Come to the Table: God’s Invitation to Relationship and Grace

So often, we underestimate the authority God has given us, especially in the words we speak. Just as a boss gives direction with their voice, we are called to open our mouths and declare God’s truth, not just in church but in every area of our lives. God did not call us to live in defeat or to simply endure life’s struggles. Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit as our helper, so that we could walk in victory and not be satisfied with living in our mess. Too many of us have put a lid on what the Holy Spirit can do, holding back instead of surrendering fully to God’s control.

The invitation God extends to us is not one of religion, but of relationship. The parable of the great banquet in Luke 14 is a picture of God’s open invitation to all—an invitation to salvation, fellowship, and joy. The table is more than a place to eat; it is a sacred space for connection, community, and transformation. God’s heart is for everyone to come, regardless of their background, struggles, or status. There are no prerequisites, no need to clean up before coming—He simply wants us as we are.

Yet, we often make excuses, prioritizing our possessions, busyness, or even our religious traditions over God’s invitation. These excuses reveal where our hearts truly lie. The problem is not with God’s invitation, but with our willingness to respond. Excuses are often justifications for our own lack of desire or responsibility. True maturity begins when we take ownership of our lives and lay aside excuses, choosing instead to pursue God wholeheartedly.

God’s desire is for His house to be full, and if those who are invited first refuse to come, He will seek out the outcasts, the broken, and the overlooked. The church must reflect this heart, breaking down barriers of religion, prejudice, and comfort to welcome all people to the table. Our responsibility is not just to accept the invitation ourselves, but to bring others with us—those who may feel unworthy or unloved. The table is open, and God’s grace is abundant. Let us be relentless in our invitation, persistent in our love, and committed to seeing every seat at God’s table filled.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Surrender Control to the Holy Spirit Letting the Holy Spirit have full control is the key to walking in victory. When we hold back, we limit what God can do in and through us. True authority and power come not from striving, but from surrender—laying down our selfish desires and allowing God to direct our steps. [28:42]
• 2. The Table Is a Place of Relationship, Not Religion God’s invitation is not about following rules or meeting conditions, but about entering into genuine relationship. The table represents a sacred space where grace, connection, and transformation happen. We must resist the urge to make the table exclusive or conditional, and instead reflect God’s heart of open invitation. [46:00]
• 3. Excuses Reveal Our True Priorities The reasons we give for not responding to God’s call often expose what we value most. Excuses are rarely about inability, but about misplaced priorities and unwillingness to take responsibility. Spiritual growth begins when we stop justifying our distance from God and start pursuing Him above all else. [51:41]
• 4. God’s Heart Is for a Full House God’s desire is for every seat at His table to be filled, regardless of background, status, or past mistakes. If the “religious” refuse to come, God will seek out the broken, the outcast, and the overlooked. The church must embody this inclusive heart, breaking down barriers and relentlessly inviting all to experience God’s grace. [64:36]
• 5. Our Mission: Relentlessly Invite Others Accepting God’s invitation comes with the responsibility to bring others with us. We are called to be persistent, loving, and inclusive in our invitation—never giving up on those who seem far off. The fullness of God’s house depends on our willingness to reach out, welcome, and walk alongside others on their journey to the table. [71:48]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [26:04] - The Authority of Our Words
• [26:41] - Called to Live in Victory
• [27:21] - The Holy Spirit: Our Helper
• [28:42] - Surrendering Control to God
• [29:26] - Victory in Christ
• [32:07] - Introduction to “Come to the Table”
• [32:47] - The Parable of the Great Banquet
• [36:04] - The Table: More Than Food
• [39:49] - God’s Open Invitation
• [42:16] - God’s Relational Heart
• [46:00] - The Table as a Place of Grace
• [47:17] - God’s Invitation Is for All
• [51:41] - Excuses and Priorities
• [64:36] - God’s Desire for a Full House
• [71:48] - Relentlessly Inviting Others
• [77:44] - Prayer and Response

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: “Come to the Table”**

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### Bible Reading

**Luke 14:15-24 (ESV)**
15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

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### Observation Questions

1. In the parable Jesus tells in Luke 14, who are the first people invited to the banquet, and what are their reasons for not coming? ([32:47])
2. According to the sermon, what does the table represent beyond just a place to eat? ([36:04])
3. What does the master do when the original guests make excuses and refuse to come to the banquet? ([33:27])
4. What kind of people does the master specifically tell his servant to invite after the first group declines? ([34:11])

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### Interpretation Questions

1. What do the excuses given by the original guests reveal about their priorities and their relationship to the host? ([51:41])
2. The pastor said, “God’s invitation is not about following rules or meeting conditions, but about entering into genuine relationship.” How does this challenge the way we sometimes approach church or faith? ([46:00])
3. Why do you think Jesus emphasized that the invitation to the banquet was open to everyone, including the poor, crippled, blind, and lame? ([47:17])
4. The sermon mentioned that “God’s desire is for His house to be full.” What does this say about God’s heart for people who feel like outsiders or unworthy? ([01:04:36])

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon talked about surrendering control to the Holy Spirit instead of “putting a lid” on what God can do. Is there an area of your life where you feel you’re holding back from God’s control? What would it look like to surrender that area this week? ([28:42])
2. The table is described as a place of relationship, not religion. Are there ways you’ve made faith more about rules or appearances than about real connection with God and others? How can you shift toward relationship this week? ([46:00])
3. Think about the excuses the guests made in the parable. What are some common excuses you or people you know use to avoid responding to God’s invitation? How can you recognize and address these in your own life? ([51:41])
4. The pastor said, “God’s heart is for everyone to come, regardless of their background, struggles, or status.” Is there someone in your life who might feel unworthy or unwelcome at God’s table? What is one practical way you can reach out to them this week? ([01:09:08])
5. The sermon challenged us to “relentlessly invite others” to the table. Who is one person you can intentionally invite to church, a meal, or a spiritual conversation this month? What’s your plan to follow through? ([01:11:48])
6. The pastor shared that sometimes church people can become “religious Pharisees” and put up barriers for others. Are there attitudes or habits in your own life that might make someone feel excluded? How can you change that? ([01:02:12])
7. The sermon said, “True maturity begins when we take ownership of our lives and lay aside excuses, choosing instead to pursue God wholeheartedly.” What is one step you can take this week to pursue God more wholeheartedly? ([58:16])