The Story Of The Great Banquet

Everybody’s Welcome. Nobody’s Perfect. Anything’s Possible.

The Story of the Great Banquet

Dr. Marty Baker / Luke 14:16-23 / February 6, 2022

Welcome to the Stevens Creek Church. We are glad to have you here and I especially want to welcome our South Campus, our Dream Center Experience and our online campus.

I start with something funny. Did you hear about the kindergarten Sunday School Class that was learning about heaven?

The Teacher asked students, “Where does God live?” Little Johnny raised his hand and said, “I know.” “Well, tell us.” He said, “God lives in our bathroom.” The teacher was shocked and said, “What do you mean? God lives in your bathroom?”

He said, “Every morning when my mother goes in to put on her makeup my father knocks on the door and says, “Good lord, how long are you going to be in there?”

Once again, we are so glad that you are here. Today is a milestone moment; it is a historic day here at Stevens Creek. Today we are launching Stevens Creek Church – Grovetown. If you would have told me this nine months ago, I would have said, “There’s no way. Not now.” This campus was a surprise to us, but it was not a surprise to God.

I believe that this is the beginning of what will be lasting ministry in this community and just think … you and I get to be a part of what God is doing.

I want to say thank you to all of you who have supported this ministry. Your prayers, your work and your generous support have laid the foundation for this ministry. Patty and I really appreciate you are doing.

Today, we are starting a three-week series called, Everybody’s Welcome. Nobody’s Perfect. Anything’s Possible. This is a series to help you understand the heart behind Stevens Creek Church. In fact, our story can be summarized in three simple statements.

Stevens Creek Church exists to help you take your next steps toward God.

We are all on a spiritual journey. Some of you are here investigating Christianity. The thoughts about God and Jesus and church and Christmas and Easter are new to you. Take a deep breath and come back next week. We simply want you to take your next step.

The same could be said to those of you who have been Christians for months or even years… we want to help you take your next step. One of the best ways for you to do this is to join a small group. You can sign up for a small group in the lobby after service.

In November 1987, nearly 35 years ago, we gathered with 24 people in a borrowed living and shared a vision of reaching this community for Jesus Christ. I wanted to remove the barriers so that all people could hear the life-giving message of Jesus Christ.

We shared a common hope that lost people could be found and broken people could be healed.

There are hundreds of stories in our church of people’s whose lives have been changed by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.

Today, I want to introduce you to Karl McGinnis. Listen to his story.

VIDEO STORY: Karl McGinnis

Karl’s life was changed because someone encouraged him to come to The Creek. This church is for all of the people. Regardless of where you are in your spiritual journey, you are welcome here. That’s the third statement.

Stevens Creek Church is a place where everyone is welcome.

I grew up in a church that said that you are welcome, but the only people that felt welcome were the ones that looked like us, talked like us, voted like us and believed like we did. This negatively affected our ability to reach our small town. In fact, my home church went seven years and only had one baptism. Today, our preschool class is larger than my home church.

Over the next few minutes, I want to go to the New Testament, book of Luke, chapter 14 where we see a story about a great banquet. In this parable, we see God’s heart to include people from all walks of life.

Luke 14:16-23

16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.

17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’