Finding Peace and Community Through Christ's Example

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. John 16:33 - "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
2. Luke 24:30-31 - "When he was at the table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight."
3. Revelation 3:20 - "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus promise us in John 16:33 about the trials we face in the world? How does He assure us of peace? [19:19]
2. In Luke 24:30-31, what significant event happens when Jesus breaks the bread with His disciples? How do they respond? [57:56]
3. According to Revelation 3:20, what does Jesus say He will do if we open the door to Him? How does this relate to the concept of sharing a meal together? [01:07:17]
4. How did the sermon describe the role of communal prayer in supporting one another through personal struggles? [19:19]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Jesus' assurance of peace in John 16:33 help us understand the nature of the peace He offers? How is this peace different from the absence of trouble? [19:19]
2. What can we learn from Jesus' use of meals to teach and build relationships, as seen in the Gospel of Luke? How can we apply this in our own lives? [32:14]
3. In what ways does the act of sharing a meal with someone reflect Jesus' ministry and teachings? How can this be a form of ministry in our daily lives? [56:52]
4. How does the concept of intentional relationships and accountability, as discussed in the sermon, align with Jesus' interactions with His disciples? Why is this important for our spiritual growth? [59:30]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced peace in the midst of a difficult situation. How did your faith in Jesus help you through it? How can you seek His peace in your current struggles? [19:19]
2. Think about your own "this" – a personal struggle or challenge you are facing. How can you bring this to Jesus in prayer and seek support from your faith community? [19:19]
3. Jesus used meals to build relationships and teach life principles. Identify one person you can invite for a meal this week to deepen your relationship and share your faith. What steps will you take to make this happen? [56:52]
4. Consider the significance of food in your own life. How can you use your everyday meals to bless others, especially those in need? What specific actions can you take this week to follow Jesus' example? [56:52]
5. Reflect on your current relationships. Are there friends who provide both encouragement and accountability? How can you be more intentional in offering this to others? [59:30]
6. Jesus calls us to reach out to those in need. Identify one person in your life who might need encouragement or support. How can you reach out to them this week, perhaps through a shared meal or a simple act of kindness? [01:06:46]
7. How can you cultivate a habit of communal prayer in your life? What steps can you take to pray more regularly with others and support them in their struggles? [19:19]

Day 1: Jesus' Assurance of Peace
In John 16:33, Jesus offers a profound assurance of peace to His followers, even in the midst of trials and tribulations. He declares, "I have overcome the world," reminding us that His victory is already accomplished. This peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of Christ in our lives, guiding us through every challenge. When we face difficulties, we can find solace in knowing that Jesus has already triumphed over them, and His peace is available to us.

This assurance is a call to trust in Jesus' sovereignty and His ability to bring us through any situation. It encourages us to shift our focus from our problems to His presence, allowing His peace to guard our hearts and minds. As we navigate life's challenges, we can rest in the confidence that Jesus' victory is our victory, and His peace is our strength. [17:56]

John 14:27 (ESV): "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

Reflection: What specific trial or tribulation are you facing today? How can you invite Jesus' peace into that situation and trust in His victory over it?


Day 2: The Power of Communal Prayer
Communal prayer is a powerful expression of unity and support within the faith community. When we come together to pray, we embody the love and unity that Jesus desires for His followers. This collective prayer strengthens our faith and reminds us that we are not alone in our battles. By praying together and for one another, we create a supportive environment where individuals can share their struggles and receive encouragement.

In times of personal struggle, the support of a faith community is invaluable. Whether it's a physical ailment, a family issue, or a financial problem, laying it all down at the feet of Jesus in communal prayer brings healing and peace. This practice not only strengthens our individual faith but also fosters a sense of belonging and mutual care within the community. [19:19]

James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Reflection: Think of a specific struggle you are currently facing. How can you share this with your faith community and invite them to pray with you and for you?


Day 3: Lessons from "Table Talk"
Jesus often used meals as opportunities to teach and build relationships. Whether it was the Last Supper, dinner with Mary and Martha, or feeding the 5,000, these moments were filled with life-changing lessons. Through these shared meals, Jesus demonstrated the importance of community, hospitality, and spiritual nourishment. He used these gatherings to impart wisdom, offer comfort, and prepare His followers for spiritual battles.

In our own lives, we can follow Jesus' example by using our meals to deepen relationships and share the wisdom of Christ. By inviting others to our tables, we create spaces for meaningful conversations and spiritual growth. These moments of fellowship can be transformative, as we break bread together and reflect on the teachings of Jesus. [32:14]

Luke 24:30-31 (ESV): "When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight."

Reflection: Who can you invite to share a meal with this week? How can you use this time to build a deeper relationship and share the teachings of Jesus?


Day 4: Using Food to Bless Others
Food has a unique way of bringing people together and creating a sense of community. By sharing meals, we can extend love and support to those in need. This simple act can be a powerful ministry, reflecting Jesus' own practice of breaking bread with others to teach, heal, and build community. Whether it's inviting a neighbor for dinner or providing a meal for someone in need, these acts of kindness can have a profound impact.

As we reflect on the significance of food in our lives, we are encouraged to use our everyday meals to bless others. By following Jesus' example, we can create opportunities for connection, healing, and spiritual growth. This week, consider how you can use the gift of food to reach out to someone in need and offer them the love and support of Christ. [56:52]

Isaiah 58:7 (ESV): "Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"

Reflection: Think of someone in your community who might be in need of a meal or companionship. How can you reach out to them this week and offer the gift of a shared meal?


Day 5: Intentional Relationships and Accountability
True friendships in Christ involve both encouragement and accountability. We need friends who can lovingly call us out on our shortcomings and support us in our spiritual growth. This mutual accountability helps us stay on the right path and grow stronger in our faith. Jesus' interactions with His disciples and others exemplify the importance of intentional relationships and accountability.

Being intentional in our relationships means investing time and effort into building deep, meaningful connections. It involves offering both encouragement and constructive feedback, helping one another grow in faith and character. As we cultivate these relationships, we create a supportive network that strengthens our spiritual journey and keeps us accountable to our commitments. [59:30]

Proverbs 27:17 (ESV): "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."

Reflection: Who in your life can you turn to for both encouragement and accountability? How can you be more intentional in nurturing this relationship and supporting each other's spiritual growth?

**John 16:33**
The words of Jesus: "I have said these things to you, that in me you might have peace. In the world, you will have trials; you will have tribulations. But take heart," He says, "I have overcome the world."

Which means, Jen, He's overcome our "this," right? Right? That's going to preach one day: "I have overcome your 'this.'" I like that.

So today, we're going to take some time as a family to spend some time in prayer. Online church, we ask you to join us in prayer. And before we do, I want to give you some news of the house.

So just yesterday, we had two faithful servants of God, faithful servants of this house, graduate to be with God. The first was Mark Chip Chase. Mark served this house well; he loved the Lord. Thomas, who greets you at the door, it was his nephew. The second was Miss Jean, Mo's mom. Most of you know her; a lot of you know Mark.

So today, we want to remember these families in prayer. But see, one thing I know about both of these is they are at home with their Savior, Jesus Christ. They graduated to heaven. So while our human hearts are sad and we mourn and we miss them, we can know without a shadow of a doubt that they lived their life, they fought the fight, they ran their race, and when they opened their eyes in heaven, they were greeted with, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

So you may have a "this" today. Your "this" may be a physical problem; your "this" may be family issues, something going on financially. Whatever your "this" is, we're going to pray about that.

I'm going to do something just a little bit different. We did this in the first service. We are a family. I want to surround those of you who may need prayer today. So if you're comfortable, would you just take the hand of somebody next to you, put your hand on their shoulder, make a new friend? It's okay. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, and we are going to pray. We're going to pray. We are brothers and sisters one for another so that no one is standing alone today in their "this."

Heavenly Father, we thank you today that we can turn everything over to you. So we lay down what's troubling us. We lay down everything at your feet. We reach out to our online church and we say to them they are not alone. We stand with them, and you stand with them.

We pray today for the families that have lost loved ones because they're not lost; they're in heaven. But we pray for that peace that you talked about that would just pour over them today, pour through their families.

Today, Father God, whatever the "this" is, we ask for physical healing, emotional healing, relationship healing. We lay it down to you. We give everything over to you today, and we thank you for this in Jesus' name. Amen and amen.

Let's continue to worship. Good morning, Father's House. Again, we want to say good morning to our online church. For those of you that don't know me, I'm Pastor Tim, and I'm honored to serve as your freedom and care pastor.

So for the past few weeks, we've been in the series "Table Talk." We've been looking into Luke's Gospel, where Jesus is either going to a meal, sitting at a meal, or coming from a meal. But the series just hasn't been about the food that He's eaten. It's been about what He has taught us. It's been about the wisdom in His message, and the messages of grace and the mission where He is leading us as we discover life principles that you and I can live by.

So if you missed any of this series, or even if you've seen it, I encourage you to go to our Father's House website, to our archives, under Messages and Archives, and relive or look for the first time. You don't want to miss any of this series.

So we get to continue today, and I am so proud and honored to stand up here with these men today. So we have three men. We have three men that will be bringing you the next part of this series. And these men are all in our School of Church Leadership, and they are in our ministry coaching group as well.

So if you would welcome them to the stage today. Amen. Three great words that we can and should take with us to put to use in our lives today.

So "Table Talk" has been a lot of fun. I've really, really enjoyed this series. I've enjoyed listening. I've learned a lot. And so the one thing about "Table Talk" that brings it all together is food. Right? Everybody likes food. Am I alone? Come on. Come on.

Well, the first service really liked food. I don't know. So let me ask you a question. What do you remember about food when you were growing up? Did it bring your family together? Or did you find yourself eating alone? Were there big meals, or were there barely enough?

And I'm very sorry if you grew up in a household where there was barely enough because no child should ever go to bed hungry. We can just kind of take that and let that set on our spirit and ask the Holy Spirit what we should do with that.

So what was your favorite meal growing up? We did a Facebook poll, and I want to give you just some of the answers here. I like this first one: breaded chicken cutlets. Yeah. Yeah. How about this one? Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper. Whoo! That's a comfort food right there. We got mom's chuck roast. Spaghetti, absolutely. Mom's homemade corned beef hash. And our favorite, Pastor Chris said square school pizza. Yeah, that was the best on Fridays, right? Square school pizza was the best.

So my top three growing up favorite meals, in maybe no particular order, were this: grilled cheese and tomato soup. That was my go-to birthday meal pick when I got to pick. Hamburger casserole was a meal my mom made. Shout out to my niece Delina, who has kept that tradition alive in our family. And maybe my favorite was baked macaroni and cheese. Not as a side dish, just as the meal. No peas, no cauliflower, just baked macaroni and cheese smothered in ketchup on my plate. Yeah. I thought that would get some of you guys.

So in America, we love food so much that there are food days for almost every day of the year. In July, we had National Ice Cream Day, National Hot Dog Day, Baked Bean Day, Blueberry Muffin Day, Corn Fritters Day, Cotton Candy Day. The list goes on and on. Because we like to use food to bring our family and friends together.

Jesus did the exact same. He knew that it was one thing if He stood somewhere and just taught. But He also knew that when He broke bread with people, when He broke down kind of what was in between them, it was so much easier to use a meal, to use a cup of coffee, to use time together where He could teach life principles that weren't sounding like He was scolding them. It was just sounding like a friend saying, "Hey, this is what's going on in my life. I think this would help you."

So as we've seen from our teachings today and then over the past three weeks, and again, if you missed any of these, please go back to the Father's House website. You don't want to miss any of these. Review them. Go to messages in the archives and check them out. And maybe you want to just go back and listen to them again because maybe there's a principle that you didn't get the first time that you can get the second time.

What we've learned is Jesus enjoyed time with people. He enjoyed eating. He enjoyed eating meals with people. And He gave us very many lessons that we can put together. He used the mealtime to deepen friendships and prepare us for the battle, right? In the Last Supper, He's preparing us for the battle. He taught us life-changing principles on the road to Emmaus: take Him with you; He's there for you.

He taught us to slow down and just be in His presence with dinner with Mary and Martha. He loved the unloved. Jesus ate with the tax collectors, right? Zacchaeus. Nobody thought He would ever do that.

Take a little bit of time and serve your community as He fed the 5,000. Call people on their stuff. I love that. Pastor Andrea taught us that as the woman anointed Jesus' feet, Jesus concentrated and spoke to those around that were trying to say something bad about what she was doing. And He called them on their stuff.

Sometimes, as we sit together with friends, not only do we need to be encouraged or encourage someone, but I want my friends, my true friends, to be able to call me out and say, "Hey, Tim, you need to get it together in this area." I have a few men that I meet regularly with or we talk on the phone, and they have the ability to call me out on my stuff and keep me accountable, but also keep me encouraged in that same moment.

I had one brother that told me one time, "You know, Tim, I wasn't really mad about you calling your wife at quarter to 12 and getting into that row. What I was mad about was that you didn't call me at quarter to 12." Man, it set so much with me. You know, that here was a brother that would say, "Dude, I don't care what time it is. You call me when you need me."

And that's what we do when we come around the table together. We bring each other that encouragement and that accountability. So how could you use your everyday ordinary meals to do the same, to reach out, to find someone that you know maybe just needs a little love, needs a little bit of encouragement, needs someone to listen to them?

Here at the Father's House, we have a group of men and women who are trained, and we call them freedom coaches. Our freedom coaches are not clinicians. They are simply brothers and sisters in Christ that have gone through some specific training that are willing to listen over a cup of coffee, over a meal, over a text, over a phone call, whatever it is. These brothers and sisters are here for you.

So if there's ever a time when you say, "Hey, I think I'd really like to talk to somebody," nobody's going to lecture you. We're going to go to the Word with you, see what Jesus would say to encourage you wherever you are in your issue that's going on. You can always call me, and I could definitely be honored to link you with one of our freedom coaches.

So right now, what I'd like to do is, I'd like to talk to you about my wife a little bit. I tend to do that a lot when I'm up here, and it's always good. Last week, we gave her that car with the Dallas Star. I'm sorry, Ed. I still ask for your forgiveness for the Dallas Star and not to steal her diamond.

But I really want to show some honor and love to my wife because she has taught me over the years how to give away and how to love others. Most of you know that she grows all of our own vegetables, and she gives most of them away. She's always feeding our family and our friends when they're in need.

We have a neighbor across the street, my buddy, Mr. Howard. He shows up from time to time. Some of you know him. She's always making sure that Mr. Howard has a meal, always. "Hey, Tim, send this over to Mr. Howard. Call Mr. Howard. Tell him to come over and get a plate."

She helped to organize meals for the homeless when Pastor Joanne had her homeless shelter. She's organized Thanksgiving meals and turkey giveaways, and I want to give a shout-out to our local business, Hungry Howies, Pat, Deb, Kim, and Brian, for always helping us to supply the turkeys and then using their business.

Hungry Howies is this great entity here in our community who has used what God has placed in their hands to turn around and give into the community. They're always so willing to give out meals to people in need, to help groups that are putting on an event because they've said, "God has blessed us. We're going to take what we have and turn around and give to others."

We know that Pastor Simone taught us that last week, that if we take our little, God’s the multiplier when we are the servants. So she's also adopted Pepper Tree, which is a community. We've done holiday food baskets. We've been fortunate to have some of our youth and some of our kids help give those away and help prepare those. That's always a blessing.

And we've also done some cookouts down at Pepper Tree, which is a lot of fun. I'd like to invite my wife to the stage here to help me talk about this for a moment.

Hey, how you doing?

Good. Awesome.

So tell me where you learned this principle of using food to bless others.

You know, there's a story, and I'll just quickly tell it. Some of you have heard this in my testimony. But back when Brenda and I first met, I was not a man of God. And Ms. Verma wasn't pleased that I was not a man of God. And I was walking to her house one day in the snow. She actually pulled over and picked me up, which shocked me. I was almost scared to get into the car. But she took me out. I sat outside at the picnic table. Snow's just falling up in Jersey. And Brenda came out with a plate of food. And she said, "My mom said, take this plate to that boy." Put that plate there. And she blessed me. Because, you know, she didn't have to do that.

So she was using food, even though maybe I was kind of unlovable at the time, to love on me.

So what about the garden and your dad?

And this garden was not some teeny little garden. This garden was probably between a quarter acre and a half acre in their backyard that he tended. Really, almost up until the day he died, he had some semblance of a garden back there. And he loved to give things away.

So why Pepper Tree?

Thank you for using your gifts and talents, babe. I love you. You don't have to be a great cook or a master gardener or a restaurant owner to bless others. We take our little, we give it to the Master who is the great multiplier as long as we are willing to be His servant.

What I'd like for you to do today, what I want you to do right now, is think about one person that you could reach out to this week. Maybe you could call that person, family or friend, neighbor. Say, "Hey, let's grab a cup of coffee. I just want to check on you. I want to see how you're doing. I don't want anything from you. I want to see how you're doing."

And if you're taking notes, I'd like for you to write that person's name down, then be purposeful to call them this week. We're going to say a quick prayer about that because I truly believe that some of you are going to help change someone's eternity this week as you reach out to them and as we do follow the example of Jesus around the table.

Heavenly Father, I ask that you would give us that one person as we learn today that you left the 99 to go for the one. Help us to leave the comfort of our 99 in our home and go out and be purposeful to call, check on, have a cup of coffee, buy lunch for that one that you would lead us to. Give us words of comfort. Give us words of encouragement. In Jesus' name. Amen and amen.

So I want to put up a verse today that's already been read, and it's Revelation 3:20. And it simply says this: "Look." I love that. "Look," Jesus is saying, "Hey, I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and you'll open the door, I'll come in and we'll just share a meal together as friends."

See, I love that. He doesn't come in and say, "Hey, I'm going to make you change everything in your life. I'm going to tell you all the areas of your life that are going wrong." He says, "I'll share a meal together with you as friends."

So some of you out here may say, "Wow, that sounds really good. I don't think I know Jesus as a friend. I know who He is up here." But friends we have relationship with.

So if that's you today and you would say, "Hey, Tim, I would like to either begin a relationship and have Jesus as my friend or renew that relationship that's maybe going a little stale, a little dry." If you just raise your hand today, I just want to pray with you.

Anybody out there? And online, if you just raise your hand and say, "Today, I want to make Jesus my friend."

We're going to say this prayer together as family and friends.

Dear God, thank you for sending your Son to be my friend. Today, I ask Him to forgive me of my sins and come in and share a meal with me. I want to transfer my trust to Jesus, be His best friend. In Jesus' name. Amen and amen.

Now I got some great friends. Yes, let's celebrate, please. Thank you. Thank you.

I have some great friends standing underneath these signs over here: First Steps and First Steps. If you prayed that prayer today and you meant that in your heart, would you just swing by the table on your way out? We have some great material that we would like to put in your hand that we can walk shoulder to shoulder with you as you make Jesus your friend today.

### Quotes for outreach

1. "So you may have a this today you're this may be a physical problem you're this may be a family issue something going on financially whatever your this is we're going to pray about that gonna do something just a little bit different we did this in the first service we are a family I wanna surround those of you who may need prayer today so if you're comfortable would you just take the hand of somebody next to you put your hand on your shoulder make a new friend it's okay we are brothers and sisters in Christ and we are going to pray we're going to pray we are brothers and sisters one for another so that no one is standing alone today in their this." [18:30] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




2. "What I'd like for you to do today, what I want you to do right now is think about one person that you could reach out to this week. Maybe you could call that person, family or friend, neighbor. Say, hey, let's grab a cup of coffee. I just want to check on you. I want to see how you're doing. I don't want anything from you. I want to see how you're doing. And if you're taking notes, I'd like for you to write that person's name down then be purposeful to call them this week." [01:06:13] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




3. "Look, Jesus is saying, Hey, I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and you'll open the door, I'll come in and we'll just share a meal together as friends. See, I love that. He doesn't come in and say, Hey, I'm going to make you change everything in your life. I'm going to tell you all the areas of your life that are going wrong. He says, I'll share a meal together with you as friends." [01:07:17] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




4. "Dear God, thank you for sending your son to be my friend. Today, I ask him to forgive me of my sins and come in and share a meal with me. I want to transfer my trust to Jesus be his best friend. In Jesus name. Amen and amen." [01:08:42] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




### Quotes for members

1. "So for the past few weeks, we've been in the series Table Talk. We've been looking into Luke's Gospel, where Jesus is either going to a meal, sitting at a meal, or coming from a meal. But the series just hasn't been about the food that he's eaten. It's been about what he has taught us. It's been about the wisdom in his message, and the messages of grace and the mission where he is leading us as we discover life principles that you and I can live by." [32:14] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




2. "He taught us life-changing principles on the road to Emmaus. Take Him with you. He's there for you. He taught us to slow down and just be in His presence with dinner with Mary and Martha. He loved the unloved. Jesus ate with the tax collectors, right? Zacchaeus. Nobody thought He would ever do that. Take a little bit of time and serve your community as He fed the 5,000." [58:44] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




3. "Sometimes as we sit together with friends, not only do we need to be encouraged or encourage someone, but I want my friends, my true friends, be able to call me out and say, Hey, Tim, you need to get it together in this area. I have a few men that I meet regularly with or we talk on the phone, and they have the ability to call me out on my stuff and keep me accountable, but also keep me encouraged in that same moment." [59:30] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




4. "You don't have to be a great cook or a master gardener or a restaurant owner to bless others. We take our little, we give it to the master who is the great multiplier as long as we are willing to be his servant." [01:05:44] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




5. "Here at the Father's House, we have a group of men and women who are trained, and we call them freedom coaches. Our freedom coaches are not clinicians. They are simply brothers and sisters in Christ that have went through some specific training that are willing to listen over a cup of coffee, over a meal, over a text, over a phone call, whatever it is. These brothers and sisters are here for you." [01:00:51] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)