I’ve always been a “four seasons” guy, but there’s something about fall that stands out to me. The crisp air, the glow of a campfire, the joy of gathering with friends around a football game, and, of course, the tradition of Thanksgiving—all of it reminds me of how powerful meals can be. There’s something uniquely meaningful about sitting around a table with others, sharing food, laughter, and stories.

In Mark 2:13–17, we see Jesus do the same. After calling Levi (Matthew) to follow Him, Jesus doesn’t take him to a synagogue or a lecture. Instead, He goes to Levi’s house and shares a meal. Around that table sat people with all kinds of backgrounds—some considered religious outsiders, others labeled as “sinners.” The religious leaders couldn’t understand why Jesus would spend His time with them. Yet Jesus knew exactly what He was doing.

Robert Karris once said, “In Luke’s gospel, Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal.” Meals were central to His ministry. They were where teaching happened, where lives were changed, and where the love of God was experienced firsthand. Around the table, Jesus showed that no one was excluded. Everyone was welcome.

The table itself is just furniture, but the meal is where real relationship takes root. That’s where the gospel moves from words to life. Jesus demonstrated that friendship and fellowship often begin with something as simple as eating together.

So what if this fall you were intentional about your table? What if you invited a neighbor over, welcomed a coworker, or shared a meal with someone different from you? It doesn’t require a perfect home, a huge dining room, or a gourmet meal. God multiplies whatever we bring when we open our lives in generosity. Begin with what you have.

When we invite others in, we give them a glimpse of Jesus—the One who welcomed everyone. A physical meal can lead to a spiritual meal. By meeting a physical need, we may open the door for someone to encounter the deeper truth of God’s love.

Jesus was radically inclusive. Imagine how our communities would look if more strangers became friends around our tables. A simple meal could be the start of something eternal. The table is a tool, but the meal is where the relationship really happens.

By Bart Stone