Meal Night Philosophy

Meal Night is a core missional strategy of 7MR for individuals who are near to you, but far from God, to taste and see the beauty of Christian fellowship.


What are the expectations for meal night?

think outside the box:

  • Incorporate holidays to foster what is already happening in your neighborhood.

  • Pray for the people you are inviting in the weeks before and after meal night.

  • Alternate between hosting meal nights in public plces and homes.

  • Have a pre-meal with a new person & someone in your HC.

Model Inviting Outsiders:

  • Consider what language you are using to invite folks. The term “Meal Night” does not have the same familiarity for others as it does for us. Be creative and thoughful.

  • Communicate plans for the evening and discuss who from your Top 5 you plan to invite.

  • Challenge the core team in your HC to grab a “second meal” with newcomers. A “second meal” is when a person attends meal night, and is invited to meet with someone other than the person that originally invited them.

Consider your Hosts:

  • Utilize central communications to coordinate logistics.

  • Encourage everyone in the HC to contribute something. Meal Nights can be taxing on hosts who often end up providing essentials like plates, drinks, and napkins.

  • Try to get this on the calendar weeks/a month in advance. Week-of invites have a much lower rate of success than thoughtful planning.

Bless your neighborhood:

  • If you don’t have any new people at your meal night, consider shifting and prayer walking your streets or having a pointed conversation about how to increase missional impulse in your group.


What is the difference between Meal Night & Local Outreach?

The graphic below illustrates how we think about the distinctions between Meal Night and Local Outreach under the umbrella of a House Church’s missional aim.

PRactical Suggestions:

  • Throw a neighborhood Block Party

  • Make pizzas outside on your front lawn

  • Watch the big game at a public venue

  • Chili Cook-off

  • Host a crawfish boil

  • Rally neighbors & friends to a local restaurant or bar