Nova Church Weekly Messages

Come to the table. Make room for others.

In this series, we’ll pull up a chair at some of the most transformative tables and meals in the Gospel of Luke.

The Table of Jesus invites us to rediscover the radical hospitality of Jesus, a hospitality that reveals the loving and just reign of God. The invitation is simple: come and eat. And as we experience the grace and goodness of Jesus, we’re invited to make room for others and set tables where they can experience it, too.

"Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

(Luke 4:14-21 NIV)

This summer, we’re embracing Jesus’ invitation to slow down—to live at the unforced rhythms of grace, become more attentive to the Holy Spirit, rest, worship, play, and connect.

In a world that constantly pushes us to do more and move faster, Jesus offers a better way. Slow Down This Summer is an invitation to create space for what matters most and rediscover the joy of being with God and one another.

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 

'Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?'

'Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?'

For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."

(Romans 11:33-12:1 NIV)

"Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

“Leave her alone,”said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

(Mark 14:1-9 NIV)

This summer, we’re embracing Jesus’ invitation to slow down—to live at the unforced rhythms of grace, become more attentive to the Holy Spirit, rest, worship, play, and connect.

In a world that constantly pushes us to do more and move faster, Jesus offers a better way. Slow Down This Summer is an invitation to create space for what matters most and rediscover the joy of being with God and one another.

"As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.

My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long—though I know not how to relate them all.

I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.

Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.

Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things. Who is like you, God?"

(Psalm 71:14-19 NIV)

This summer, we’re embracing Jesus’ invitation to slow down—to live at the unforced rhythms of grace, become more attentive to the Holy Spirit, rest, worship, play, and connect.

In a world that constantly pushes us to do more and move faster, Jesus offers a better way. Slow Down This Summer is an invitation to create space for what matters most and rediscover the joy of being with God and one another.

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. 

(Psalm 23:1-3 NLT)

This summer, we’re embracing Jesus’ invitation to slow down—to live at the unforced rhythms of grace, become more attentive to the Holy Spirit, rest, worship, play, and connect.

In a world that constantly pushes us to do more and move faster, Jesus offers a better way. Slow Down This Summer is an invitation to create space for what matters most and rediscover the joy of being with God and one another.

"This is what the Lord says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.”

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each of them with cane in hand because of their age. The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.”

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?” declares the Lord Almighty."

(Zechariah 8:3-6 NIV)

This summer, we’re embracing Jesus’ invitation to slow down—to live at the unforced rhythms of grace, become more attentive to the Holy Spirit, rest, worship, play, and connect.

In a world that constantly pushes us to do more and move faster, Jesus offers a better way. Slow Down This Summer is an invitation to create space for what matters most and rediscover the joy of being with God and one another.

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”

Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

(Mark 2:23-28 NIV)

This summer, we’re embracing Jesus’ invitation to slow down—to live at the unforced rhythms of grace, become more attentive to the Holy Spirit, rest, worship, play, and connect.

In a world that constantly pushes us to do more and move faster, Jesus offers a better way. Slow Down This Summer is an invitation to create space for what matters most and rediscover the joy of being with God and one another.

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons."

(Mark 1:35-39 NIV)

This summer, we’re embracing Jesus’ invitation to slow down—to live at the unforced rhythms of grace, become more attentive to the Holy Spirit, rest, worship, play, and connect.

In a world that constantly pushes us to do more and move faster, Jesus offers a better way. Slow Down This Summer is an invitation to create space for what matters most and rediscover the joy of being with God and one another.

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. 

(Mark 6:30-34 NIV)

This summer, we’re embracing Jesus’ invitation to slow down—to live at the unforced rhythms of grace, become more attentive to the Holy Spirit, rest, worship, play, and connect.

In a world that constantly pushes us to do more and move faster, Jesus offers a better way. Slow Down This Summer is an invitation to create space for what matters most and rediscover the joy of being with God and one another.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

(Matthew 11:28-30)

This summer, we’re embracing Jesus’ invitation to slow down—to live at the unforced rhythms of grace, become more attentive to the Holy Spirit, rest, worship, play, and connect.

In a world that constantly pushes us to do more and move faster, Jesus offers a better way. Slow Down This Summer is an invitation to create space for what matters most and rediscover the joy of being with God and one another.

"Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread."

(Luke 24:13-35 NIV)