Word and Formation: Table of Life Church Sermons and Podcast

What makes a healthy church? We often point to things like biblical preaching, authentic community, prayer, and active service. But what if the health of a church depends on something deeper than its habits and activities?

In Acts 20:18–25, Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders reveals that the life of a church is profoundly shaped by the spiritual formation of its leaders. Before we can lead others, we must first be shaped by Jesus.

In this message, we explore three principles for healthy church leadership: we must be molded before we can model, formed by the Word before we perform, and surrendered to be centered. As leaders abide in Christ, teach the whole counsel of God, and surrender to the Holy Spirit, they become people worth following—and help form a church that reflects the life of Jesus.

Whether you lead a church, serve in a ministry, or are learning to follow Jesus in everyday life, this message invites you to consider who you are becoming and how God is calling you to live.

“Follow me, as I follow Christ.”

We were visited by Stu Streeter, NAB VP, who shared from Mark 8. The focus of the sermon is our response to Jesus when we think he's not doing what we think he should be doing. We learned to remember our past with Jesus and to seek to understand how Jesus is working in our lives.

What does it take to change a city? In Acts 19, the gospel transforms Ephesus—not through political power or intimidation, but through people whose lives have been changed by Jesus.

As Paul makes disciples, individuals encounter the Holy Spirit, abandon their idols, and begin living differently. Over time, those transformed lives reshape their community.

Zach explores how lasting societal change begins with personal transformation, spiritual intimacy with Jesus, and a commitment to making disciples. Through the story of Patrick of Ireland, we are reminded that faithful discipleship can have an impact far beyond what we may ever see.

Don't underestimate one transformed person. One conversation, one Bible study, one baptism, or one person learning to disciple another may be the beginning of something God uses to change the world.

Spiritual gifts aren't given to help us discover how special we are, build our identity, or elevate ourselves above others. In 1 Corinthians 11–13, Paul points us toward a different purpose: God gives gifts so that we can serve and build up one another as the body of Christ. Our gifts aren't ultimately about me—they're about us.

What do we do when the culture around us becomes increasingly wealthy, immoral, resistant to the gospel—and increasingly exhausting to engage? In Acts 18, Paul arrives in Corinth worn down, under-resourced, and seemingly unsuccessful. Yet God uses that very situation to push Paul toward new methods of ministry: ordinary workplaces, homes, deep relationships, and a multiplying team of disciples.

The story of Corinth reminds us that the question isn't “How bad has our culture become?” but “How faithful will God's people become?” In this episode, we explore what Paul teaches us about creative ministry, building teams, making disciples, and trusting God to reach the people He has already prepared.

What is your body for? Our culture tells us that our bodies belong to us—to use for comfort, pleasure, appearance, achievement, health, or personal fulfillment. But Paul gives Christians a radically different answer: “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.”

In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul shows that our bodies belong to the Lord, belong to Christ, and are temples of the Holy Spirit. That changes the way we understand sexuality, singleness, marriage, the church, and even our witness to the world. Because Christ gave himself completely for us, we are called to give our bodies completely to him.

This message explores what it means to glorify God with our bodies—not through shame or fear, but through covenant faithfulness, holiness, vulnerability, and the freedom that comes from belonging completely to Jesus.

What do you do when conflict arises in the church?In this sermon, we explore Acts 15–16 and discover that not all conflict is the same—and not every issue is worth fighting over. Through the early church’s struggles and the story of William Tyndale, we see that gospel-shaped love knows how to respond with wisdom and clarity.There are moments when we must stand firm—when the truth of the gospel is at stake. But there are also times to agree to disagree, and even times to lay down our rights for the sake of others hearing about Jesus.In this message, we unpack three key truths:When the gospel is threatened, we fight for clarityWhen methods differ, we allow freedomWhen reaching others, we remove unnecessary barriersThe gospel is simple and powerful: salvation comes by grace through faith—not by rule-keeping, performance, or cultural expectations.Key Questions to Reflect On:Am I treating something like a gospel issue that isn’t?Am I forcing agreement where God allows difference?Am I holding onto a freedom that’s getting in the way of someone seeing Jesus?Our prayer is that we would be a people who keep the gospel clear, the method flexible, and Jesus at the center of everything.

Every great story follows a pattern — evil looks like it’s winning, hope flickers to life, salvation comes in surprise, and justice finally falls. Acts 12 is one of those stories.King Herod looks unstoppable. James is dead. Peter is chained. The believers are terrified. Yet in the middle of the night, while evil laughs, an angel (a “messenger”) appears — and everything changes.In this sermon we explore:1️⃣ The Bad Guys Are Winning — When conflict and fear rob us of rest, it feels like darkness is winning. But even then, God is not absent.2️⃣ Hope Is Found — Peter sleeps in peace while the church prays. Rest, not striving, is the posture of trust.3️⃣ Salvation Comes — God delivers in ways we can’t imagine, reminding us that He’s never late, only shaping faith in the waiting.4️⃣ The Villain Gets Justice — In the end, Herod falls, and God’s kingdom advances.Through every conflict, God is doing something in you, through you, and for others. The gospel is the ultimate story where Jesus suffers, trusts, dies, and rises — showing us that no chain, no villain, and no darkness can stop God’s redemption.📖 Text: Acts 12💬 Key idea: You can either sleep soundly by trusting Jesus, or sleep with the worms by becoming the villain.✍️ Reflection prompt: Draw your story — the villain, the messenger, the chained one — and ask, “What is Jesus asking me to do?”

Many of us imagine God working through spiritual fireworks—dramatic conversions, miraculous events, and larger-than-life leaders. But Acts 11 tells a different story. The church at Antioch was not built by apostles, celebrities, or spiritual superstars. It was built by ordinary believers with simple faith who faithfully shared Jesus with the people around them. In this message, we discover that God delights in using ordinary people, ordinary conversations, and ordinary faithfulness over long periods of time to accomplish extraordinary kingdom purposes. If you've ever wondered whether God can use someone like you, Acts 11 answers with a resounding yes.

Most people aren't looking for idols—they're looking for love, purpose, justice, peace, and a life that feels whole. The tragedy is that we often search for those things everywhere except in the One who can truly satisfy them.

In Acts 17, Paul stands before the Areopagus, not to win an argument, but to begin a conversation. Instead of starting with condemnation, he listens. He names the Athenians' suspicions, uncovers the longings beneath their beliefs, exposes the idols that have captured those longings, and finally points them to the risen Jesus.

This sermon offers a simple framework for sharing the gospel in a post-Christian culture:

• Name the suspicion. Why does Jesus seem threatening?
• Listen for the longing. What is this person really searching for?
• Expose the idol. What have they trusted to satisfy that longing?
• Proclaim the risen Christ. What if Jesus is the One they've been looking for all along?

Rather than memorizing a script, learn a map for meaningful gospel conversations—one that begins with listening and ends with the hope of the resurrection. The good news isn't simply that Jesus forgives sins; it's that the risen King is making all things right, and every human longing ultimately finds its fulfillment in Him.