Listen/Eat Tool
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Listening and eating make a great combo!
Some things are just better together, like peanut butter and jelly. This is also true of the two practices of listening and eating! Why do these two make such a powerful one-two punch? First, because people seldom share meals together. In our individualistic society, hospitality is seen as an extravagant gesture of good will. Second, when the focus of the meal is centered on good conversation to get to know others, it comes across as a tremendously generous act. Much of Jesus’s ministry involved conversation around a table. In the book of Luke alone, there are ten stories of Jesus dining and talking with various people. Active listening coupled with a good meal can catapult a casual acquaintance into a growing friendship.
The Power of Sharing a Meal (or a coffee…or dessert)
So what would it look like if you aimed to set aside just one meal (out of twenty-one) every week to bless people by eating with them? Picture a world where people are sitting together, eating, talking, listening, and connecting to one another. I believe that’s a picture God is waiting to see! When you start to practice this simple, everyday way of blessing and being blessed by others, you might even discover that hospitality is a spiritual gift you didn’t know you had. I’m convinced you’ll be amazed by how you can impact the lives of people around the table. Remember, you don’t have to do this alone. I encourage everyone in our church to get into a small group because we believe to our core that we were never meant to pursue the Jesus Mission solo. What if your group started having barbecues, parties, or dinners once a month, inviting neighbors, coworkers, and friends? What if you skipped the Bible study and decided to just hang out, eat, and party? That could be someone’s first taste of your small group, of your church—and of God!
Excuses Not To Listen & Eat With Others
Excuse #1: “I don’t like to have people in my home.”
Remember, it’s not about what you’re eating or even where you’re eating it. It’s about who you’re eating with.
Excuse #2: “I wouldn’t know what to say.”
Instead of worrying about what you’ll say, think about what you can learn about the other person—by listening.
Excuse #3: “I just don’t have time.”
Eating is already on our schedules. In fact, most of us find time to eat at least two and probably three times every day, even when there is a lot of uncertainty in our weeks. Invite someone else once or twice..