An Audacious Advent: Setting the Tableنموونە

Radical Welcome and Making Space

Have you ever witnessed love so radical, so real, that it changed the way you see others?

One Sunday during seminary, I was interning at a church that also served as a low-barrier community center. A woman slipped in at the end of service to use the restroom. She lingered there, disoriented and apologizing for her presence, her addiction, her very existence. And yet, the pastor simply met her with kindness—no rush, no judgment, no shame. She received a toothbrush, winter gear, shelter contacts, and dignity. In that moment, I saw Jesus.

This is radical welcome.
This is the way of Jesus.

In John 13, Jesus kneels to wash His disciples’ feet. It wasn’t customary—He was their teacher, after all. But He insisted: humility is the way of true discipleship. Radical welcome begins with this kind of Christlike humility—recognizing our own need for grace so we can extend it to others.

Throughout Scripture, God consistently welcomes the overlooked:

• In Matthew 19, Jesus insists that children—socially insignificant at the time—belong in the kingdom.
• In Luke 19, He invites Himself into the home of Zacchaeus, a despised tax collector.
• In Luke 2 and John 4, shepherds and a Samaritan woman are chosen to proclaim the good news.

Radical welcome is not pity. It’s not tolerance. It’s a declaration that everyone—regardless of race, gender, age, income, or ability—is made in the image of God and belongs at the table. And here’s the truth: our tables have never belonged to us. They’ve always belonged to Jesus.

As we move through this Advent season, let’s reimagine what welcome looks like. Where can you open space for someone who has been pushed aside? How might Jesus be inviting you to extend grace—through a conversation, a seat, a gift, or simply your presence?

Advent Invitation:
This season, find one way—big or small—to extend radical welcome. It might be as simple as making space at your literal table or listening deeply to someone whose story challenges your assumptions. Whatever it is, let it be rooted in the audacious love of Jesus.

Written by: Amber Tremblett