When you think about who you invite to dinner, what does that list say about you? In Episode 2 of our podcast series The Table, we explore the radical hospitality of Jesus—how He intentionally shared meals with outsiders and used the dinner table as a place of grace, not judgment. Pastor Matt McCarter joins me again as we unpack stories from our lives and from Scripture that show how something as ordinary as a shared meal can become something holy.

We kick things off with a powerful question: What if Jesus showed up to your dinner party—and brought a plus-one you’d rather not sit next to? This isn’t just hypothetical. In Luke 5, Jesus calls Levi the tax collector and immediately heads to his house for dinner, surrounded by a crowd of “sinners.” It’s a beautiful disruption of religious norms. As Matt and I reflect on our own stories—dinners with coworkers, tailgates with baseball families, and unexpected conversations—we see how the presence of Christ often shows up where we least expect it: around the table, not behind a pulpit.

The heart of this episode is simple but challenging: meals matter. Jesus didn’t lead with theological correction—He led with connection. And that connection often started with a fork in hand. In our own lives, we’ve witnessed how hospitality opens spiritual doors. Not through pressure or preaching, but through presence. Just like my wife and I experienced with her coworkers, when you make space for people, the Holy Spirit often fills it in surprising ways.

So here’s the ripple we’re inviting you to consider this week: Who do you eat with? Not out of guilt, but with intentionality. Is there room at your table for someone who feels left out, overlooked, or far from faith? It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Pancakes and paper plates are fine. What matters is the welcome. Because when we open our tables, we open our hearts—and that’s often where real transformation begins.

We’ll continue this conversation in Part 2, where we’ll dive deeper into how the early church used meals to build community and advance the gospel. Until then, take a look at your guest list—literal or metaphorical—and ask: Who’s missing from my table?