Community Happens at the Table

I have always appreciated reading Leonard Sweet books.  He is not only a deep thinker, but he is able to move me to examine my life as well.  If you read his books too quickly, you miss the deeper meanings and your benefit is not as great as it could have been.  This is true in his book, From Tablet to Table.  It is a powerful book, rich in meaning.

The back cover drew me in, as Sweet wrote,

"The story of God is full of reference to food.  From the Garden of Eden to the Last Supper to the wedding feast of the Lamb, God sets a table before us and invites us to join Him there.  Contrast this rich and filling good news with the thin and meager fare to which we've become accustomed to in our relationships, our churches or even in our families."

As I read this book, Sweet reminded of how many times as a church we have fallen short because we didn't value the table as a place of community.  We assume if we are busy, we are connected, but connection often escapes us.  Sweet outlines the fact that the table occurs in our homes, in the church and in the world.  He offers suggestions as to how we can help meet the needs of those around us, as well as satisfy our own longings.

Sweet encourages us to open up our homes and our lives to the table.  This is the place where real community occurs.  He lists numerous scriptures which highlight the many times Jesus sat and ate with others and the importance of this event. 

I received this book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an unbiased review.