God Loves a Good Party

Jesus often talked about heaven as a party. In Luke 15 he talks about three parties thrown (one for finding the lost sheep, one for finding the lost coin, one for finding the lost son). But his favorite image is that heaven is a particular kind of party - a wedding. God and humankind are joined together for eternity. There are all sorts of images of wine and food and people making connections with each other.

Perhaps our Christian imagination has been too small, constricted by teachers who told us not to party, not to drink, not to dance. Here are just a couple of places Jesus mentions the wedding party:

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son… - Matthew 22:1

Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come… - Revelation 19:7

Scripture also teaches us that we should “be imitators of God” (Ephesians 5:1-2). So if God loves a good party, perhaps we should do the same. The neglected spiritual practice of throwing a good party - and being a good guest - are actually really important in the Christian life.

Take some time to think through why it is that God might like parties so much. What are some reasons you like parties? Is there some overlap? Is there some space for you to grow here?