Make Room for One More - July 12, 2026

Jul 12, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Noticing Who’s Missing at the King’s Table

A family on mission doesn’t just celebrate those present—it actively searches for those absent. Like David scanning Saul’s lineage for overlooked souls, we’re called to ask, “Who isn’t here yet?” This isn’t passive waiting but intentional pursuit. Brokenness often hides in distant places like Lo Debar, far from belonging. To live missionally means seeing through God’s eyes: no one is too broken, too hidden, or too “other” to escape His notice. The table isn’t full until the forgotten are found. [47:16]

“David asked, ‘Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’”
(2 Samuel 9:1, NIV)

Reflection: Who in your life feels like a modern-day “Lo Debar”—distant, overlooked, or hidden? How can you intentionally move toward them this week?

Day 2: Moving Toward Others with Covenant Kindness

God’s kindness isn’t polite gestures but radical, covenant loyalty—hesed. David didn’t help Mephibosheth because he earned it, but because of a promise made years earlier. Similarly, Jesus’ love compels us to act, not based on others’ worthiness, but His worth. This kindness crosses enemy lines, heals old wounds, and refuses to let past pain dictate present compassion. It’s messy, costly, and rooted in divine loyalty. [50:17]

“May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” “May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord,” she said.
(Ruth 2:12–13, NIV)

Reflection: Where has God called you to show hesed—covenant kindness—to someone who can’t repay you? What practical step will you take?

Day 3: Bringing the Broken from Lo Debar to the Table

Mephibosheth’s lameness wasn’t healed, but his place was secured. He traded isolation for belonging, shame for sonship. Like him, we were once “far away” (Ephesians 2:13), but Christ carried us home. Mission means refusing to leave people in their Lo Debars—geographic, emotional, or spiritual. It’s not fixing flaws but pulling chairs closer, saying, “Your brokenness doesn’t disqualify you from family.” [56:10]

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
(Ephesians 2:13, NIV)

Reflection: Who in your circle feels “far off” from God’s family? How can you extend an invitation that bridges their distance?

Day 4: Restoring Dignity, Not Just Offering Charity

Mephibosheth called himself a “dead dog,” but David renamed him “son.” Mission isn’t tossing leftovers to the needy but restoring identity. It’s seeing past addictions, failures, or labels to the image of God beneath. Dignity means sharing tables, not just resources—listening to stories, not just solving problems. Jesus didn’t send a care package; He moved in next door (John 1:14). [01:01:27]

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
(2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV)

Reflection: When have you reduced someone to their struggles instead of seeing Christ’s righteousness over them? How can you affirm someone’s God-given dignity today?

Day 5: Keeping a Seat Open for the Lame and Broken

Mephibosheth’s lame feet stayed unhealed, but under the table, they were covered. The king’s table doesn’t erase our brokenness—it redefines our belonging. An open seat isn’t a temporary fix but a permanent invitation. Like David’s repeated emphasis on “always” eating together, mission requires sustained space. Margin isn’t convenience; it’s carving out room for God to surprise you with His guests. [01:02:48]

“But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
(Luke 14:13–14, NIV)

Reflection: What “open seat” have you neglected—physically, emotionally, or spiritually? How will you create margin this week to keep it available?

Sermon Summary

David’s question sets the tone: “Is there anyone still left… to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” The question does not hunt for usefulness or value-add. It hunts for the forgotten. The text shows the king’s heart scanning the room and then scanning beyond the room to ask who is missing, who is far from the table, who needs to be brought near. That move mirrors God’s own pursuit from Genesis to Luke: God comes looking, the shepherd goes after the one, the Son of Man seeks and saves.

The word that drives David is not polite niceness. It is hesed. Covenant kindness. Loyal love. The text ties David’s action to a promise made long before Mephibosheth ever enters the room. “For Jonathan’s sake” becomes a window into the gospel. Believers are received “for Jesus’ sake.” Acceptance is not earned, impressed, or leveraged. It is gifted because a covenant stands.

The story lets kindness get complicated. Saul and David were enemies. Yet the kindness of God moves toward those who cannot repay. That is why Jesus says invite the poor, the lame, the blind. The palace door opens toward Lo Debar. Mephibosheth, “lame in both feet,” is carried from distance to nearness, from hiding to home. Paul’s language fits: those far off are brought near by blood, not merit.

The table becomes the place of dignity. David does more than spare a life. He restores land, gives provision, assigns servants, grants a seat, and names him like a son. Mephibosheth’s self-name is “a dead dog,” which is what shame always whispers. Grace refuses that name and gives a family name instead. Repetition hammers it home: “always ate at the king’s table.” This is not a one-off gesture. It is permanence. Belonging. Family.

The last line remembers his feet. He is not healed. The fall is still part of the story. Yet tucked under the table, the brokenness is covered. The table does not erase the past. It changes how the guest is seen. That is 2 Corinthians 5:21 in picture form. The righteous one covers the unrighteous with his own righteousness.

The story finally names the roles. The church is not David. The church is Mephibosheth. Jesus is the greater David who came looking, carried sinners home, and set them at his table. Because God made room, the family on mission keeps a seat open, notices who is missing, moves with hesed, brings the forgotten near, and restores dignity, not just needs.

Key Takeaways

1. Notice who is missing A family on mission does not just celebrate who showed up. It scans the room and asks who drifted, who is burdened, who is new, and who is far from the table. Initiative is part of love because grace does not wait to be found. It goes looking. [47:46]
2. Move with covenant kindness Hesed is not a quick courtesy or a seasonal mood. It is promise-shaped loyalty that keeps moving toward people because God moved toward sinners first. “For Jonathan’s sake” points to “for Jesus’ sake,” which is why Christians extend costly kindness without demanding payback. [50:17]
3. Bring the far off near Lo Debar is more than geography. It is fear, shame, and the long echo of loss. Grace closes that distance, not by sending a message, but by bringing a person home to the table. Nearness is the gift, and nearness changes a life. [56:31]
4. Restore dignity, not just charity Meeting needs matters, but family language matters more. A seat, an inheritance, a name, and daily presence say, “You belong.” Shame calls people by their lowest moment; grace gives a new name and treats them as sons and daughters. [59:38]
5. Keep a seat open Repetition in the text signals permanence: “always ate at the king’s table.” Mission is not a drive-by; it is an open chair, again and again. The table may not erase the limp, but under it the broken are covered and seen as family. [62:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[39:48] - Every family has a table
[44:33] - A family on mission
[44:59] - Reading 2 Samuel 9
[47:16] - Who is still left?
[49:39] - Grace takes initiative
[50:17] - The kindness of God, hesed
[52:39] - Kindness despite old wounds
[55:22] - Mephibosheth’s losses
[56:31] - From Lo Debar to near
[59:38] - Restoring dignity, not charity
[62:14] - Always at the king’s table
[63:39] - Covered at the table
[66:33] - Jesus the greater David
[67:35] - How to make room
[70:47] - Prayer and response

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
2 Samuel 9 (ESV)
1 And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” ... 3 And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” ... 7 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.” ... 13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet.

Observation questions

What specific reason does David give for wanting to show kindness to someone from Saul’s household? (v. 1, 7)
How does Mephibosheth describe himself when David offers him a place at the table? (v. 8)
The phrase “ate at the king’s table” is repeated multiple times in the chapter. What details does the text emphasize about Mephibosheth’s new life in Jerusalem? (v. 7, 11, 13)
According to the sermon, what does the location “Lo Debar” symbolize about Mephibosheth’s life before David’s intervention? [56:31]

Interpretation questions

Why might David’s act of kindness toward Mephibosheth have been surprising, given the history between Saul and David? How does this reflect the nature of hesed (covenant kindness)?
Mephibosheth calls himself a “dead dog” (v. 8). How does shame distort our identity, and how does grace redefine it, according to the story?
The sermon connects Mephibosheth’s brokenness (“lame in both feet”) to the idea that grace covers but does not erase our past. How does this mirror the gospel truth in 2 Corinthians 5:21?
Why does the sermon emphasize that the church is not David in this story but Mephibosheth? What does this imply about our role in God’s mission? [06:08]

Application questions

“A family on mission notices who’s missing.” Who in your life—a neighbor, coworker, or fellow church member—might feel “far from the table” right now? What is one practical step you could take to “bring them near” this week? [47:46]
The sermon describes hesed as “costly kindness without demanding payback.” When has someone shown you this kind of love? How can you extend that same covenant kindness to someone who cannot repay you? [50:17]
Mephibosheth’s seat at the table restored his dignity, not just his needs. Are there ways your acts of service (e.g., giving, volunteering) unintentionally keep people at a distance? How could you shift toward deeper relational connection? [59:38]
“Mission requires margin.” What commitments, habits, or comforts are filling your “table” so much that there’s no room left to invite others? What could you adjust to create space for mission? [01:09:07]
The sermon says shame calls us by our “lowest moment,” but grace gives a new name. What false name (failure, insecurity, sin) have you believed about yourself? How does the truth of being “seated at Christ’s table” redefine that identity?
Think of a time you felt like Mephibosheth—broken, ashamed, or distant. How did God’s kindness meet you in that season? Who in your circle might need to hear that story of grace?
“An ordinary table surrendered to God can become a powerful place of ministry.” What simple, everyday setting (dinner table, coffee shop, porch) could you use to intentionally welcome others this month? [01:09:32]

Sermon Clips

40s

#CovenantBlessing

“``You see, Mephibosheth is blessed because a covenant was made before he ever entered the room. And that's what points to the gospel so strongly, in that we we are blessed by God because of a covenant that was made before we ever entered the room. That we are not accepted by God because we've impressed him. We're not welcomed because we've earned our place. We are received only because of Jesus. For Jesus' sake, we've been forgiven. For Jesus' sake, we've been brought near. For Jesus' sake, we are welcomed and we are adopted into his family, and that's why we make room for one more.”

49s

#WeAreMephibosheth

“I want us to be very clear about who we are in this story. A lot of times we like to be the hero in the story. Right? We wanna put ourselves in the shoes of the people of narrative and we want to say who we are and how do we relate. And a lot of times, especially with David, you know, we think of David and Goliath and we always think of ourselves as David and God's helping us to defeat this giant that we have in our lives. But in this story, you're not David, I am not David, we are Mephibosheth. We're the ones who were far off. We're the ones that had nothing to offer. We were the ones who could not get to the king's table and we needed mercy. And we come completely empty handed before God. We don't come with our goodness. We don't come with our resume. We don't come with our family name. We are Mephibosheth.”

61s

#ThereIsRoomForYou

“And last, maybe you need to receive your own seat at the table. You've never come and sat at the table of grace. You're here, you feel like Mephibosheth, you feel far off, you feel ashamed, and you feel unworthy. And maybe you think there's no room for me, that God is only disappointed with me, that my sin is too much, that my past is too messy, that if the king called my name, it would only be to condemn me. But I hope you've heard today from God's word that the king is kinder than you thought. Jesus doesn't invite sinners because they're clean, he invites them because he alone can make them clean. He doesn't call the weary and the tired because they have enough strength, he calls the weary because he alone gives rest. He welcomes the broken not because they can fix themselves. He welcomes the broken because he is the savior. Don't stay in load a bar any longer when the king is calling you home.”

54s

#GraceRestoresDignity

“And that's what shame does. Shame gives you a name that God never gave you. Shame says you are your past. Shame says you are your weakest moment. Shame says you are too broken, but grace doesn't call you what shame calls you. Because in Christ, we have a new name. In Christ, we have a new identity. In Christ, we have a new family and a new future and grace sees people differently. And as a family on mission, we should too. That people aren't projects, that people that get in our way, they're not interruptions, they're not problems, they're not their worst mistake, they're not even their addiction. That doesn't define them. All people are image bearers of God and every single person deserves dignity because they're created by him. So as a family on mission, we restore dignity and not just charity.”

63s

#GodPursues

“And so David doesn't wait for Mephibosheth to come looking for him. David goes looking for Mephibosheth and this truly reflects the heart of God. God does this all throughout scripture. We see back in the Old Testament, in fact in the very beginning in Genesis chapter three, when Adam and Eve sin against God and sin enters the world, Adam and Eve go and hide and there's shame and probably afraid. But God comes walking through the garden looking for them, asking where are you? God pursues us. In Luke chapter 15, Jesus tells a story about a man who had 100 sheep and he has 99, but he's losing one and so he goes out to go and look for the one lost sheep. In Luke chapter 19, Jesus says himself, for the son of man came to seek and to save the lost. And that's what the gospel is. The gospel is that God didn't wait for us to clean ourselves up. God didn't wait for us to find our own way home. God didn't wait for us to be worthy of his love. God moved toward us in Christ.”

61s

#BringOthersNear

“And that's our story. None of us are naturally seated at the table. None of us are naturally close to God. None of us are naturally part of God's household. None of us are naturally deserving, but the king brought us near. And if he brought us near, then as a family on mission, we must be a family that brings others near. And so every single Sunday, whether you realize it or not, there's someone here, they feel like Mephibosheth. They'll never say it out loud, but inside they're thinking, you know, I don't know if I belong here. I don't know if people like me are welcome here. I don't know if my past disqualifies me. I don't know if there's room for me. But the family of God, a family on mission answers those fears that there is room here, that there is room at the cross, there is room in the family of God, there is room for sinners to come home, there is room for the broken to be restored, there is room for one more at the table.”

39s

#NoticeTheMissing

“But the question is interesting because David says, is there anyone still left? It's a powerful question because he doesn't ask, is there anyone still left that can help me? Is there anyone still left that can serve me? Is there anyone else who can add value to my kingdom? Who can increase my comfort? He doesn't ask any of that. He says, is there anyone left? Is there anyone who's been forgotten? Is there anyone that needs to be brought near? Is there anyone that needs care? Is there anyone living far away from the table? That's the first thing I want us to see church is that a family on mission notices who's missing.”

38s

#SeekTheMissing

“You see a family on mission not only celebrates the people that are present, but they look around and they say, who's not here yet? Who needs to be brought near? Who's of drifted away from the family? Who's not been, at the table recently? Who seems to be carrying a burden? Who is brand new? See, there is a difference between a family that gathers and a family that lives on mission. A family that just gathers says, we are just happy for whoever shows up. But a family that lives on mission asks, who is missing it and how can we bring them near?”

62s

#MakeRoomAlways

“In Luke chapter 14, Jesus tells a parable, he says, just don't invite just the insiders. Invite the poor, invite the crippled, invite the lame, invite the blind, invite all of them. And that's a picture of a family omission. A family omission, we just don't make room when it's convenient. We don't make room just when the schedule gets a little bit lighter and it's a little bit easier to fit into our calendar. We don't make room for people who are just like us. A family on mission moves toward others with the kindness of God. And we don't do it because we're anything special. Our kindness is rooted in his kindness. We show kindness not because they deserve it, because God was kind to us. We make room at the table not because they've earned it, but because God made room for us. We move toward people not because it's always easy, but because Jesus moved toward us. And the kindness of God is going be most visible when we make room for one more.”

34s

#KindnessWithoutRepayment

“And so, when David is asking the question, who is left in Saul's household I can show kindness to? It shows us that David doesn't use his past pain as an excuse to withhold kindness. And that's tough for us, right? Because most of us, we're willing to make room for people who like us, we're willing to make room for people who agree with us, we're willing to make room for people who appreciate us, but the kindness of God moves toward people who cannot repay it.”

69s

#SeatAndDignity

“David knows Mephibosheth is afraid, of course he is. And that he's carried to the king and in that day and age, power transitioned, typically the new king left none of the previous king's family alive. And so, it was probably a scary moment for him that every step towards Jerusalem felt like a step towards judgment. He's thinking, this is it. I've been found out. My weakness has been exposed. My past has caught up with me. But how does David respond? He says, Don't be afraid. I'm gonna show you kindness for Jonathan's sake. You're gonna always eat at my table. He does more than just spare his life. He gives him an inheritance. He gives Mephibosheth a place to sit. He gives him provision. He gives him honor. He gives him belonging. David restores Mephibosheth's dignity.”

70s

#SeenDifferently

“And the last thing I want you to see today, church, is a family omission keeps a seat open. A family omission keeps a seat open. Notice in the very last verse, verse 13, the last phrase in the chapter, the author again draws your attention to the fact he was lame in both feet. That repeated detail is not accidental. I want you to just picture Mephibosheth sitting at David's table. Every single time he's carried into that dining hall, to that grand table, He's either carried in or limps in or has crutches, but he comes in there and he carries the reality of his brokenness. You see, nowhere in this chapter is there a miracle done. He's not healed. ailment is still there. His legs haven't been healed. His past has not been erased. That fall is still part of his story. But when he goes and sits at the king's table, as he's tucked up under the table, his feet were covered. You see the table didn't change the fact he was broken, but it did change how he was seen.”

57s

#AlwaysAtTheTable

“And you can't miss this in the final four verses. The word table is used so many times. Verse seven and verse 10, David says, Mephibosheth is always going to eat at my table. Verse 11, says, Mephibosheth ate at David's table as one of the king's sons. And in verse 13 it says, Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem and he always ate at the king's table. Now, you may think that the writer just got a little rushed here. He just kept repeating himself, but in Hebrew writing, this matters. Repetition matters. He wanted you to make sure that this wasn't a one time act of kindness, that David didn't just check a box that he did his charity work for the month. This wasn't a public gesture that everybody could see. He didn't send him away after this. The writer wanted you to know Mephibosheth always ate at the king's table, that there was a sense of permanence, a sense of belonging, a sense of family.”

40s

#ClearYourTable

“Ask God to help you clear your table. We can't say we care about people when our calendar says a different story. And you don't need a fancy table. You don't need a perfect house. You don't need the perfectly cooked meal. Permission for you may look like pizza, paper plates, and a living room couch in a room full of students on Tuesday night. It may look like coffee on a porch. It may look like lunch after church. It may just look like inviting a family to come sit with you next week. An ordinary table surrendered to God can become a powerful place of ministry.”

45s

#MissionRequiresMargin

“The second way we can respond this morning, I believe this is for many of us because we get so busy. You need to make room at your table. We'll never accidentally live on mission. We have to make space. If every single night and every single weekend, every single line in your budget and all of your emotional margin is full, we'll never make room for one more. Mission requires margin. And so the application isn't for you another event to add to your calendar. The application is is going to God in prayer and saying, Lord, where have I filled my life so full of my own comfort that I have no room left for your mission?”

58s

#NoticeOnePerson

“What do we do with this? I don't want this just to be a nice thought. I wanna offer you some type of application. And the first thing is maybe you just need to ask God to show you who's missing. Who is missing? Who is missing that you haven't seen here in a while? It's simply praying, Lord, who is the one person you want me to notice this week? Who is that one person you're putting in my path time and time again that I need to share Jesus with, that I need to invite to church, that I need to bring to connect group, that I need to go sit beside. Listen, the person may already be in this church, they may be sitting two rows behind you, it's a brand new face you've never seen before and God's telling you, you need to notice them. It may be somebody in your neighborhood, It could be a family member. It might be a coworker. Who is that one person, God, that you want me to notice and pay attention to and bring near to you?”

52s

#FromFarToNear

“And at David's request, Mephibosheth moves back from Lo Debar to Jerusalem. He goes from distance to nearness, from fear to favor, from hiding back to home, from once forgotten, now he's back into the family. And that's what grace does for us. The third thing I want us to see today in this chapter is a family on mission brings the forgotten near. That David, he doesn't just send a message to load a bar, ask him how he's doing. He brings Mephibosheth to the table, to the palace. And for Mephibosheth, this is more than just geography. This is more than just a geographical distance between the two. This is an emotional distance. This is a relational distance, maybe even a spiritual distance.”

54s

#RestoreDignityNotCharity

“And that's the fourth thing I want us to look at today is that a family omission restores dignity, not just charity. And this matters because a lot of the times this church is really good. We reach out to people, we help people, we give. This is a giving church, this is a loving church. We are full of a bunch of giving and loving families. I know even just in our connect group, they're always giving, always meeting a need. But sometimes if we're not careful, can be guilty of meeting a need, kind of keeping a relational distance. We say, hey, we'll send the check, but we don't wanna get too close to what's going on. But that's not what David does. David doesn't send a gift card, he doesn't just send leftovers to load a bar. He doesn't say, I'll remember you on the holidays, why don't you come by and visit? He says, You're gonna always eat at my table. And that's family language.”

62s

#CovenantKindness

“And as a family on mission, we can't sit back. We can't be passive. We can't just say, well, people know where to find us. People know that the service starts at 10:30, why can't they just show up? People have they have my number, they can text me if they need something. We can't sit back and be passive. Grace takes initiative and a family on mission notices who's missing and they take the initiative. Further into the very first verse, David says, I need I want to show the kindness of God to someone. Who who can I show kindness to? And this word kindness is important because when we think of the word kindness, kindness is like us leaving the day and I'm standing out front and I hold the door for you. And You would say, that's an act of kindness. But that's not the kind of kindness that David's talking about. That's not the language that was being used in the original Hebrew. In the original Hebrew, it was a much deeper type of kindness. It's the word hased. It's this covenant kindness. It's a it's a loyal love. It's a radical loyalty to somebody”

55s

#GraceNotEarned

“And see, we see this kind of kindness, we see this covenant love between David and Jonathan. If you know anything about their story, you can read about it in chapter 20 of one Samuel. They had this covenant friendship, and throughout the years together, Jonathan protected David, even from his own father Saul. And so, David said he wants to show kindness to somebody, this loyal love type of kindness for Jonathan's sake. And this is also an important phrase in verse one because as far as we know, David and Mephibosheth have never met. David doesn't show kindness to Mephibosheth because he's earned it. David doesn't show kindness to him because he's impressed him in any way shape or form. Mephibosheth has absolutely nothing to offer David. David wants to show kindness for Jonathan's sake, his friend from years ago.”

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Make Room for One More - July 12, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Noticing Who’s Missing at the King’s Table

Day 2: Moving Toward Others with Covenant Kindness

Day 3: Bringing the Broken from Lo Debar to the Table

Day 4: Restoring Dignity, Not Just Offering Charity

Day 5: Keeping a Seat Open for the Lame and Broken

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Make Room for One More - July 12, 2026

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