The Presence of God, From Garden to Table
A Bible Study in the Language of Food
by
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Introduction—Enjoy We are so excited for you to come along with us on this journey. We will taste some good food, hear some good stories, cry a little, laugh a lot, and be completely amazed at what God reveals. We will see how the essence of food defines the very nature of God, his presence, and his love. We will also see how food’s narrative exposes a sinister plot—an evil effort to tempt and deceive us. Nevertheless, our response to one extraordinary meal invitation will lead us to a banquet of unparalleled excellence, experience, satisfaction, and joy. While this is not a diet guide or a meal planner, each chapter highlights a food type and its unique characteristics. Most important, you will see how God personally interacts with us from the garden to the table. Each relationship-based segment begins with an intro question that will help you to engage with the topics, and concludes with a fun and personal (everything but the) Kitchen Sink exercise. Chapters end with suggested dishes to prepare and share as a group. This part of the lesson will not only be enjoyable, but insightful as well. Participation will heighten your culinary senses, relate to your experience, and make memorable and useful the lesson topics. For more information, please see the Group Taste-and-See Experience Guidelines. Twenty-five lessons and five Group Taste-and-See Experience opportunities explore God’s presence and his desire to be known in every aspect of our dining experience. Choose to complete one to five lessons per week—depending your group’s study patterns and/or time parameters. Please refer to the Scheduling Options Chart to select a class schedule that fits your needs. Our original intent for this study was to provide practical help for preparing meals, and to introduce God’s Word through the familiar experience of serving food. However, while writing these lessons, we discovered something completely unexpected—we discovered how beautifully the Gospel presents itself through the intimate language of food. The Gospel is easy, and wonderful, and powerful, and full of mercy and grace. The Gospel is for everyone. So come along with us. “Taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:8 NIV). We sincerely pray you enjoy—bon appétit. Londie and Kriss Contents The Gift —Enjoy! It’s a Gift —Do Not Open —Food Fight —Another Garden Tale —I Want that Recipe The Plan —Dinner with a View —Plans for Dinner —Patterns of Celebration —Wait for It —Behold the Best The Invitation —What is Splendor Without You? —Please Come —Come Dressed for Dinner —RSVP —Save the Date The Table and Chairs —Where are You, Little Lost Lamb? —The Empty Chair —The Flavor of a Favor Luncheon —The Marketplace —Crab Cakes and Bacon The Conversation —Between a Rock and a Hard Place —Dinner and a Blessing —I Knew You’d Come —Stirring the Pot —It’s Time Group Taste-and-See Experience Guidelines Scheduling Options Chart
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About the Book
Do you have a gift, talent, or insight that you would like to share, but need the tools to begin? Are you looking for an open door to teach, lead, or mentor a certain demographic of people? The Presence of God, from Garden to Table is the perfect launching vehicle. The study is designed for seasoned believers who know there is still more to see and experience. Written also with new believers and seekers in mind, lessons introduce key Bible stories through the perspective of a meal; realizing we might forget, or never really listen to the details of a story, we always remember the food. Each relationship-based segment includes a thought-provoking and personal exercise, and chapters end with suggested dishes to taste and experience as a group. This rich study—designed to open the dialogue with the familiar topic of food—provides a foundation for evangelism, apologetics, discipleship training, counseling, and fellowship/friendship opportunities. Consider the possibilities. Enjoy as a devotional study or in any group setting. MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES— · Bible Study—Experience a fresh approach. It is about knowing God, and knowing who he is. Taste his creation—enjoy his plan. Accept his invitation to dine. · Marriage and Relationships—Unveil the mystery and hidden drama that is a common challenge. Intentionally recognize God’s design as a pattern to follow. · Teens—Learn the impact of family dynamics and experience the power of God in your life as you enter the world. Find out what you missed in Sunday School. · Budgeting and Stewardship—Marketing and choice are designed with you in mind. Learn to recognize the traps intended hold us captive. Discover a plan that effectively works. · Women's Ministries—Relationships are important—experience how lingering at the table brings opportunity for healing and restoration. · Family and Home—Learn to cook with fresh ingredients, and embrace the bigger story behind food. · Men's Ministries—The presence of God in your life directly affects the people you love. The power of God is available to you when you acknowledge him. When you know who he is—faith works. · Prison Ministries—How did I get here and what can I do now? What was your place at the table—let’s talk. · Hospitality and Serving—Beyond a perfect meal and a lovely setting, preparations begin in your heart. · Evangelism—Present the gospel in bite size pieces that are tasty and easy to digest. · Apologetics—Discover how to defend the gospel with an approachable narrative about food. · Discipleship Training—Be transformed as you pattern you walk, your talk, and your faith according to the goodness of God. · Counseling—Renew your mind as you discover God’s ways are higher than ours are. · Fellowship/Friendship—Enjoy studying God’s word together—with the added understanding of God’s design for celebration. · New Believers—From beginning to end—read the stories, learn the basics. God’s presence is real. Faith is tangible. Love is eternal.
About the Author
Kriss DeBaca finds her mission in the kitchen. With a background in restaurant management and hospitality, Kriss loves sharing and enjoying God’s love through providing meals. “The LORD meets me in the kitchen, every day. God will go to any length to speak to us. He speaks to me through food.” Londie Phillips has a passion for teaching, writing and design. She worked many years in Christian education, and as an award winning costume designer, she authored Storybook Costumes for Dolls. Londie seeks to express God’s joy and creativity in her designs and teaching. “My prayer is that God’s goodness and a glimpse of his glory is seen in the work he has given me to do.”