Rediscovering the Table in a Stage-Driven Church
Somewhere along the way, the church began to believe that ministry starts and ends on the stage. We pour hours into planning services, perfecting production, and tightening transitions—all in the name of excellence. And while there is nothing wrong with using the stage well, we need to be honest: it is not enough.
The early church had both public proclamation and personal connection. They gathered in large numbers for worship and teaching, but they also gathered around tables. Meals were shared. Stories were told. Questions were asked. Lives were opened. In that rhythm—stage and table, gathered and scattered—discipleship took root.
Today, many churches have emphasized the stage to the point that the table is almost forgotten. We are comfortable speaking at people, but hesitant to sit with them. We know how to design a worship set, but struggle to create space for shared life. The result? A kind of spiritual performance that can impress without transforming.
This is not an argument against the stage. We need places where the gospel is preached boldly, where the church lifts one voice in praise, and where vision is cast clearly. The stage is not the problem. The problem is when the stage becomes the destination instead of the starting point.
The table—literal and figurative—is where the gospel gets lived out. It is where people are known, encouraged, challenged, and equipped. It is slower. Less polished. Sometimes awkward. But it is also where healing happens, where faith deepens, and where real questions can finally be asked.
If a church wants to be healthy, it must create room for both. A church without a stage may struggle to gather. A church without a table will struggle to grow. We need the proclamation, but we also need the participation. One speaks to the crowd. The other invites people into community.
This week, instead of tweaking your service plan again, ask: Where are the tables in our church? Who is sitting at them? Who still needs an invitation? Because if all we offer is a stage, we may gather a crowd—but we will miss the joy of making disciples.