Table Talk | October 25-26

Kyle Patrick   -   October 27, 2025

Key Takeaways (5 minutes)

Review these main points from the sermon:

  1. Jesus is the leader of His family – The church belongs to Jesus, not to us.
  2. Jesus appoints under-shepherds and servants to lead His people. Pastors/Elders/Overseers and Deacons serve distinct but complementary roles.
  3. Jesus calls His leaders and His people into account – Both leaders and followers are accountable to Christ

Discussion Questions (35-40 minutes)

Understanding Jesus’ Church (10 minutes)

  1. The pastor emphasized that the church is “not ours to control, it’s Jesus’ to lead.” Why is this distinction so important? What happens when churches forget this?
  2. What does “mission drift” look like in a local church? Have you witnessed or experienced this? How can churches guard against it?

Biblical Leadership Roles (15 minutes)

  1. The sermon outlined two primary leadership offices: Pastor/Elder/Overseer and Deacon. What surprised you about the qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3?
  2. Why do you think the qualifications focus so heavily on character rather than competencies or skills?
  3. The word “deacon” means “to kick up dust as one running an errand” or “table waiter.” How does this humble origin challenge our cultural view of leadership?
  4. Discuss the distinction made between “leaders who serve” (pastors) and “servants who lead” (deacons). How are both essential to church health?

Accountability & Followership (15 minutes)

  1. Read Hebrews 13:17 together. What does it mean to “submit to their authority” in a healthy, biblical way? How is this different from blind obedience?
  2. The sermon stated: “Biblical authority is enabling, exalting, gracious and confident” while “carnal power is arrogant, aggressive, deceitful, oppressive, manipulative, controlling, and intolerant.” How can you discern the difference?
  3. The babysitting illustration showed how both leaders and followers are accountable to Jesus. How does this understanding bring balance and health to church relationships?
  4. What makes followership difficult? How can we “follow joyfully” as the sermon encouraged?

Personal Reflection (10 minutes)

Choose one or two questions for personal reflection:

  1. How well do I support and encourage the leadership of my local church? What specific actions could I take this week?
  2. Am I holding my church leaders accountable to Jesus rather than to my personal preferences? Where might I need to adjust my expectations?
  3. If I’m in leadership (in any capacity), am I leading humbly as an under-shepherd, or am I exercising carnal power?
  4. Do I truly believe this is Jesus’ church, or do I act like it belongs to me or my preferences?

Practical Applications (10 minutes)

This Week’s Challenge – Choose One:

  1. Pray Specifically: Commit to praying daily this week for your church’s pastoral team by name. Pray that their work would be “a joy, not a burden” (Hebrews 13:17).
  2. Encourage a Leader: Write a note, send a text, or personally thank a church leader (pastor, ministry director, volunteer coordinator) for their faithful service.
  3. Examine Your Heart: Honestly assess areas where you might be resisting biblical leadership or trying to control the church according to your preferences. Confess this to God and commit to joyful followership.

Serve as a Deacon: Look for a practical need in your church this week and organize others to meet it (the biblical deacon role). This could be helping a widow, serving in a ministry area, or addressing a gap you’ve noticed.

Study Further: Read through 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9 this week. Make a list of the leadership qualifications and pray about how these apply to your own spiritual growth.

Closing Prayer (5 minutes)

Pray together as a group:

Thank Jesus for being the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep
Pray for your church’s pastoral team and ministry leaders
Ask God to help your church demonstrate both humble leadership and joyful followership
Pray for unity around Jesus’ mission and purpose for your church
Ask the Holy Spirit to help each person fulfill their role in the body of Christ
For Further Study

Key Passages: Acts 6:1-7 (the first deacons); Ephesians 4:11-16 (gifts for building up the church); 1 Peter 5:1-4 (shepherding God’s flock)
Reflection: How does your church structure reflect the biblical model? What questions does this raise for you?