Introduction
When Jesus walked the dusty roads of Palestine, he was loved by many and criticized by more than a few. His critics said he spent too much time with the wrong people and not enough time with the right ones. They were convinced his scandalous association with all these “sinners” made him eat and drink too much. Jesus said all he wanted to do was to show God’s love to people who desperately needed it. There is a message here for those who want to follow Jesus today. Fewer and fewer people are making church as we know it a priority in their lives. The idea of gathering with others on a Sunday morning to sing, pray and listen to a lengthy sermon holds little interest for increasing numbers of people. Countless others have been deeply involved in church at some point in their lives, but left because of the hypocrisy, judgmentalism or lack of love they found there. The Jesus Dinner Party is an alternative. It’s church for those who don’t have one, and outreach for those who ...