Invitations to Belong, Serve, and Share God's Love

Today’s gathering centers on three profound invitations from Jesus that shape the way we live, connect, and serve. We began by reflecting on moments when we felt most alive and full of joy with others, recognizing that God has designed us for relationship and community. From the very beginning, God’s intention was for us to belong—not just to Him, but to one another. This longing for connection is met in the invitation Jesus extends: “Come and see.” He welcomes us to the table, a place of belonging, where there are no prerequisites or tests—just an open invitation to be with Him and with each other.

The table is more than a metaphor; it’s a lived reality where stories are shared, lives are intertwined, and God’s work in our midst is celebrated. Whether it’s a dining table, a coffee table, or a picnic bench, these are the spaces where we experience the beauty of community. The invitation to belong is for everyone, regardless of where we are on our journey with Jesus. And as we receive this welcome, we are also called to extend it to others, making space for those who may feel on the margins.

But the journey doesn’t stop at belonging. Jesus models a radical kind of service—symbolized by the towel—when He washes His disciples’ feet, including those of Judas, who would betray Him. This act of humility and love calls us to serve one another, even when it’s uncomfortable or costly. True community is marked not just by shared meals, but by sacrificial service, where we lay down our pride and allow both the giving and receiving of care.

Finally, Jesus commissions us to “go and tell.” After His resurrection, He appears to His fearful disciples and breathes the Holy Spirit upon them, sending them out as witnesses. This mission is not something we undertake in our own strength, but in the power and authority of God. The love we have received is not meant to be hoarded; it must flow outward, compelling us to share the good news with those who need to know they are loved and forgiven.

Each of us is invited to respond: to come to the table and belong, to pick up the towel and serve, and to go and tell others of God’s transforming love. The world doesn’t need more words—it needs a community that lives out this love in tangible ways.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Invitation to Belong: The longing for connection is woven into our very being, and God meets this need by inviting us to “come and see.” There are no barriers to entry—no tests or requirements—just a gracious welcome to the table. This is a place where everyone can belong, regardless of where they are on their spiritual journey. The table is always big enough, and God’s invitation is always open. [32:41]
• 2. The Table as a Place of Transformation: Community is not just about gathering; it’s about sharing stories, listening deeply, and participating in God’s ongoing work. When we make space for others, especially those who might feel excluded, we reflect the heart of Jesus. The table becomes a place where lives are changed, and where we are shaped by the presence of God and one another. [31:53]
• 3. The Towel—A Call to Humble Service: Jesus’ act of washing His disciples’ feet, including those who would betray Him, is a radical demonstration of humility and love. True service means getting our hands dirty, stepping out of our comfort zones, and sometimes serving those who may not reciprocate. It also requires the humility to let others serve us, recognizing that mutual care is essential for authentic community. [38:21]
• 4. Mission Flows from Dependence on God: The call to “go and tell” is not a task we can accomplish in our own wisdom or strength. Jesus sends us out as the Father sent Him—utterly dependent on God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and rooted in love and obedience. Our witness is only effective when it is grounded in God’s power and not our own abilities. [43:40]
• 5. Love Must Overflow: The love we receive from God is not meant to be contained within our community; it is meant to overflow to others. We are called to be conduits of God’s love, reaching out to those who need to know they are not beyond redemption. Living out this love in practical ways is what will truly make the world take notice and draw others to Christ. [45:26]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [16:06] - Introduction and Personal Story
• [17:41] - Sharing Moments of Joy and Belonging
• [20:07] - Community Reflections
• [21:42] - The Desire for Connection
• [23:09] - The Power of Belonging
• [24:05] - God’s Invitation to Transformation
• [26:05] - “Come and See”: The Invitation to Belong
• [29:11] - A Story of Unexpected Welcome
• [31:53] - The Table: A Place for Stories
• [34:06] - “Do Like Me”: The Call to Serve
• [36:13] - The Ministry of the Towel
• [39:08] - Serving with Humility
• [40:06] - “Go and Tell”: The Mission
• [43:40] - Empowered by God’s Spirit
• [46:24] - Responding to the Invitations
• [48:53] - Living Out Love in Community
• [49:48] - Closing Prayer and Communion Transition

Bible Reading

John 1:35-39 (ESV) — > The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

John 13:3-17, 34-35 (ESV) — > Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him... When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you... A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 20:19-22 (ESV) — > On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Observation Questions

1. In John 1, what is the first thing Jesus says to the disciples who begin to follow him, and how does he respond to their curiosity?
2. When Jesus washes the disciples’ feet in John 13, what does he say is the reason for his actions, and what does he command his disciples to do in response?
3. According to the sermon, whose feet did Jesus wash, and why is this detail significant?
4. In John 20, what does Jesus do and say to his disciples after his resurrection, and what does he give them?

Interpretation Questions

1. The invitation “Come and see” is given to the disciples without any requirements or tests. What does this reveal about the nature of belonging in God’s family?
2. Jesus washed even Judas’ feet, knowing Judas would betray him. What does this teach about the kind of service and love Jesus expects from his followers?
3. The sermon describes the table as a place where stories are shared and lives are intertwined. Why might this kind of community be transformative for people?
4. Jesus sends his disciples out “as the Father has sent me.” What does it mean for our mission to be rooted in dependence on God rather than our own strength?

Application Questions

1. Think of a time when you felt truly alive and full of joy with others. What made that experience meaningful, and how might you help create that sense of belonging for someone else this week?
2. Is there someone in your life who might feel on the margins or excluded? What is one practical way you could extend an invitation to “the table” for them—whether that’s a meal, a conversation, or simply making space for them?
3. Serving others can be uncomfortable or costly, especially when it’s not reciprocated. Who in your life might need you to “pick up the towel” and serve them, even if it’s hard? What’s one step you could take this week?
4. The sermon mentioned that true humility also means allowing others to serve us. Is it easier for you to serve or to be served? Why do you think that is, and how might you grow in humility in both directions?
5. Jesus commissions us to “go and tell” in the power of the Holy Spirit. Who in your life needs to hear or experience God’s love through you? What’s one way you could share that love this week—through words or actions?
6. The love we receive from God is meant to overflow to others. Are there ways you’ve been tempted to “hoard” God’s love or keep it within your comfort zone? What would it look like to let that love overflow in a practical way?
7. The world doesn’t need more words, but a community that lives out God’s love. What is one tangible way your small group could live out this love together in your neighborhood or church community?