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Today I want to give you a place to start your week. It’s Monday and in the wake of a great weekend and a workweek ahead, sometimes you just need a “kickstart” to get focused.  So grab some coffee let’s start a great week together.

Yesterday we continued our series “Back to the Table” at Kfirst. Though this is a new series of talks, the topic is NOT new as this is our third series that visits the “table practice of Jesus.” We see our lives as a “table” of hospitality. We see opportunities to change the world is done through Jesus’ approach to others at a shared table.

The “Table” is really three specific items: It is the SYMBOL, the MESSAGE, and the ACTION of the Kingdom of God. So when we show the radical hospitality of Jesus, we show, speak, and live the Kingdom of God.

Today we spoke out of Mark 6 in a message called “Under the Table.” When someone is paid “under the table,” it’s because they don’t want what they have to be subject to an authority. And so often we sit at a table with others, have a smile on our face, but we pass negativity under the surface because we don’t want to subject our hurts to the authority of Christ. In our scripture, the crowd was such offense to Jesus that they missed out on miracles they could have experienced. As we read verses 1-6, two words stuck out today:

1. Carpenter
   • The Greek word is really “craftsman.” Jesus learned to build tables before he sat at them. It is such a great challenge for all of us. Are we known for what we build or what we break? Do we build bridges (tables) or do we break them down?
2. Offended
   • This word is derived from a word describing a stick to spring a trap. And that’s exactly what offense wants to do to our hearts. It wants to spring a trap that captures us and snares us into being so consumed with hurt we miss out on what God has in store for us.

And that’s exactly what happens when we leave offense beneath the surface. We miss out on miracles because we are so wrapped up in our issues.

This week, look to be a carpenter and “build a table/bridge” with hospitality. Look to create the symbol, message, through the actions of love and grace. Second, check your heart for anything that’s under the surface. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas that you may need to subject the authority of Jesus and the peace and healing He provides.

Love you all. Praying over you this week.

BTW: Here’s a song for your week