Table Talk Questions from Sermon Series

August 25, 2024
Olympic Faith Week 1: Running the Race
I Corinthians 9:24-25
Rev. Dr. Raigan Miskelly

TABLE TALK QUESTIONS:
1. What is your favorite event in the Olympics?
2. What does it mean to “run in such a way that you may win” in your own life? How can you strive to run our spiritual race more effectively?
3. The passage emphasizes the self-control of athletes. In what areas of your life do you find it challenging to exercise self-control? How can faith help you in this area?
4.  How can being part of a community or small group help you to “run the race” better? In what ways can you support and encourage others in their faith journeys?
5.  What practical steps can you take this week to improve your “running” in your spiritual life? Are there habits or changes you feel called to pursue?

September 1, 2024
Olympic Faith Week. 2: Training to Compete
2 Peter 1:5-8
Rev. Dr. Raigan Miskelly

TABLE TALK QUESTIONS:
1.  When in your life did you train for something?
2. What was involved in your training? What did your training require of you?
3. How did you grow through the process?
4. How have you experienced growth in your faith and sanctification over the years? Can you share specific examples of areas where you’ve seen God at work in your life?
5. What daily practices or training habits do you find helpful in fostering your faith? Are there specific disciplines (like prayer, Bible study, or community service) that you prioritize?

September 8, 2024
Hebrews 10:24-25
Olympic Faith Week 3: The Power of Team
Rev. Dr. Raigan Miskelly

TABLE TALK QUESTIONS:
1. What is your favorite team sport?
2. What characteristics or qualities are necessary for a successful team?
3. Can you share a time when meeting with others encouraged your faith?
4. Who comes alongside you to encourage and challenge you spiritually? Who is on your team?
5. What are some ways that you can support, encourage, comfort, and cheer on others this week?
6. How are you using your God given gifts, in partnership with other believers, to honor and glorify God?

September 15, 2024
John 11:17-45
Olympic Faith Week 4: Endurance and Perseverance
Rev. Dr. Raigan Miskelly

TABLE TALK QUESTIONS:
1. Can you share a personal experience of loss that has impacted your life?
2. What does loss mean to you?
3. How do you believe society views loss, and how does that impact those who are grieving?
4. What losses, current heartache, and/or pain do you currently need to give witness to and name before God?
5. Are there any losses that you stuffed down, ignored, or overlooked that you need to roll the stone away so that healing and wholeness can take place?
6. How have you experienced Jesus’ statement “I am life” as Jesus promises His presence, right here, right now, offering hope and redemption amid brokenness and loss?

September 22, 2024
Olympic Faith Week 5: The Thrill of Victory—Agony of Defeat
1 Corinthians 15:54-58
Rev. Dr. Raigan Miskelly

TABLE TALK QUESTIONS:
1. Share about a time when you experienced the Thrill of Victory?
2. Share about a time when you experienced the Agony of Defeat?
3. Victory is God’s gift, but as we’ve learned in this sermon series, our participation in that victory takes training and discipline. In watching the Olympics, we’ve seen the rewards of training. To what spiritual practices are you committing yourself so that you can claim your “victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,” when death is swallowed up in victory?
4. The compound Greek word translated “sweeping victory” was hupernikaō. “Huper” was a superlative, the origin of the English “hyper”. And the “nik” in the middle of the word came from the Greek word for “victory”, a word that may be even more connected with athletes today than then—”nikē”! Paul asked two compelling questions: “If God is for us, who is against us?” and “Who will separate us from Christ’s love?” Both were phrased in a way that assumed the answer was “Nobody and nothing!” In what ways does that confidence shape your daily life for the better?

Lord Jesus, thank you for winning the biggest victory of all on my behalf. Thank you for the opportunity you give me to grow, stretch and become more than I am as I join in your victory procession. Amen.