Royal Priesthood, Holy Nation Acts
1:4
Mealtime Stories
by
Robert T. Cooper
Have you
noticed how many of your family stories center around mealtime or around food?
One of the earliest family stories about me has to do with me getting seconds
on potatoes at lunch at school. Then there is the story about my dad and the
raisin pie.
It’s been like
that throughout history. We know about the time the Earl of Sandwich was
playing cards. We know what Marie Antoinette thought about people eating cake.
And a whole lot of Bible stories center around mealtime or around food as well.
Here we are in
the first paragraph of Acts (well, the original manuscripts didn’t have
paragraphs, but we are at the very beginning anyway) and Luke is about to quote
something Jesus said in the 40 days between the Resurrection and the Ascension.
He wants to help people remember which appearance during that period it was,
and so he says that it was on one of the occasions when Jesus was eating with
the Apostles. Like that is going to narrow it down a little! Not!
My point is
this: Jesus did so much teaching at mealtimes because people learn well in that
atmosphere. Think about it.
1.
People
tend to be relaxed when they are eating, and so are more teachable.
2.
Because
people are busy eating, they will chew and listen while you are making your
points, especially if what you say is interesting to them.
3.
Because
people are used to conversing at mealtimes, they will ask questions and have
discussions as part of your lesson plan at a meal.
4.
You
can build a structure where the lesson is the length of the meal, with a
life-application assignment to get up and go do immediately following the meal.
So whether you are a parent, a teacher, a mentor, a student, a church
member, a disciple, a team leader, or just an ordinary person, pay attention
when you are at meals. You may be in a lesson situation. Take advantage of the
opportunities to teach and to learn.
