Occasionally I have some thoughts about Table Talk that will either 1) make it easier to understand or 2) give greater depth when talking about something so central and important to our faith. I like what William Willimon says about the Cross which is also instructive for Table Talk.
“Jesus was upfront in saying that the cross is not optional equipment for discipleship: ‘If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake and for the sake of the gospel will save it’ (Mark 8:34-35).”C
The Cross is the central metaphor for discipleship. The Cross defines what a Christ-centered life looks like in its practice. The Cross upends every model we humans have for what victory, success, and meaning look like. Because of that, the Cross should be central to what we say about our own discipleship. Here are several passages which can be used to give shape to what you want to say at Table Talk.
- Isaiah 53 is a great, poetic description of Jesus’ suffering.
- Matthew 27:26-56 is one of the accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion. It is good to read one of these occasionally to be reminded of what Jesus went through when he was crucified. See also Mark 15:1-47; Luke 23:1-46; and John 19:16-42.
- Philippians 2:1-11 is Paul’s soaring reflection on what it means to have the same attitude that Christ had.
- Colossians 1:15-20 is about Christ’s role in creation, the Cosmos, and God’s plan for his people.
- Hebrews 2:14-18 explains the importance of Jesus’ death and how it figured into the victory he created over the power of the devil.