Week 4 | Chapters 14-15 | Why I'm Still Surprised by the Power of the Holy Spirit
Introduction
About Table Communities
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. The time together is not about getting through all the note content, but rather about building meaningful relationships, engaging in mutual discipleship and experiencing God's multiplying grace. Let those values shape the direction and pace of your time together.
Remember: What we all have in common
Saint : Beloved, forgiven, being renewed, filled with the Holy Spirit.
Sufferer : Carrying real pain and struggle.
Sinner: Still in need of ongoing grace and transformation.
Kick off with prayer
Some one pray for your time together.
Example prayer, if needed. Ideally pray freely as you feel called:
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.
The Ministry of Healing: Chapters 13-15
Video - Setting the Scene
Please watch this video (add video here) together.
Discussion
Discussion Questions
Chapter 13: Why God Heals
- God heals simply because he is asked….
- God heals because he is compassionate
- God heals for his Glory
- God heals in response to faith
- God heals in response to His promise
- And some additional reasons listed in the appendix
Chapter 14: Unbelief
Does God promise to heal all?
The correct understanding Isaiah 53v5
Its not the "bigness" of our faith but rather the bigness of God that gives us courage.
Chapter 14, p. 116-123
“...I call it cruelty.”
From “Unbelief” — Deere's response to the idea that an unhealed person must be lacking faith or harbouring sin; he argues that treating someone that way isn't “tough love,” it's cruelty, and that kindness and sound theology aren't in conflict.
The pastoral problem of telling someone that if they have enough faith they will be healed - this puts the burden for healing of the sick person rather than on the wisdom and mercy of God.
Story: The man who would not say “cancer” because of his theology
Chapter 15: Healing faith
Have you ever prayed for a miracle or a healing that did not happen? How did that outcome affect your relationship with God, and did this reading help process that disappointment?
Jack forbids the members of the healing team to promise healing.
The certainty of healing is a gift from God - you don’t manufacture it and it is also not necessarily required for people to get healed.
It doesn’t take much faith to be healed
Confidence is in Him not our abilities…
When people dont get healed he simply says I dont know why God did not heal you - lets pray for you next week and every week unless God tells us not to because he has given grace for this situation
It is Gods will to give us Grace in every situation, he doest promise healing in every circumstance
We do have Hebrews 4v16 receive mercy, find grace
Sometimes grace to shut the mouths of lions sometimes grace to be sawn in two. (Hebrews 11)
"I go to listen to the hurting and I listen to God."
Deere tackles the incredibly painful topic of unanswered prayers for healing. How do this chapter reshape your understanding of the relationship between a person's faith, God's sovereignty, and physical healing?
Is there someone we could pray for tonight?
Habit of Grace
Going Deeper
PRAYER
Spend some time praying for each other.
SCRIPTURE TO READ TOGETHER
James 5:13–16 — Instruction for the sick to call the elders, be anointed with oil and prayed over in faith.
Mark 6:1–6 — Jesus in His hometown, and how the people's unbelief limited what He did there.
Read these verses together as a group.
What stands out to you? what do you notice?
RECOMMENDATION
Jack refers to Sam Storms - For those interested in further study we recommend Sam Storms book. This is also the book that Sujith and Cheryl have used at Cornerstone church.
Understanding Spiritual Gifts: A Comprehensive Guide, Sam Storms
QUESTIONS
If you have questions of your own, you can of course discuss them with your group or someone you know. You're also welcome to reach out to one of the Elders with further questions.