Leader Guide

Objective
Students will be challenged to empathize with those being bullied and to make room for the "others" at Jesus' lunch table as well as their own.

Warm Up
Food Fight - Turn your youth room into a school cafeteria. Set up four or more tables. At each of the tables place a label: Jocks; Popular Girls; Geeks; Everyone Else. Give each table some small sponges or use finger rockets. Tell them when you yell "Food Fight!" they will throw their sponges or shoot their rockets at any other table. Play some music while the game is going on. Tell the students, "When the music stops, stop throwing." Whichever table has the least amount of sponges/rockets near it or on it, wins.

Transition 
Ask:
•    Is your school cafeteria broken up into groups like this?
•    Have you ever felt that you were not welcome to sit down in a certain area? Why or why not?

The Video
This video, by Viktory, starts with the notice "This Is A True Story." For many kids, this is a true story about not fitting in because of race, color, etc. Watch and see it if brings back any memories. As you watch, write down (on the Students Guide) or think about three words that come to mind.

Transition
•    What three words did you choose?
•    Why did you choose those three words?

Bible Study
The line that tells us how to love people as Jesus loves them is found in the chorus: "You're welcome at my table." Those are words spoken from a father to son, they are also what Jesus tells His kids who don't feel welcome anywhere else. Let's look at three of those people.

Luke 19:1-9 - Zacchaeus was interested in Jesus. He was wanted to see Him as He walked by, so Zacchaeus climbed a tree for a better view. Zacchaeus was also a tax collector for the Roman government, which made him despised by all the "regular" people. Yet, Jesus saw him, called him by name, and said, "We must eat together today." In other words, "You are welcome at my table." One reason, among many, why the religious people of the day hated Jesus was that He would hang with people who were considered off limits. On your Student Guide, write down a consequence you may face if you hang with people your group says is off limits.

Matthew 9:9-13 - Jesus called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him. Following Matthew's commitment, Matthew invited Jesus to eat with him and his friends - other tax collectors and "sinners." Matthew invited Jesus to eat at his table. What a beautiful picture! This new follower was not ashamed to invite Jesus into his circle of friends. The religious leaders, of course, put down Jesus for sitting at that lunch table. Jesus responded by saying, "It is the sick who need healing, not the well." Write on your Student Guide the names of people who sit at your lunch table. Now, circle those who need Jesus. If you didn't circle any name, should you start sitting at another table? Why or why not? If you circled any names, how can you bring Jesus to your lunch table?

Luke 22:14-23 - Jesus called many to His "lunch table" - He called prostitutes, lepers, Pharisees, the rich, and the poor. This "lunch table" was a celebration of the Jewish feast called Passover - commemorating God's grace during the time of the Exodus. Consider who sat around the table - Peter, a loud mouth, soon to be denier; a traitor named Judas; two brothers who wanted to call down fire on people for not doing things the way Jesus wanted; and a bunch of others who left Jesus at the first chance when things got hard. Yet, Jesus welcomed them to take part in the meal with Him. He talked, they sang, and then Jesus went to be crucified for us. You are welcome at the Lord's Table, no matter who you are. On your Student Guide, draw a round lunch table. Then, draw some empty chairs and write your name by one of them. Finally, write the names of some people you know that you want to invite to meet Jesus.

Wrap Up
Close with communion and a time to pray for those whose names have been written on the lunch table charts.