In a world where loneliness has become a quiet epidemic, kitchen table hospitality is nothing short of revolutionary.
Come for Dinner
When I first met my wife’s extended family, I was nervous about what to expect. Would they like me? Would I fit in?
But the moment I stepped through the door, Grandma Sue’s smile greeted me as if I was an old friend: “Oh hello! I’m so glad you made it, Matt.”
And just like that, my nerves settled down.
Her kitchen carried the comforting aroma of something delicious, and her table was a refuge of laughter and conversation. In her presence, you could simply be.
And of course, you could count on Uncle Brad to joke—loudly—about how great Grandma’s buns looked.
As I left, I already felt like family. And as we walked out the door, Grandma, with a twinkle in her eye, said her signature send-off: “You need to come for dinner again soon!”
Before she passed in 2021, she left us a gift—a cookbook called Come for Dinner, filled with our family’s favorite recipes. Those three simple words summed up her life: it was about hospitality—loving, serving, and welcoming others.
Her table reflected the heart of Jesus—who broke bread with outcasts and welcomed all to follow Him. Jesus changed lives around the table, welcoming us into the family of God.
You can be just like Grandma Sue and Jesus. That’s what this book is all about.
Why don’t you come for dinner with Jesus—and see for yourself?
I Bring You Good News of Great Joy!
When Grandma invited us over, she welcomed us into a place of love and belonging.
Jesus offers us an invitation like that, too. But His is far greater. He calls us to more than a meal; He calls us to Himself. He gives us a belonging that doesn’t fade, a love that never wavers, a place at His table that no one can take away.
In a world that’s unraveling at the seams, His invitation is more urgent than ever.
Right now, life feels heavy—wars rage, politics divides us, and uncertainty hangs in the air. Our screens glow with bad news, and we wonder: Where is the world headed? Is there any hope left?
For Christians, the weight feels even heavier. Church attendance is shrinking, faith is met with skepticism, and our culture feels like it’s drifting further away from God. Maybe you’ve wondered: Is the church irrelevant? Have we lost something we can’t get back?
Are these the days Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24—wars and rumors of wars, natural disasters, and hearts growing cold? It’s easy to feel like the brokenness is too great, the wounds too deep.
But Jesus gave us a reason to hope. He gave us a promise:
“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Christ still speaks peace to storms, fills empty hearts, and draws the lost to Himself.
His peace is not distant. His Spirit is alive—moving, working, ready to enter into our everyday lives. And maybe, you can find hope again—right where you are. At your table.
This book isn’t just about opening your home; it’s about opening your heart. Letting God use your hospitality—the simple, life-giving act of gathering for dinner—to bring healing to a hurting world.
Jesus changed lives through personal presence by sharing meals, listening well, and loving deeply. And He calls us to love our neighbors, as ourselves.
Within these pages, you’ll discover how something as ordinary as a meal can become an extraordinary reflection of God’s love. You’ll find practical ways to welcome others in, to build relationships that matter, and to experience the beauty of true community.
My prayer is that you’ll start to see the world not as a hopeless mess but as a mission field full of opportunity. Your table can be a place where heaven meets earth and where lives are changed.
So, what are you waiting for? Pull up a chair.
And let’s see what God will do.
The Wildfire of Deconstruction
Faith once stood like an ancient forest in our culture—deep-rooted, towering, unshakable.
For years, churches put on polished performances and programs. They promised purpose, connection, and belonging. But for many, they delivered a faith that felt hollow, staged, and increasingly irrelevant to real life.
Then came the spark.
After 9/11, a generation raised in seeker-friendly churches started to ask questions. Doubts that began as a flicker were fueled into an inferno by voices like Dawkins, Hitchens, Dennett, and Harris—the so-called Four Horsemen of New Atheism.
The wildfire soon raged. Millions of young Christians searched for truth—only to find emptiness. New doubts consumed their faith, leaving behind only the charred remnants of what once felt certain.
Churches emptied, trust eroded, and a deep spiritual homelessness took hold.
This is the story of my generation. I’ve seen it firsthand—watching friends walk away, unsure if there was anything about the faith worth holding onto. Many left quietly, burdened by doubts they couldn’t put into words. Others grew angry, feeling betrayed and suspecting evil intent.
The name of this wildfire is deconstruction— a process of questioning long-held beliefs, often triggered by doubt, personal crisis, or disappointment with the church.
For many, what started as innocent questions soon unraveled everything they once believed, leaving them spiritually lost and unsure of where to turn.
This wave of deconstruction left many wondering: How can anything good come from all this devastation?
But as destructive as they are, wildfires don’t just destroy—they also prepare the ground for something new.
In 2003, a massive wildfire swept through Kootenay National Park in British Columbia, reducing over 17,400 hectares to ashes. For years, the landscape looked barren—blackened ground, skeletal trees, and silence where the forest was once teeming with life.
Yet deeper, new life was quietly stirring. The fire’s heat had cracked open pinecones, releasing seeds that could only germinate in its aftermath.
I believe something like this is happening in the church today. Perhaps deconstruction isn’t the end, but it’s a new beginning. What if God used the wildfire to clear away the artificial and manufactured to make space for something more rooted, more authentic, more Christ-centered?
Deconstruction may have left people disillusioned with church institutions, but reconstruction can start at your home with a table, a meal, and God’s grace.
It’s ordinary people practicing ordinary hospitality. By opening their homes and fostering real connections, they’ll develop their faith in ways that go beyond Sunday morning services.
That’s The Communion Revolution. And it’s simpler than you think.
Now, even in the ashes of deconstruction, new life is stirring—not just in the church, but in hearts longing to hope again. The hunger for belonging, for genuine community, for meaningful faith—it’s still there. And it’s growing.
God is planting seeds of renewal in people’s hearts. Are you willing to help nurture them through small, faithful acts of Christlike hospitality?
All you need to do is welcome others in.
The Nehemiah Option: Reconstructing Faith Through Hospitality
The wildfire has passed. The ground is scorched. And the old structures lie in ruins.
However, the foundation still stands. In the wake of deconstruction, we’re left with an opportunity—to rediscover faith in its communal form.
It’s time to rebuild, through hospitality and love.
Like a city whose walls have crumbled, the church stands exposed—vulnerable to confusion, division, and despair. The cultural assumptions we once relied on have been shaken, leaving many wondering if faith can ever be restored.
This is where Nehemiah’s story offers us hope.
In 444 BC, Jerusalem was in shambles—its walls reduced to rubble, its people discouraged and exposed to every enemy that passed by.
When Nehemiah heard the news, he was heartbroken, but he didn’t wait for someone else to act. Instead, he prayed, stepped in, and led the charge to rebuild the walls.
Brick by brick. Hand by hand. House by house.
And what the people of Jerusalem had neglected for generations was restored in just 52 days.
Today, we face a similar moment. The walls of faith have eroded, and the church feels fragmented and fragile. But the answer isn’t to give up or withdraw.
God is calling us to something far greater—reconstruction.
We can rebuild by following an ancient blueprint. This project doesn’t begin with bricks, but with tables—it’s built through faith and Communion.
Like Nehemiah, we’re called to start with what’s right in front of us—our homes, our neighbors, our communities. Reach out to those nearest to you—hearts longing for healing, communities aching for renewal.
That’s the heartbeat of The Communion Revolution.
It’s not about waiting for institutions to fix what’s broken. It’s about turning our dinner tables into sacred spaces of connection.
Small acts of hospitality are like bricks in the wall. One invitation, one conversation, one meal can start to rebuild what’s been destroyed.
Because hospitality is more than a meal. It’s a declaration of hope and faith, saying to the lonely, “You are seen. You are loved. You belong.”
God calls ordinary people—like you and me—to take small steps. Set the table, extend an invitation, and rebuild community.
The walls won’t rise overnight, but one meal at a time, something precious will take shape.
Are you ready to begin?
Agape Feast: The Early Church’s Blueprint for Building Community
The early church gathered around tables, sharing meals that fed both body and soul.
They called it the agape feast—or the love feast.
Writing in the 2nd century, Tertullian described these feasts as gatherings where believers shared a meal in simplicity and love, ending with prayer and hymns. He said:
“Our feast explains itself by its name. It bears the name of love because we hold it with love for one another.”
These meals weren’t just casual get-togethers; they were essential rhythms of life—moments of worship where faith was practiced, not just preached.
Bread and wine were shared, and with them, the presence of Christ. These meals were the essential core of the church’s fellowship, and Christians lived together like a family of God.
The Book of Acts paints a picture:
“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals.”
Early Christians wove discipleship into daily life through these gatherings—passing on faith not just through teaching, but through relationship.
The table became a place of radical generosity, where those with wealth shared freely with those in need. It was also a space of unity, where rich and poor, slave and free became one in Christ, and social divisions dissolved.
These feasts were treated with deep reverence. In 1 Corinthians 11:20-34, Paul instructs the church to ensure that no one was left out or dishonored during these gatherings. He said:
“When you gather to eat, you should all eat together.”
The agape feast was revolutionary. In Roman society, meals reinforced class divides. But in Christ, all were welcome and all were equal.
During the agape feast, the love of God was lived out. Strangers became brothers and sisters in Christ, and the Gospel shaped their collective identity.
The early church didn’t just talk about community. They ate their way into it.
What was once a normal way of life for the early church has faded into the background of modern Christianity. But the need remains.
Today, we live in a profoundly lonely culture. We eat fast food, keep fast schedules, and have fragmented relationships. We’ve traded tables for takeout, and deep connection for transactions.
In our hectic, fast-paced, hurried culture, where can we go to find the belonging we’re yearning for? Will you find it in another church program or sermon?
What if you can only find it back at the table?
Reviving the agape feast is how we can restore what’s been lost. It’s how we can offer real connection in a disconnected world, turning ordinary meals into grace-filled moments.
The Gospel can come to life through hosting dinner for a neighbor or gathering friends for a shared meal and conversation. The agape feast is how the church can be rebuilt today.
Hospitality has been a catalyst for revival and renewal throughout history.
John Wesley and the Methodist Movement
In 18th-century England, John Wesley saw that the church had grown cold and distant from ordinary people. So he did something radical—he brought the Gospel into homes, forming class meetings.
In these small groups, believers shared meals, held each other accountable, and grew in faith—learning to apply it in daily life. For Wesley, hospitality wasn’t an afterthought; it was the heartbeat of a movement that transformed a nation.
The Celtic Monks
Centuries earlier, the Celtic monks were doing the same in the wilderness of Europe.
In the Dark Ages, when society was in chaos, missionaries like St. Columba and St. Aidan created communities of hospitality—welcoming each sojourner as if they were welcoming Christ.
Their monasteries were known as places of refuge, where the weary could find food, shelter, and spiritual strength. Through these simple acts of welcoming strangers, the Celts carried the Gospel across Europe.
Their hospitality wasn’t complicated or extravagant; it was simple, consistent, and rooted in love. It wasn’t just kindness; it was mission. And it turned the world upside-down.
You and Me, Starting Today
The same approach they used can still change lives today. Imagine what God could do—right in your home, around your table—if you welcomed Him in.
Picture a small group gathered in a modest dining room, sharing a pot-luck dinner. The table is crowded with mismatched plates.
A woman who hasn’t prayed in years bows her head as someone says grace. A young couple, struggling in their marriage, finds comfort in the laughter and shared stories of others who’ve walked through the same storms. Across the room, a teenager listens silently but stays long after the meal, asking questions about faith when everyone else has left.
These moments are happening right now. In homes across neighborhoods and cities, where believers are opening their doors and sharing simple meals with neighbors, friends, and strangers—where Communion is shared not just as a ritual but as a living practice of grace.
Others are gathering for regular dinners, reading Scripture, praying, and letting relationships deepen organically over time.
What if your table could become a place like that—where faith was restored, relationships healed, and lives were transformed?
Now, it’s our turn. Let’s revive the agape feast and turn our homes into places where Christ’s love is shared.
How This Book Will Guide You on the Journey
This book calls you to reclaim the table as a place of transformation, restoration, and renewal. Hospitality is an ancient practice that’s more relevant than ever.
This journey will help you recognize the deep ache of loneliness in our culture, rediscover the power of shared meals, and embrace a vision capable of transforming not only our homes but also our churches, cities, and beyond.
The book unfolds in three parts—each one leading you from vision to action, from inspiration to practical steps you can take right where you are.
Part 1: Laying the Foundations
Before we set the table, we need to understand why it matters.
Part 1 lays the groundwork—exploring the ache of loneliness, the beauty of Christ-centered hospitality, and the practical ways we can bring it to life.
The Problem of Loneliness
This chapter unpacks why loneliness matters—not just socially, but spiritually—and how Gospel-driven hospitality offers a radical response.
Rediscovering Communion
Jesus didn’t build an institution; instead, He set a table. Here, we’ll explore how the agape feast wasn’t just an accidental tradition, but the heart of His mission to seek and save the lost.
The Hospitality Game Plan
This chapter explores how small, intentional acts of welcome can break down walls, push back darkness, and advance God’s Kingdom. Hospitality isn’t just a kind gesture—it’s a spiritual weapon.
Part 2: Joining Jesus at the Table
In Part 2, we take our seat alongside Jesus, walking through ten powerful stories in the Gospels where meals became moments of transformation.
Each story reveals how table fellowship can embody Kingdom values, which change lives in profound ways.
- Patient Endurance with Simon Peter
- Expectation at the Wedding at Cana
- Listening with Martha and Mary
- Courage at the Feeding of the 5,000
- Repentance with Simon the Pharisee
- Advocacy for Sinners with Levi the Tax Collector
- Salvation with Zacchaeus
- Generosity with the Greedy Pharisees
- Forgiveness with Mary and Judas Iscariot
- Hope on the Road to Emmaus
Through these stories, you’ll see how Jesus practiced hospitality—using meals to break barriers, heal hearts, and usher people into the Kingdom.
And you’ll find practical ways to bring these same virtues to life in your home and community.
Part 3: A Bold Vision for Cultural Renewal
The Communion Revolution isn’t just about setting tables; it’s about rebuilding what’s been broken—in our lives, our churches, and our culture.
At the center of this vision is the agape feast—the meal that can once again become the heartbeat of discipleship.
This vision grows—from the table, outward:
- Deepening Faith by forming spiritual families.
- Interceding for Cities by walking the streets in prayer, seeking God’s hand at work in our neighborhoods.
- Equipping Churches by fostering networks of mission, discipleship, and collaboration.
- Fostering Christian Unity by breaking down denominational walls with humility, holiness, and hospitality.
In Part 3 of this book, you’ll find the Manifesto—a bold declaration of what could happen if we take Jesus’ model of table-driven discipleship seriously, starting a movement to make hospitality the thing that Christians are best-known for.
The change starts small, but as more tables open, the ripple effect can transform entire communities—one table turns into ten, ten turn into a hundred.
Whether you’re drawn to the grand vision or the simple, practical steps, this book will equip and inspire you to bring it to life. It’s an invitation to step into something life-changing—starting at your kitchen table.
The Revolution Starts With You
Every movement of revival begins somewhere small and with people like you.
It often begins around a table—with a simple invitation, a meal shared, a door opened.
Your humble, everyday table can become a sacred place—where the Gospel takes on flesh through laughter, conversation, and a shared life.
Imagine:
- Healing Relationships What if a meal became the bridge that reconnects estranged family members, deepens friendships, and mends wounds long thought unhealable?
- Rekindling Faith What if faith no longer felt like a checklist, but something alive, joyful, and deeply rooted in your daily life?
- Restoring Community What if your table became a beacon in your neighborhood—a place where the lonely find belonging and where strangers become friends?
This is The Communion Revolution.
And it begins with you.
The Holy Spirit moves through ordinary people doing ordinary things with extraordinary love.
Each meal could become part of a movement of hospitality—rebuilding neighborhoods, churches, cities.
As you step in, you’ll find your own life transformed—deeper purpose, richer relationships, and the unspeakable joy of knowing you’re part of God’s Kingdom unfolding around your table.
The invitation is simple.
Open your home. Set the table. Trust God to do the rest.
This book is your guide to making it happen. Together, we’ll rediscover the joy of gathering around a table and living out the Gospel through meals, grace, and personal connection.
Are you ready to begin?