From Brokenness to Grace: A Seat at the Table

Today, we gathered around the story of Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9—a man who lived in hiding, crippled and shamed, believing himself to be a “dead dog,” only to be summoned by King David to a place of honor at the king’s table. Mephibosheth’s journey from the shadows of Lodabar to the royal table is a powerful picture of God’s grace toward us. He was broken, fearful, and isolated, yet David’s invitation was not based on Mephibosheth’s worthiness, but on the king’s own promise and love for Jonathan. In the same way, God calls each of us—broken, wounded, and unworthy as we may feel—to His table, not because we have earned it, but because of His covenant love.

We reflected on how Mephibosheth’s brokenness was visible to all, and how that shame shaped his life. Yet, at the king’s table, his broken feet were hidden; his shame no longer defined him. The table became a place where his identity was transformed—not by his own merit, but by the king’s grace. This is the invitation of Christ to us in Holy Communion: to come as we are, with all our wounds and failures, and find that at His table, our brokenness is not a barrier but a place where God’s strength is revealed.

We also considered the tragedy that unfolds when churches become places where brokenness is hidden rather than shared. The story of my cousin Ronnie, a veteran who struggled with invisible wounds and felt isolated in a church that demanded perfection, reminds us of the deadly consequences of pretending we have it all together. The church must be a place where it’s safe to be real, to admit our pain, and to find healing in community. God’s power is made perfect in our weakness, not our strength.

As we come to the Lord’s table, we are reminded that none of us are worthy by our own merit. We are invited because we are children of the King. Our brokenness is not unique; we all carry wounds, and at the table, those wounds no longer separate us. Instead, we are united by grace, and our stories of pain become testimonies of God’s redeeming love. Let us be a church where it’s truly okay not to be okay, where we share our lives honestly, and where Christ’s strength is made visible in our weakness.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Invitation Is Rooted in Grace, Not Worthiness Just as Mephibosheth was summoned to David’s table not because of his achievements or status, but because of the king’s covenant love, so too are we invited to God’s table. Our place is not earned by our goodness or perfection, but given freely out of God’s faithfulness and mercy. This truth liberates us from striving for worthiness and invites us to rest in God’s grace. [42:14]
• 2. Brokenness Is Not a Barrier at the King’s Table Mephibosheth’s crippled feet were a source of lifelong shame, yet at the king’s table, his brokenness was covered and no longer defined him. In Christ, our wounds and failures do not disqualify us from fellowship; rather, they are the very places where God’s love meets us. The table of the Lord is where our brokenness loses its power to isolate and divide. [48:03]
• 3. The Church Must Be a Safe Place for the Broken When churches demand perfection or hide pain behind masks, they become places of isolation rather than healing. The story of my cousin Ronnie is a sobering reminder that pretending to be “shiny plastic people” can have tragic consequences. True Christian community is built when we are honest about our struggles and create space for others to do the same, knowing that Christ meets us in our weakness. [55:51]
• 4. God’s Power Is Revealed in Our Weakness It is not in our strengths or successes that God’s glory is most clearly seen, but in our places of deepest need and failure. When we bring our brokenness to God, He transforms it into a testimony of His strength and redemption. Our weaknesses become the stage upon which God’s grace is displayed to the world. [57:38]
• 5. Communion Is a Reminder That We Are All Carried to the Table At the Lord’s table, we do not take communion by our own power; we receive it as a gift. Our afflictions and unworthiness are met by Christ’s redemption. The act of being “carried to the table” is a living picture of the gospel: we are not alone in our brokenness, and we are not defined by it. Instead, we are welcomed, healed, and made whole in the presence of the King. [61:12]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [08:45] - Invitation to the Barbecue & Outreach
• [13:13] - Opening Prayer and Worship
• [29:28] - Offering and Worship Through Giving
• [30:21] - Introduction to 2 Samuel 9
• [32:46] - David’s Search for Saul’s Descendants
• [34:20] - The Danger of Royal Succession
• [35:27] - Mephibosheth’s Hiding and Brokenness
• [37:46] - The Story of Mephibosheth’s Injury
• [39:14] - Living with Visible and Invisible Brokenness
• [41:26] - Mephibosheth’s Encounter with King David
• [43:20] - Restoration and Protection at the King’s Table
• [48:03] - The Table Covers Our Brokenness
• [50:23] - The Church as the King’s Table
• [55:51] - The Tragedy of Hidden Brokenness
• [57:38] - God’s Strength in Our Weakness
• [61:12] - Communion: Receiving Grace, Not Earning It
• [66:38] - Carried to the Table: Song and Reflection
• [74:24] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Reading

2 Samuel 9:1–13 (ESV) — And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?” ... So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons. ... So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet.

Observation Questions

1. Where was Mephibosheth living before David called for him, and what was his physical condition?
2. What specific promise or relationship motivated David to show kindness to Mephibosheth?
3. When Mephibosheth was brought before David, how did he describe himself, and what was David’s response?
4. What did David give to Mephibosheth, and what new place did Mephibosheth receive at the king’s table?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Mephibosheth referred to himself as a “dead dog” when he met David? What does this reveal about how he saw himself?
2. The sermon said that Mephibosheth’s brokenness was visible to everyone, but at the king’s table, his feet were hidden. What does this say about how God sees our brokenness when we come to Him?
3. The pastor shared a story about his cousin Ronnie and the dangers of churches pretending to be perfect. What does this story teach us about the importance of honesty and vulnerability in Christian community?
4. The sermon said, “God’s power is made perfect in our weakness, not our strength.” How does this idea challenge the way we usually think about our weaknesses?

Application Questions

1. Mephibosheth was living in hiding, feeling unworthy and ashamed, until he was called to the king’s table. Have you ever felt like you were “in Lodabar”—isolated, ashamed, or unworthy? What would it look like for you to accept God’s invitation to His table right now?
2. The sermon said that at the king’s table, Mephibosheth’s brokenness was covered and no longer separated him from others. Is there a part of your life you tend to hide from others out of shame? What would it take to bring that into the light in a safe Christian community?
3. The story of Ronnie showed the tragic consequences of churches that expect everyone to be “shiny plastic people.” How can our small group and our church become a place where it’s truly okay not to be okay? What practical steps can we take to make it safer for people to share their struggles?
4. The sermon reminded us that we are invited to God’s table not because we are worthy, but because of God’s grace. Are there ways you find yourself trying to “earn” your place with God or with others? How can you rest more in God’s grace this week?
5. When you think about your own weaknesses or failures, do you see them as barriers to God or as places where God’s strength can be shown? What would it look like to let God use your weakness as a testimony of His grace?
6. Communion is a reminder that we are all “carried to the table.” How does this change the way you see yourself and others in the church? Is there someone you know who needs to be reminded that they are welcome at God’s table? How can you reach out to them this week?
7. The sermon said, “Let us be a church where it’s truly okay not to be okay, where we share our lives honestly, and where Christ’s strength is made visible in our weakness.” What is one step you can take this week to be more honest about your struggles, either with God or with someone you trust?