We All Love A Good Church Potluck

We all love a good church potluck, right? Whether you’re eight or eighty, a church potluck spans the generations in any church family. The term "potluck" originated in 16th-century England, meaning a meal for an unexpected guest, where they ate whatever was available in the "luck of the pot," but the modern concept of a communal dish-sharing event became popular in America during the Depression era as a way for people to share food together.

As Christians, we don’t believe in luck. We believe in God’s provision through his providence (God’s loving supply of our needs through his sovereign will, timing and action). So, does the Bible have anything to say about “potlucks”? Quite a bit. Here are a few examples.

Exodus 16:31: one of the reasons why God invented manna (the original form of bread) was for the nation of Israel to eat together under their common faith and devotion to Yahweh, the one true God.

Acts 2:46: speaking of the very early church and how they lived out their faith in Jesus together says, “and breaking bread together in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts.” This was essentially a potluck meal, usually right after church on the Lord’s day, frequently enjoyed at people’s homes.

Jude 1:12: here Jude, brother of James, rebukes false teachers who appear at the “love feasts” that Christians participated in. What are these “love feasts”? This is the English translation of the Greek term “Agape meal.” Scholars have discovered that the early church combined the institution of the Lord’s supper Jesus gave the Apostles with a church family meal on the Lord’s day. They worshiped, heard preaching, then celebrated what we now call “communion” together in the context of a communal meal – a potluck!

I will add this, which is especially true in Louisiana, – people love to eat! God gave us tastebuds, God made food to taste good, to be enjoyed in the company of others and not just for nourishment. As we embark on 2026, I am excited that we are planning on offering four 5 th Sunday Church Family Potlucks. Our first potluck of the year will be on March 29 th right after church, just like the early church did. Mark your calendars. We can see from above that potlucks are biblical, have a long history to them in human societies and are enjoyable for all ages. I hope this little blog will help you appreciate them even more.