Table Talk: The Way Forward - Week Eight
THE WAY FORWARD: Discovering the Spirit's Path in Acts
Here’s a short description of our current sermon series.
In this exhilarating series, we'll embark on a journey through the book of Acts, tracing the footsteps of the early church and witnessing the extraordinary ways the Holy Spirit empowered and guided its formation. We'll delve into the Spirit's role in equipping the disciples with boldness and supernatural gifts, leading them to unprecedented growth and impact. By studying their sensitivity to the Spirit's promptings, we'll uncover timeless principles for how he might be leading us to lay the next bricks of the 21st-century church in Memphis. This journey promises to ignite our faith, deepen our dependence on the Spirit, and inspire us to be a Spirit-led community that reflects God's love and power to the world around us. Join us as we discover how the lessons of those who went before us can empower us to bring renewal to God’s good world today.
SPIRITUAL PRACTICE - Praying Boldly
We believe that Jesus’ teaching is more than just knowledge for our minds (though it is certainly that). It should transform our actions. By living out - or practicing - the ways of Jesus, we are being shaped into a people who look more and more like Him.
The Holy Spirit invites us to not only bring our requests before the Lord, but to have an intimate relationship with Him, to spend time with Him and listen to His voice. As we have seen in the book of Acts, early Christians spent time with God in prayer and obeyed the Spirit’s promptings. It takes time and practice to attune our hearts to hear God’s voice, and to discern His leading from our own
thoughts or ideas. Whether you are just beginning to practice listening prayer or have a lot of experience, time spent in God’s presence is never wasted. Here is a simple practice that we encourage you to do on your own over the next 6 weeks (adapted from Practicing the Way). *Parents and caregivers, our “Teaching Kids to PRAY” resource is available upon request. This resource can help you teach your children to both talk to and listen to God in prayer.
Breathe - Take a minute or two to just breathe slowly and deeply, calming your mind and body. You may want to simply pray, “Come Holy Spirit” as you inhale and exhale each breath.
Silence - Ask God to silence the voice of the enemy in your mind, to shield your imagination, and guard you from distraction.
Ask the Spirit to speak to you.
Open your mind and heart to listen - 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us our body is a “temple of the Holy Spirit.” The Spirit within you has direct access to your imagination. Wait quietly with a surrendered heart. He may come to you in a:
Word or phrase
Scripture
Thought
Picture in your mind
Feeling in your heart
Sensation in your body
Don’t judge yourself or God, even if nothing comes. Time spent in God’s presence is never wasted, and we can have faith that He is working, even when we don’t feel or see it. Our job is to be present to God and to listen for his voice when He desires to speak to us.
Test whatever you “hear” against Scripture, and in community. If God’s word to you was directional, obey. Go do what he said!
PRAY
You can pray this prayer daily during the sermon series, or use it as a closing for table conversations each week.
Holy Spirit, Jesus said that it was better for him to go away, that you would come and live in us. Forgive us for the times when we have relied on our own power and strength, instead of putting our trust in you alone. We ask that you would increase our faith, and we humbly pray that you would use us to grow your kingdom. Give us ears to hear your voice, faith to believe that you are always working for your glory and our good, and the courage to obey your call. Thank you for being ever-present with us.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
Week Seven: Proclaiming the Truth: The Spirit’s Message
SERMON SUMMARY The Holy Spirit empowers believers to proclaim the Gospel boldly and effectively in diverse cultural contexts. Paul's preaching in Antioch, Athens, and Corinth illustrates the Spirit's guidance in communicating the truth to different audiences.
Conversation Starters
Kids
Did you know that the good news about Jesus can be shared in different ways with different people? For example, a long time ago, kids only heard Bible stories from their parents’ Bible and from the pastor in their church. They didn’t have Bible story picture books or movies or versions of the Bible that were made especially for kids. What are your favorite ways to learn about the Bible? Do you like picture books? Graphic novels? Videos or movies? Can you think of another fun way that someone could share the Bible with kids your age?
Students
The good news of the gospel - that our broken relationship with God has been mended by Jesus through his perfect life, death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead - is the same in all times and every place. But we see in the New Testament that believers, like Paul, communicated these truths in different ways to different cultures. What are some ways that the core truth of the gospel is being communicated (or could be communicated) to the students in your generation and in your cultural context? Have you seen creative ways that the gospel has been shared to people of a different culture or time?
Adults
Living in 2025, many centuries away from the beginnings of the church, we can see creative ways that the gospel has been shared across time (ie- translation of the Bible into numerous languages, the use of technology, creative messaging, etc.). What are some ways that you have seen core truths of the gospel, which should always and forever remain the same, be communicated in new or culturally relevant ways? Do you find resonance or resistance to some of these new ways of communication? Are there things we should consider as we seek to retain the core truths of the gospel, but communicate them in different cultural contexts?
