Embracing Your Place At The Table

1. We have a role to play in the Kingdom.

Jesus sent Peter and John. God has an assignment on our lives, and you and I find joy when we embrace that assignment.

We have been invited in.

Nothing is better than being a part of Jesus' plan.

God will give us everything we need to live the life He has called us to live.

Don't just long for what you don't have. Embrace what you have, and find joy in purpose.

2. The story we are a part of is a BIG story.

The Last Supper is one of the most significant and consequential moments in history. It should be kept sacred and remind us of all He has done.

We have been offered a seat.

Do you rely on your seat at His table?

Jesus eagerly desired to eat THIS Passover. This Passover festival was different. For 33 years, Jesus had celebrated the Passover on earth, and for the last few, He had shared it with His disciples. This was His Last Passover meal on earth.

The blood of lambs was no longer needed; Christ, the Passover Lamb, was ready to shed His blood as a once-for-all sacrifice for sin.

3. The story we are a part of is not about us.

"Is it me?" to "Who is the greatest?" A dispute arose. Try to imagine, I know it will be tough, hard to fathom. A group of guys sat around a table, trying to figure out who was better.

Contentious, heated—Peter, John, James, Matthew—they quickly could recall why they thought they were better than the rest. They kept records/receipts, not just of our accomplishments/mistakes but also of others.

Sadly, this is all too common. We are all stuck in the cycle of trying to measure our value based on how we compare to other people instead of finding our value in the reality that we have been invited to the table with Jesus.

Be secure and find joy in who and where God has called you to be. Godliness with contentment is a significant gain.

We aren't the lead in the story, and things break down when we try to put ourselves in that position.

Dangerous to ourselves:

John Owen—"Pride is the most dangerous sin because it leads us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought, obscuring our need for God's grace."

Dangerous to the mission of the church:

Tim Keller—"In the church, pride manifests as an overemphasis on our achievements or a critical spirit towards others. Both undermine the mission of the gospel."

Don't be like the leaders of the world; be like Jesus, the true Leader of the world,

Andrew Murray—"Humility is the key that unlocks the door to true and lasting fellowship with God."

Resist pride and cultivate humility. Look up!

Charles Spurgeon—"The more we know God, the more humble we will become."

4. Our role is to create space for others to be a part of the story.

There is a place at the table for everyone.

This is the beauty of the church.