Inviting All to God's Table of Salvation

Today, we gathered to celebrate the incredible privilege of knowing Jesus and the joy of sharing Him with others. The heart of God is for every person—every man, woman, and child—to come to the knowledge of the truth and experience salvation. This is not just a calling for a select few, but an invitation and responsibility for all who follow Christ. The Gospel is good news, not judgment, and we are called to carry this message to our neighbors, our communities, and the nations.

Reflecting on the stories from recent crusades, like the one in Manila where thousands, including many from other faiths, responded to the invitation of Jesus, we see the hunger in people’s hearts for hope and truth. The fields are ripe for harvest, but the laborers are few. Jesus’ words in Luke 9 and 10 remind us that He empowers ordinary people with both power and authority—not just the original twelve disciples, but seventy others, and by extension, all of us—to go out, heal, deliver, and proclaim the Kingdom of God.

The parable of the great supper in Luke 14 paints a vivid picture of God’s heart. The invitation to His table is extended to all, yet many make excuses and miss out on the feast. Still, God’s desire is relentless—He sends His servants out again and again, to the highways and hedges, to the forgotten, the broken, the outcast, compelling them to come in so that His house may be filled. There is always room at the table; the cross never runs out of space for another soul.

No matter where you are in your journey, whether you feel far from God or have been walking with Him for years, today is a new day. There is no condemnation, only love and an open invitation to return, to be restored, and to take up the call to invite others. God’s greatest desire is to see His house filled with people from every nation, every background, every story—each one precious to Him.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Deepest Desire Is for All to Be Saved God’s heart beats for every person to come to the knowledge of the truth and experience salvation. This is not a selective invitation; it is for anyone with breath in their lungs. Our calling is to reflect that same inclusive love, extending the invitation of Jesus to all, regardless of their background or past. [38:55]
• 2. The Power and Authority to Share the Gospel Belongs to Every Believer Jesus did not reserve His power and authority for a spiritual elite. He gave it first to the twelve, then to seventy others, and now to all who follow Him. We are equipped with everything we need to confront darkness, bring healing, and proclaim the good news—if only we recognize and step into what He has already given us. [49:21]
• 3. The Harvest Is Plentiful, but the Laborers Are Few The world is full of people hungry for hope, meaning, and truth, but there is a shortage of those willing to go and share. The urgency of the harvest requires us to move beyond comfort and excuses, to be spiritual laborers who respond to God’s call—whether across the world or across the street. [46:06]
• 4. God’s Invitation Is Often Refused for Lesser Things In the parable, those first invited to the great supper declined because of business, possessions, or relationships. These excuses, though understandable, pale in comparison to the riches of God’s presence. We must guard our hearts against letting good things become obstacles to the best thing—fellowship with God and participation in His mission. [55:28]
• 5. There Is Always Room at God’s Table—For You and For Others No matter how many have come, the invitation remains open: there is still room. God’s house is never full; His grace is never exhausted. Our mission is to keep inviting, keep compelling, and never give up, knowing that every soul matters and the cross has space for all. [60:50]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [33:29] - Celebrating What God Is Doing
• [37:42] - Prayer and Gratitude
• [38:55] - Our Responsibility to Share the Good News
• [41:21] - Jesus Empowers the Twelve
• [41:49] - Power and Authority Given
• [43:28] - Testimonies from the Disciples
• [45:17] - The Seventy Are Sent
• [46:06] - The Labor Shortage in the Kingdom
• [48:09] - The Power Within Us
• [49:21] - Authority Over the Enemy
• [50:09] - The Mission: Names Written in Heaven
• [51:39] - The Parable of the Great Supper
• [55:28] - Excuses and Missed Invitations
• [57:50] - The Master’s Response
• [60:50] - There’s Still Room at the Table
• [62:09] - Compel Them to Come In
• [63:27] - God’s Heart for a Full House
• [65:24] - Invitation to Respond
• [67:16] - Prayer of Surrender

Bible Reading

Luke 14:15-24 (ESV) – The Parable of the Great Banquet —
> 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.’”

Luke 10:1-3, 17-20 (ESV) – The Sending of the Seventy-Two —
> 1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. ... 17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

1 Timothy 2:3-4 (ESV) —
> 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Observation Questions

1. In the parable of the great banquet (Luke 14), what kinds of excuses did the invited guests give for not attending the feast? How did the master respond to their refusals? [[55:28]]
2. According to Luke 10, who did Jesus send out to share the good news, and what did He give them for their mission? [[41:49]]
3. What does 1 Timothy 2:3-4 say about God’s desire for people? Who is included in His invitation?
4. In the sermon, what groups of people did the pastor say the master wanted brought into the banquet after the first group refused? [[59:12]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus chose to tell a story about people making excuses to avoid the banquet? What do these excuses reveal about their priorities? [[55:28]]
2. The sermon emphasized that Jesus gave power and authority not just to the twelve disciples, but to seventy others, and by extension, to all believers. What does this say about who is called and equipped to share the gospel? [[41:49]]
3. The master in the parable was not satisfied until his house was full. What does this teach us about God’s heart for people who are often overlooked or forgotten? [[01:03:27]]
4. The pastor said, “There is never, not even one little iota of condemnation. This is all, Jesus, it’s all love.” How does this shape the way we should approach people who seem far from God? [[01:05:24]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon described how people in Manila, including those from other faiths, responded to the invitation of Jesus. Is there someone in your life who might be more open to hearing about Jesus than you expect? What is one step you could take to reach out to them this week? [[33:29]]
2. The parable shows people missing out on God’s invitation because of business, possessions, or relationships. Are there “good things” in your life that might be keeping you from saying “yes” to God’s best? What would it look like to put God’s invitation first? [[55:28]]
3. Jesus said the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. What holds you back from being a “laborer” in God’s harvest? Is it fear, busyness, feeling unqualified, or something else? How can you take a step of faith this month? [[46:06]]
4. The pastor said, “You have an incredible responsibility to share the good news. Not judgment, by the way. It’s good news.” How can you make sure your conversations about faith are filled with hope and not judgment? [[38:55]]
5. The master told his servant to “compel them to come in.” What does it look like to lovingly and persistently invite people to Jesus, even after they’ve said no? Can you think of a time when someone didn’t give up on you? [[01:02:09]]
6. The sermon reminded us that “there’s still room” at God’s table. Is there someone you’ve given up inviting or praying for? What would it look like to renew your invitation or prayer for them this week? [[01:00:50]]
7. The pastor ended by saying, “Today is a new day. There is no condemnation, only love and an open invitation to return, to be restored, and to take up the call to invite others.” Is there an area in your life where you need to accept God’s invitation to return or be restored? What’s one step you can take today? [[01:05:24]]