Week 7 | Chapters 21-23 | 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.
Navigating the Supernatural: Chapters 21-23
Looking at physical manifestations, abuses, and the gift of teaching.
Video - Setting the Scene
Please watch this video together.
Discussion
Discussion Questions
Chapter 21: Physical Manifestations
Outward manifestations are common in times of revival:
Wesley in England
Whitefield objected and then it started happening in his own preaching!
Wesley, "Let God do his work how he wants"
Edwards in America with the great awakening:
Many did not perceive this move because it “did not have order”
Edwards - even genuine manifestations are capable of being perverted by satan so that people are led astray
Jack Deere goes through Old Testament and New Testament Scriptural references
Genuine Manifestations are when God shows up - you should not try to produce them yourself
Criteria for the genuine
- not by the strangeness of the physical
- does it agree with the scripture?
- Does it produce the fruit of the Spirit
- Matthew 7v16-20 Jesus
Do not exalt the manifestations
Don’t be disappointed when there are no accompanying outward manifestations
We should not suggest them or try to produce them for God does not need them to accomplish his purposes
Chapter 22: Abuses
Some say, "God will not do miracles with those who have doctrinal error, immorality or spiritual abuses." - The bible teaches and demonstrates the opposite!
If this was true there would be no one who could ever minister!
When doctrine is you “highest value” it lead you into all kinds of trouble
We all need a healthy dose of humility
We are all beneficiaries and victims of tradition - JI Packer
Chapter 23: The Gift of Teaching
Teaching majors on God "The goal is not just to pray, but to enjoy praying"
When my main focus is on obedience, I am least obedient
When my main focus is enjoying God I am most obedient
The Scribes:
Teaching the meaning over teaching obedience
Learning and studying the law became the highest value
Jesus main teaching was; "Knowing God through prayer and love"
The goal of teaching is to lead people to experience Gods love for them with their whole heart and to love one another
I love the bible, I love God more
- my first obligation is to have a spiritual life that others can follow
- Pray open my eyes…when you read (having more confidence in Gods ability to help than my skills)
Peolple become more like Jesus through deep redemptive friendships
Habit of Grace
Going Deeper
PRAYER
Spend some time praying for each other.
SCRIPTURE TO READ TOGETHER
1 Corinthians 14:29–33 — Let two or three prophets speak, the others weigh what is said, and God is a God of order, not confusion.
1 John 4:1–3 — Test the spirits to see whether they are from God, since many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Read these verses together as a group.
What stands out to you? what do you notice?
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.