Introduction
Before we begin
Table Communities are community gatherings for the purpose of:
- Building meaningful relationships through intentional time together
- Engaging in mutual discipleship through directing one another towards Christ with truth shared in love
- Multiplying grace through love, prayer and gifts of the spirit
The notes will guide you through praying together, reading scripture and engaging in intentional relational time together. There are also notes and practices for this month's habit of grace. We know that most groups will not have time to discuss this during their time together, but they are available if time allows and are available for those seeking to intentionally engage with God's grace during the week. If that desire is within you, please read the notes on your own time or go through the habit of grace practices with a spiritual friend or your spouse, so as to build one another up in truth and love.
Kick off with prayer
You can use the kick off prayer below (if you are not comfortable praying aloud), and give time for others to pray into the night together.
Example prayer, if needed:
Father we praise you for gathering us together. Despite whatever weighed on our hearts as we entered this house, we pray that your Spirit guides our time together and free us from anything that is not of you. We pray that by the strength of your might we may speak truth in love to one another. We pray that we are led by the gifts of your spirit, so that we may build up one another and your church as a whole. As we read your word, we pray that we may be filled with the knowledge of your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner pleasing to you.
Passage: The Ten Commandments
Psalm 19:
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, 5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. 6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Exodus 20:
13 “You shall not murder."
Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5:
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
Discussion
- Close your eyes and imagine God is is before you telling you what he wants you to do. That he is issuing 10 commandments to you, to your life. [2 min pause]
- What was the expression on God's face? What was his body language? What was the tone of his voice? How did he refer to you?
- Is God angry with you? Is he saying "You fool!"? How do you see the heart of God towards you?
- When you think about the depth of Jesus’ love for His enemies (including us), how does that reshape how you view God's heart toward you?
- When you think about the depth of Jesus’ love for His enemies (including us), how does that reshape how you respond to those who hurt or oppose you?
- Are there places in your heart where bitterness, envy, or unresolved anger might be quietly growing? Is there someone you need to forgive—or seek forgiveness from—this week?
End your time together praying, inquiring God to speak through gifts of the spirit so that you may build one another up. Be bold in sharing any thoughts, pictures or words that come to mind to test if they are given by God to revive the soul. Is God highlighting anything to you personally? Share and get others to pray for you?
Habit of Grace
Sabbath [Rest]
Sabbath is a day set aside to cease from your work, rest from your burdens, celebrate life and delight in God’s unhurried presence. It is God’s good gift of repetitive and regular rest given for your flourishing.
At Kingscross, we practice Sabbath as a countercultural act of resistance to the endless productivity of the world. It reminds us that:
- We are not slaves, but sons and daughters (Deut. 5:15).
- Our worth is not in our work, but in God’s love.
- Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, offering us true rest for our souls (Matt. 11:28–12:8).
Sabbath is about ceasing from what is perceived as necessary to live and embracing what gives life. We stop, rest, delight, and worship—declaring trust in God’s provision and joy in His presence.
View Habit: Sabbath
Practice
- Week 2 – Embracing Delight
- Focus: Sabbath is a day of joy, not duty.
- Practice: Begin your Sabbath with something that brings delight—music, nature, a special meal, art, laughter.
- Challenge: Make a “Delight List” with your household or community: What activities make your soul come alive in God? Try 1–2 of them this week.
Pray
Pray for an illumination of the Holy Spirit into the distractedness and anxiety within your heart and the power to resist. That Kingscross may be place where we gather and find rest, beacuse of the rest we have in Christ.
This is an example prayer, but please practice praying into your specific discussion and circumstances
Gracious Father,
You are our Shepherd, our Provider, our Peace. Yet so often our hearts are restless. We confess our minds are distracted, our souls anxious, and our lives hurried. We look to many things to fill us, but we forget to rest in You.
Holy Spirit, we ask for Your presence right now. Come and search us. Reveal the ways we are clinging to control, chasing approval, or fearing lack. Shine light on the roots of our distractions. Show us where anxiety has taken hold and where trust has withered.
Give us eyes to see and ears to hear—insight into our inner world, and courage to release our grip. Break the lie that everything depends on us. Silence the voice that says we are what we produce. Instead, remind us that we are already loved, already held, already provided for in Jesus.
Spirit of the Living God, empower us to say no to hurry and yes to Sabbath rest. Give us the boldness to live as children—dependent, delighted, and secure. Help us taste and see that the Lord is good, even when the world shouts otherwise.
We surrender our striving. We choose to trust. Lead us into Your rest.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.