Word and Formation: Table of Life Church Sermons and Podcast

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.

When God sends His people to those they would rather not associate with, how will they respond? In Acts 10–11, Peter faces the same challenge Jonah faced centuries earlier: taking God's message to outsiders. This sermon explores how man-made rules can keep us from the people who need the gospel most, how God's grace frees us to move toward sinners without fear, and how believers can faithfully navigate difficult questions about engagement, holiness, and mission.

Acts 9 challenges us to consider how we respond when those who oppose Christ—and even oppose us—are transformed by the gospel. Saul's conversion reminds us that only Jesus can change hearts, and that believers are called to embrace, forgive, and partner with those whom God redeems.

Have you ever been convinced that all hope was gone—only to discover that something beautiful was happening behind the scenes?

In this message from 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11, Zach shares the story of one of the hardest birthdays of his life and the unforgettable surprise that changed everything. The Apostle Paul speaks to believers who feared death had the final word, reminding them that because Jesus rose from the dead, those who belong to Him will too.

This isn't a sermon about predicting the end times. It's about finding hope in the middle of grief, suffering, and uncertainty. As we wait for Christ's return, we're called to encourage one another with one simple promise:

"We will always be with the Lord."

Whether you're grieving a loss, walking through disappointment, or simply needing encouragement today, this message points us to the hope that Jesus has already secured.

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11

Acts 16 tells the story of the beginning of the church in Philippi. Throughout the story the Apostle Paul suffers. Each hardship is different but Paul does not struggle to be released from the pain, instead he willingly allows it to happen. Why? Because suffering with the crucified Jesus leads to the life of the resurrected Jesus.

It can feel like the world is becoming increasingly distant from God, but Acts of the Apostles 8 reminds us that while religion may fail, God is still drawing people to Himself. The story of the Ethiopian eunuch reveals the heart of the gospel: God pursues those who have been rejected, marginalized, or pushed to the edges of religious life. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Philip is drawn from large-scale ministry into a single life-changing conversation that transforms a man longing to belong. This sermon explores how the Spirit prepares hearts before we arrive, why no person is beyond the reach of grace, and how God intends to use ordinary believers to engage people with courage, compassion, and truth.

Acts 17 is the story of the Thessalonian church. This episode will bounce back and forth between the telling of this church's birth in Acts 17 and in 1 Thessalonians 1-3. The Thessalonians' story is compelling when we see the way that such a young church suffered together and their faith became known around the world. Acts tells us the heart of this faith is that they believed in Jesus Christ as crucified and resurrected. The Jesus we believe is the Jesus we follow.

Acts of the Apostles 7 is more than the story of Saint Stephen becoming the first Christian martyr—it is a confrontation between two radically different ways of relating to God. One is built on regulation, self-protection, and performance. The other is built on redemption, grace, and relationship through Jesus Christ. Stephen exposes how easily people can turn God’s gifts, traditions, and commands into systems of control that resist the very Savior they point toward. Yet even as Stephen is murdered, he reveals the heart of true communion with Christ: forgiveness, surrender, and confidence in the sufficiency of Jesus. This sermon explores why rule-based religion always leads to defensiveness, and why relationship with Christ leads to freedom and grace.

Philippians 3:7-8 is a compelling few verses. Paul looks to his past and dismisses his earthly accomplishments in favor of the salvation he has in Christ. Then he looks to his present life and considers anything he could be doing as surrendered to the work of Jesus Christ which is far better. Finally, he looks to all that he is and gives himself to Christ so that he might know Jesus. Anyone reading these words will find themselves at one of these three places: ready to begin faith in Christ, considering what it means to give my vocation and life to Jesus, being invited to abandon myself in order that I might know Jesus more.

The greatest threat to a growing movement is often the belief that one person has to do everything. In Acts of the Apostles 6, the apostles recognize their limits and entrust ministry to new leaders filled with wisdom and the Holy Spirit. The result is unity, multiplication, and a church prepared to reach the nations. This sermon challenges believers to stop spectating, embrace their gifts, and become active participants in the mission of God.