THE TABLE - Part 2
October 22, 2006

Last week - Cuisine, conversation, context

1. The Church is the table where people come
to get fed, and the table has chairs around it.
John 6:35
“… I am the bread of life.”
* The ultimate food = ultimate presentation
1/3's MATURE – FAITH IS FRESH – Unbelievers
- We love to entertain- (strategic)
* At Paradise we want to build believers & serve unbelievers!
Heb 10:25 "…not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together…"
Note: So many people we are in contact with are just one invitation away - one sample away from coming to Christ

2. The Lead Communicator Is The Chef Who Serves The Food In A Creative And Compelling Way.
- To say a word on God's behalf! WOW
John 21:17
“Feed my sheep.” Goal at Paradise!
Acts 20:28-29 "…feed the flock…"
* SERVE A BALANCED DIET
All subjects:
Relationships:
Emotions:
Current Events:
Biblical Characters:
Doctrine:
Leadership:
Acts 20:27 "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God."

Creativity Team: we have put one together here- to help.
• Helps Me Become Me (Mike not Brian, etc)
• Fresh Ideas
• Onsite Critique
• Keeps Us Consistently Inconsistent (Arnold Schwarzeneggar -"confusion Principle")
• Takes Pressure Off just me
• Knowledge Of Who Is In The Church
- Important to take breaks- (Theta waves)

3. The Nourishment From The Food Provides The Fuel To Serve Others.
* Las Vegas: Correlation between Restaurants/Obesity
* More diet-driven Christians in Las Vegas- feed, study on the Word…
* Not just diet BUT exercise!
John 4:34
“My meat…is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”
James 1:22
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

Mature – Faith Is Fresh - Unbeliever
* There’s Another Chair…The High Chair (the "I" chair)
* They can't exercise or serve- just "feed me"!
* What to do with these whiners?
* Can't turn around & feed them - neglect the other three chairs.
* Antithesis of maturity - OTHERS not SELF
* Florida pastor- "we changed for you, but you won't change for someone else"?
* I am glad Paradise Church is about diet & exercise- the parking lot; coffee, nursery, children's classes, musicians & singers, mission's people…
* Testimonies of a few…
If we do all this stuff then the church should be in a constant state of expansion

4. The Table Is Always At A Constant State Of Expansion.
* Continue to reach up—that’s worship, to reach out—that’s sharing Christ, and to reach in—that’s discipleship, we need a lot of you to step up and serve.