Humility and Pride: Finding Our Place at God’s Table

Today, we gathered to celebrate the freedom and grace that God has poured out on each of us. We began by acknowledging that every good thing in our lives—our joy, our peace, our very breath—comes from Him. We recognized that our gifts, our resources, and our acts of service are not just practical necessities for the church, but seeds sown into the Kingdom of God, impacting lives far beyond what we can see. Every act of generosity is counted in heaven as righteousness, and God honors the heart that gives sacrificially.

We continued our “Come to the Table” series by looking at Jesus’ words in Luke 14, where He challenges us to humility. The world teaches us to seek recognition, to promote ourselves, and to measure our worth by the approval of others. But Jesus flips this on its head, calling us to take the lowest seat, to humble ourselves, and to let God be the one who lifts us up. Pride is subtle and destructive—it distances us from God, blinds us to our need for Him, and causes us to measure ourselves by worldly standards rather than our identity in Christ.

Humility, on the other hand, is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less. It is the freedom from pride and arrogance, the willingness to be teachable, and the openness to let God change us. We are all works in progress, clay in the hands of the Potter. God values the process of transformation, not just the finished product. He lovingly works out the resistance in our hearts, shaping us into the image of Christ.

True greatness in the Kingdom is found not in self-promotion, but in self-resignation—laying down our lives to serve others, just as Jesus did. He humbled Himself, took on the form of a servant, and was exalted by God. We are called to come to the table not as finished products, but with teachable spirits, ready to be changed. The table is open to all, regardless of background or status, and when we come, we don’t leave the same. God’s desire is for a full house, a full table, where every person is welcomed, transformed, and sent out to serve.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Humility is the path to true greatness Humility is not about self-deprecation, but about recognizing our dependence on God and our need for continual transformation. When we humble ourselves, we make room for God to lift us up and use us for His purposes. True greatness in God’s eyes is found in serving others and letting Christ be magnified in us. [38:50]
• 2. Pride distances us from God and others Pride subtly shifts our focus from God to ourselves, causing us to seek validation from people and achievements. It blinds us to our need for grace and isolates us from genuine community. Only by laying down our pride can we experience the closeness with God and others that we were created for. [51:21]
• 3. God values the process, not just the product We often want to present ourselves as finished, but God delights in the ongoing process of shaping us. Like clay in the Potter’s hands, we are being formed, sometimes through uncomfortable seasons, so that resistance and rebellion are worked out of us. Embracing the process allows us to grow and become more like Christ. [59:05]
• 4. Our identity and esteem must be rooted in Christ The world tells us to build our self-esteem on accomplishments and recognition, but true self-worth comes from knowing we are children of God. When our identity is rooted in Christ, we are free from the endless striving for approval and can rest in His love and purpose for us. [56:43]
• 5. The table is open to all, and transformation happens there No matter our background or struggles, we are invited to God’s table. We don’t have to fix ourselves before coming; instead, we come as we are and allow God to change us. The table is a place of welcome, transformation, and sending—where we are shaped to serve and love others as Christ has loved us. [65:31]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [15:03] - Freedom in Christ and Worship
• [22:26] - Prayer for God’s Movement
• [26:20] - God as Our Source and Giving
• [28:14] - The Power of Sacrificial Giving
• [37:00] - Introduction to “Come to the Table”
• [38:50] - Reading from Luke 14: Humility and Pride
• [40:59] - The Difference Between Pride and Being Proud
• [43:38] - The Problem with Pride
• [45:46] - Seeking Validation in the World
• [47:26] - Arnold Palmer and the Danger of Pride
• [49:10] - Pride’s Unrealistic View of Self
• [51:21] - How Pride Distances Us from God
• [52:44] - The Principle of Humility
• [53:37] - The Need for a Teachable Spirit
• [56:43] - Self-Esteem and Identity in Christ
• [59:05] - God Values the Process
• [61:01] - We Are Works in Progress
• [63:38] - The Potter and the Clay
• [65:31] - Transformation at the Table
• [67:17] - Jesus: The Ultimate Example of Humility
• [69:56] - Serving Like Christ
• [71:59] - Responding to God’s Call
• [73:45] - Praying for One Another
• [76:09] - The Table is for Everyone and Sending Out

**Small Group Bible Study Guide: “Come to the Table – Humility and Transformation”**

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### Bible Reading

**Luke 14:7-11 (ESV)**
> Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

**Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV)**
> Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

**Jeremiah 18:1-6 (ESV)**
> The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. Then the word of the Lord came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.”

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### Observation Questions

1. In Luke 14:7-11, what behavior did Jesus notice among the guests at the dinner, and what advice did He give them about choosing seats?
2. According to Philippians 2:5-8, what attitude did Jesus model for us, and how did He demonstrate humility?
3. In the story from Jeremiah 18:1-6, what does the potter do when the clay doesn’t turn out right, and what does this teach us about God’s work in our lives?
4. The sermon mentioned that pride can cause us to seek validation from people and achievements rather than from God. What are some ways this can show up in our daily lives? [[45:46]]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus told people to take the lowest seat at the table instead of the place of honor? What does this reveal about God’s values compared to the world’s? [[38:50]]
2. The sermon said, “Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less.” How does this definition challenge or change the way we usually think about humility? [[53:37]]
3. In Jeremiah 18, God is compared to a potter working with clay. What does it mean for us to be “works in progress” in God’s hands? How does this affect the way we view our own growth and the growth of others? [[59:05]]
4. The sermon talked about how pride distances us from God and others. Why do you think pride is so destructive to relationships, both with God and with people? [[51:21]]

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### Application Questions

1. The world often tells us to promote ourselves and seek recognition. Can you think of a recent time when you felt the pressure to “prove yourself” or seek approval from others? How did you respond, and how might you respond differently in light of Jesus’ teaching? [[45:46]]
2. The pastor shared that we don’t have to “fix ourselves up” before coming to God’s table, but that transformation happens when we come. Is there an area of your life where you feel you need to “get it together” before coming to God? What would it look like to bring that to Him as you are? [[01:05:31]]
3. The sermon described humility as being teachable and open to change. Are there areas in your life where you resist being taught or corrected? What is one step you can take this week to be more open to God’s shaping? [[53:37]]
4. The image of the potter and the clay shows that God values the process, not just the finished product. How does this truth encourage you (or challenge you) in your current season of life? [[59:05]]
5. The pastor said, “True greatness in the Kingdom is found not in self-promotion, but in self-resignation—laying down our lives to serve others, just as Jesus did.” What is one practical way you can serve someone else this week, even if it means giving up your own comfort or recognition? [[01:09:56]]
6. The sermon reminded us that the table is open to all, regardless of background or status. Are there people in your life or in our church who might feel excluded or unwelcome? What can you do to help them feel invited and valued? [[01:16:09]]
7. The pastor admitted he is “still in the process” and not a finished product. How does knowing that everyone is a work in progress—including leaders—change the way you view yourself and others in the church? [[01:01:01]]

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