The Great Invitation: Feasting with Jesus

Sermon Notes & Timestamps

• [0:00] Intro: Greeting from Father Jon; The Altar Church defined as a spirit-filled, missional, and sacramental community in Anderson, SC.
• [0:45] The Text: Matthew 22: The Parable of the Wedding Banquet.
• [1:10] The Hot Button: Discussion of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and its intersection with progressive vs. fundamentalist theology.
• [2:20] The Pain of Exclusion: Personal anecdote about being a "poor kid" with a single mom and being excluded from birthday parties.
• [4:00] Radical Inclusion: God’s invitation to the "good and the bad" and the "least of these."
• [5:40] The "Catch": You have to change clothes.
• [6:45] The Wedding Garment: St. Augustine’s commentary on the man without a garment; the refusal to wash and change.
• [7:50] Sacramental Connection: The Early Church baptismal liturgy—washing, white robes, and the path to the Eucharistic table.
• [9:30] Maintenance of the Garment: The need for confession, repentance, and reconciliation to "clean" our spiritual garments.
• [10:40] The Unconventional Pastor: Reflection on being "weird" or unconventional and how that relates to the Gospel.
• [12:15] The Urgency: Addressing those "too busy" or "not ready" to come to the pool; a call to not wait until death to accept the invitation.
• [14:00] Conclusion: A final invitation to the baptismal pool and the Father’s house.

The Altar Church is a Three-Streams community in Anderson, SC, rooted in the Anglican tradition but designed for a restless generation. Visit us at thealtarchurch.info