What Are You Bringing To The Table?

Today, we gathered around the idea of “the table”—not just the literal tables we’ll sit at during the holidays, but the spiritual table of our church family. Just as every family member is expected to bring something to the holiday meal, each of us is called to bring our unique gifts, talents, and presence to the body of Christ. We are not meant to be spectators, simply consuming what’s offered and leaving unchanged. Instead, we are invited to participate, to contribute, and to recognize that our absence or withholding of our gifts leaves the whole family lacking.

Drawing from Romans 12 and 1 Peter 4, we see that every believer has been given a “dish”—a gift or ability—meant to be shared for the building up of the church. No contribution is too small or insignificant. Whether you’re responsible for the “main entrée” or just the napkins, your part matters. When we withhold what God has given us, the body suffers a real deficiency, not just a gap. Our gifts are not for our own enjoyment, but for the equipping and encouragement of others. The church is a living body, vitally joined together, mutually dependent, and each part is essential.

Serving is not just about filling a need; it’s the proving ground for our gifts. As we step out in faith and make ourselves available, God clarifies and develops what He’s placed inside us. Sometimes, we wait for the “right time” or for perfection before we serve, but God isn’t looking for perfection—He’s looking for presence and willingness. The early disciples didn’t wait until they had it all together; they responded immediately to Jesus’ call, and their obedience changed the world.

Excuses are easy to make—busyness, uncertainty about our calling, or feeling unqualified. But eternity is at stake, and people’s encounters with the love of Jesus may depend on our willingness to show up and serve. Christianity that costs nothing changes nothing. We are called to costly, courageous obedience that transforms families and communities. The world doesn’t need more religious talk; it needs to see the love of God in action. So, the challenge is simple: Don’t just come to the table—bring your dish. Bring your gift. Let’s be doers, not just hearers, and watch what God will do through our collective offering.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Your Absence Creates a Real Deficiency When you withhold your gift, the body of Christ doesn’t just have a gap—it suffers a true deficiency. Each person’s contribution is essential, no matter how big or small it may seem. God designed the church to be mutually dependent, and your unique presence and service are irreplaceable. [55:21]
• 2. Serving Is the Proving Ground for Your Gifts You discover and develop your God-given gifts not by waiting for the perfect moment, but by stepping out and serving where you are. Availability is more important than ability; as you make yourself available, God shapes your character and clarifies your calling. Serving is where your gifts are refined and your purpose is revealed. [69:32]
• 3. Christianity That Costs Nothing Changes Nothing A faith that never asks us to sacrifice, to step out, or to serve, will never transform us or the world around us. The early church was marked by costly, courageous obedience, and so must we be. Our willingness to lay down comfort for the sake of others is what rewrites the stories of families and communities. [79:20]
• 4. The Love of God Is Made Tangible Through Service People encounter the love of Jesus not just through words, but through the practical acts of service we offer. A simple greeting, a helping hand, or a faithful commitment can be the very thing that changes someone’s life. Our service is the visible expression of Christ’s love to a world in need. [63:02]
• 5. God Wants Presence, Not Perfection God isn’t waiting for you to have it all together before He uses you. He calls you to be present, to step out in faith, and to trust that He will work through your willingness. Throughout Scripture, God used imperfect people who simply made themselves available—He’ll do the same with you. [75:13]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [38:42] - Vision of a World Transformed
• [39:22] - Honoring New Members
• [40:44] - Ministry Fair Invitation
• [41:35] - Building Update and Celebration
• [44:14] - Introduction to “The Table” Series
• [45:36] - The Unwritten Rule: Everyone Brings Something
• [47:10] - What Are You Bringing to the Table?
• [49:13] - Romans 12: The Body Analogy
• [52:46] - The Impact of Withholding Your Gift
• [54:33] - Church Is Not a Spectator Sport
• [56:13] - We Are Vitally Joined
• [59:13] - 1 Peter 4: Serving with Grace Gifts
• [61:03] - Why Serving Matters
• [69:32] - Serving as the Proving Ground
• [75:13] - God Uses Imperfect People
• [79:20] - Costly Obedience and Real Change
• [81:12] - Responding to God’s Call
• [87:11] - Invitation to Salvation and Recommitment
• [90:30] - Dismissal and Next Steps

**Small Group Bible Study Guide: “What Are You Bringing to the Table?”**

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### Bible Reading

**Romans 12:4-6 (ESV)**
> For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them...

**1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)**
> As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.

**Matthew 4:18-20 (ESV)**
> While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

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### Observation Questions

1. According to Romans 12, what does Paul say about the different parts of the body and their functions? How does this relate to the way we serve in the church? [49:13]
2. In 1 Peter 4:10, what are believers told to do with the gifts they have received? [59:13]
3. What did the disciples do when Jesus called them in Matthew 4? Did they wait until they were ready or perfect? [01:16:13]
4. In the sermon, what happens to the “family meal” when someone doesn’t bring their assigned dish? How does this illustrate the impact of not using our gifts in the church? [51:43]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul use the analogy of the body to describe the church? What does this teach us about the importance of every person’s contribution? [50:27]
2. The sermon says, “Your absence isn’t just a gap—it is a deficiency that this body cannot afford.” What does this mean for how we view our own role in the church? [55:21]
3. The pastor shared that serving is the “proving ground” for our gifts. Why might God want us to step out and serve before we feel fully ready or qualified? [01:09:32]
4. When Jesus called the disciples, they responded immediately. What does this say about God’s expectations for our willingness to serve, even if we feel imperfect or unprepared? [01:16:13]

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon compared church to a family meal where everyone brings something. What “dish” (gift, talent, or ability) do you think God has given you to bring to the table? If you’re not sure, what’s one way you could start discovering it? [53:22]
2. Have you ever felt like your contribution was too small to matter? How does the teaching that “no contribution is too small or insignificant” challenge that thinking? [52:27]
3. The pastor said, “Serving is the proving ground for your gifts.” Is there an area in church or your community where you could step out and serve, even if you don’t feel fully ready? What’s holding you back? [01:09:32]
4. Think about a time when you made an excuse not to serve—maybe you felt too busy, unqualified, or unsure. What would it look like to prioritize God’s calling over your comfort or schedule this month? [01:03:51]
5. The sermon said, “God isn’t looking for perfection—He’s looking for presence and willingness.” What’s one step you can take this week to be more present and available to God and others? [01:15:13]
6. The pastor shared that people encounter the love of Jesus through practical acts of service, like a simple greeting or helping hand. Can you think of a specific way you could show God’s love to someone this week? [01:03:02]
7. “Christianity that costs nothing changes nothing.” What is one area of your life where you could make a costly, courageous step of obedience for the sake of others? [01:19:20]

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