You seem intent on forcing a camel through the eye of a needle.
Anything that can be done by a human being is a work. Making your hypothetical dinner is a work. Inviting me to eat your hypothetical dinner is a work. buying the ingredients, reading the recipe, turning on the stove, combining the ingredients, are all works. None of which are required for salvation.
Likewise, sharing the gospel is a work, giving an invitation is a work, tithing is a work, getting baptized is a work, going to church is a work, preaching is a work; none of which are required for salvation.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:8-10
As these verses state: We are saved by grace, not of ourselves (our own works). Note it goes on to say that once we are saved (created in Christ Jesus) we are created unto good works..., that we should walk in them. When we are saved "God hath ordained (conferred holy orders on) that we should walk [in those good works that we were created unto]" (getting baptized, sharing the gospel, giving invitations, praying, preaching, etc.).
They are not required for salvation (as we are already created IN Christ Jesus), but God has called us (ordained) to walk in them.