The Table
Instructions Before I Leave
Life After the Resurrection
April 11, 2021 • Greg Lunsford
**This Sunday we wrapped up our series on The Table by looking at "Life After The Resurrection." This week discuss these questions drawn from John 20:11-21:19.** 1. Which story defines where you are at in your faith currently? Are you a seeker? Do you struggle with fear? Do you wrestle with doubts? Or do you find yourself sitting in shame? 2. Looking over the scriptures, what does God’s word say about where you are at in your faith? How does the reality of the resurrection free you? 3. We see in God’s word that the resurrection changes everything. How has the resurrection changed you and your story? Share around your tables the victory that Christ’s resurrection has brought in your life.
Risen Victory
April 4, 2021 • Greg Lunsford
**It was great to worship with you all on Easter Sunday. Because of the resurrection of Jesus we are able to say the words, “He is Risen!” every day of our lives. On Sunday we talked about how the resurrection is necessary for victory.** **During your discussions this week, answer these table talk questions:** 1. Is it hard for you to confess that you are a sinner? If yes, why? Furthermore, do you find it difficult to confess when your sins daily? Why would that be difficult? 2. How do you see the affects of sin in our city, our country, and our world? 3. Looking at the victory we have in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, how has Jesus changed your life? What hope does the resurrection bring to a fallen world?
Invitation to the Trinity
March 28, 2021 • Marcus Davis
**Each week during our series “The Table” we have been sending out Table Talk Questions to go through with your family, friends, or small group from the previous sermon. Marcus' sermon today was on John chapter 17.** 1. After reading the chapter, what does Jesus' prayer show you about the relationship between the Father and Christ, the Son? 2. What things does Christ pray for us? How can we model Christ's prayer for us in the way that we pray for others? 3. If Jesus is our mediator and goes before the Father for us, how should that shape the way we live? 4. How can we live out the unity that Jesus prays for His followers? What relationships in your life have been unified, and which ones have been divided?
The Work of the Spirit
March 21, 2021 • Wayne Williams
**Wayne's sermon was on John 16:5-15. This is the fourth time Jesus has given his disciples teaching about the Holy Spirit in these final, dramatic moments with them before his death. Jesus knows that the gospel will not spread and his kingdom will not grow apart from the work of the Spirit and his disciples’ dependence on the Spirit.** **Read John 16:5-7** *But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.* 1. What are some ways Jesus’ disciples were better off with the presence of the Holy Spirit than if Jesus had been with them in person? 2. How are we, Jesus’ church today, better off with the presence of the Holy Spirit than we would have been if Jesus was in the world in person? **Read John 16:8-11** *And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.* 1. How do think “the world” is wrong about sin? About righteousness? About judgement? 2. How does the Spirit do his “convicting” work in the world? 3. No one comes to faith in Jesus unless the Spirit does his “convicting” work in them. Talk with each other about how he did that in your life to point you to Jesus as the only Savior. **Read John 16:12-15** *I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.* 1. How does the Holy Spirit glorify Jesus? 2. Talk with each other about a time when the Spirit glorified Jesus in your heart and mind, when you had that “wow!” moment of spontaneous worship.
Abiding in Love
March 14, 2021 • Wayne Williams
**This week we are discussing Abiding in the True Vine from John 15:1-17. Jesus tells the disciples that he is the True Vine, that God the Father is the vinedresser and that we are the branches. Discuss these questions around your tables with your family, friends, or small group.** 1. Read through John 15:1-17 (ESV) and count how many times you see the word abide. What is the importance of abiding with Jesus? How have you seen Jesus abiding and remaining with you? 2. Go around the table and share with one another how closely connected you are with Jesus? Have you gone through moments this year where you have felt disconnected from Jesus? What were those moments like? If you are close with Jesus, how can you make sure that you remain close with him during difficult times? 3. Jesus says that God the Father is the vinedresser that prunes and cuts. Sometimes these moments can be difficult and maybe even painful in our life. How have you experienced God pruning and removing things in your life that have made you more fruitful in your faith journey?
God With Us. God Within Us.
March 7, 2021 • Greg Lunsford
**This week we talked about God with us and within us by the gift of The Holy Spirit. Before you begin your Table Talk for this week, read John 14:15-27.** **God is so gracious, isn’t he? As Jesus followers we are pursued, loved, cared for, and called to a life of loving God and loving people. We see God’s grace in all this that he equips us to love as he loves through the power of The Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit teaches us along the way. Dive deep into these three questions around your tables this week:** 1. Scripture tells us that God would send “another Helper” to us (John 14:16). After listening to the sermon, do you recall what the words “another” and “Helper” are communicating to us? How does having one just like God (another) walking with us and that dwells within us (Helper) give you confidence in your faith journey? 2. You may have heard the phrase, “It's about relationships not religion,” when describing the Christian faith. Although we are rescued from sin to freedom through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to a relationship, obedience still seems to be very important in our faith. Read John 14:18-24. Discuss around your tables the importance of being obedient to Jesus but not allowing that to define your relationship with Christ. 3. Testimony Time: Read John 14:26 and share stories about moments when the Holy Spirit has taught you and brought scripture to mind in a conversation. Did that strengthen your faith? How have you seen the Holy Spirit teach and move like this in your life?
We are SENT!
February 28, 2021
**Sunday was Community Sunday, and a big topic discussed was how Jesus was using The Table as a commissioning of his disciples to go out and love like Jesus. The Table Talks this week will center around Jesus commissioning us by using the image of The Table.** 1. Looking at the heart of Community Sunday, for all ages to come together at GPBC to worship Jesus together in the same room, ask yourself who are the people that usually are at your table? Is it people that are in your demographic or are there people of all walks of life at your table? 2. Think about how meaningful it is to break bread with people. There is something special that happens when you share a meal with someone; it communicates that you value you them. In that same thought, ask yourself how Jesus can use your own kitchen table as a mission field? (Matthew 28:19-20) 3. Read through John 14:15-31, how does knowing that we have the Holy Spirit as our Helper empower us to love boldly and be witnesses of Jesus to people that God has put in our life?
Don't Let Your Hearts Be Troubled
February 21, 2021 • Lynn Kent
**From the sermon, "Don't Let Your Hearts Be Troubled!" (John 14:1-14), here are the following questions to talk about around your tables while you eat together:** 1. Someone read John 14:1-3. - What has most troubled your heart over the past year i.e. health concerns, isolation, finances, restrictions, loss of loved ones, divisiveness etc? - What have you actually done to cope with all this i.e. eating, binge watching, social media, exercise, humor, scripture, praise, prayer, service etc? 2. Someone read John 14:4-6. * Besides the Bible, what sources have you most trusted for guidance over the past year i.e. CDC, WHO, FOX, CNN, Drudge Report, government officials etc? * What has been your general attitude toward fellow believers who have seen things differently than you do i.e. COVID-19, racism, protests, restrictions etc? * What attitudes, actions and words can you imagine from Jesus over the past year as the Way, Truth & Life...revealing God to our world? 3. Someone read John 14:7-11 * Overall, has your awareness of and confidence in Jesus as God been strengthened, weakened or plateaued over the past year? * What might strengthen your faith in Him right now i.e. miracles, clearly fulfilled prophecies, justice against wrong-doers, reconciliation, spiritual revival etc? 4. Someone read John 14:12-14 * What is the greatest work (ministry, service) you can imagine being involved in during this time i.e. in church, community, neighborhood, missions etc? * What is the biggest, greatest thing for which we might pray right now? 5. Around the table, take turns reading paragraphs from... **“Jesus”** - All divine names and titles are applied to Him. He is called God, the mighty God, the great God, God over all; Jehovah; Lord; the Lord of lords and King of kings. - All divine attributes are ascribed to Him. He is declared to be omnipresent, omniscient, almighty and immutable, the same yesterday, today and forever. - He is set forth as the creator and upholder and ruler of the universe. All things were created by Him and for Him; and by Him all things consist. - He is the object of worship to all intelligent creatures, even the highest; all the angels (i.e., all creatures between man and God) are commanded to prostrate themselves before Him. He is the object of all the religious sentiments; of reverence, love, faith, and devotion. - To Him men and angels are responsible for their character and conduct. He required that man should honor Him as they honored the Father; they should exercise the same faith in Him that they do in God. He declares that He and the Father are one, that those who had seen Him had seen the Father also. - He calls all men unto him; promises to forgive their sins; to send them the Holy Spirit; to give them rest and peace; to raise them up at the last day; and to give them eternal life. - God is not more and cannot promise more or do more than Christ is said to be, to promise and to do. He has, therefore, been the Christian's God from the beginning, in all ages and in all places. * Respond in prayer, focusing on the part that most inspires or encourages you.