The Table Church, D.C. - Sermons: What Lies Beneath: Moving from the Clouded to the Clear as Disciples of Jesus

Your Limits Are Actually Your Compass

Trevor Wentt — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 17:00:00 +0100

Your Limits Are Actually Your Compass

Series: What Lies Beneath: Moving from the Clouded to the Clear as Disciples of Jesus

Preacher: Trevor Wentt

Downtown

Date: 24th August 2025

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We all hit walls—whether it's career ambitions that feel out of reach, relationships that drain us, or dreams that seem impossible. But what if the problem isn't your limitations? What if you're just misreading the signals?

Trevor shares a fresh perspective on personal boundaries, offering practical tools to distinguish between obstacles worth pushing through and limits worth accepting. Through relatable stories (including one about spectacularly breaking expensive furniture), he explores how understanding your constraints can actually expand your possibilities and lead you toward what you actually need.

You'll walk away with specific techniques for self-assessment, including the three-circle test, energy audits, and how to listen to your body's wisdom. Perfect for anyone tired of fighting the wrong battles and ready to work with their authentic self instead of against it.

Stop Being the Messiah of Your Relationships

Antonio Ingram — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 10:30:00 +0100

Stop Being the Messiah of Your Relationships

Series: What Lies Beneath: Moving from the Clouded to the Clear as Disciples of Jesus

Preacher: Antonio Ingram

DC Bilingual

Date: 24th August 2025

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Do you exhaust yourself trying to fix everyone around you? Civil rights lawyer and Antonio explores why our need to be everyone's savior leads to anxiety, burnout, and resentment. Whether you're supporting struggling friends, fighting for social justice, or caring for family members, the pressure to solve every problem can be overwhelming.

Drawing from the example of John the Baptist, Antonio reveals how embracing your human limitations isn't selfish—it's essential. He shares practical insights on setting boundaries that actually make you more effective at helping others, not less. Learn the difference between being a supportive person and being someone's unofficial therapist, and discover how acknowledging what you can't control creates space for real solutions.

If you're tired of carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on sustainable caring that protects your mental health while still showing up for the people and causes you love.

When Change-Makers Hit the Wall

Matt Collinson — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 10:30:00 +0100

When Change-Makers Hit the Wall

Series: What Lies Beneath: Moving from the Clouded to the Clear as Disciples of Jesus

Preacher: Matt Collinson

DC Bilingual

Date: 18th August 2025

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Whether you're fighting for justice or just trying to make it through tough times, burnout is real. This conversation explores an honest question: Are you the person who needs care right now, or are you in a position to help others?

Using the ancient story of Elijah's breakdown and recovery, we examine how to assess where you are emotionally and spiritually.

The discussion offers practical tools for envisioning what your "healed self" might look like and identifying concrete next steps to get there. Rather than promoting endless self-improvement, it emphasizes that personal healing ultimately leads us back to community and collective action—not away from it.

Includes interactive reflection exercises you can do while listening. Perfect for anyone feeling overwhelmed by current events or wondering how to sustain their energy for the long haul.

Why Good People Burn Out Fighting Injustice

Daniel Dixon — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 17:00:00 +0100

Why Good People Burn Out Fighting Injustice

Series: What Lies Beneath: Moving from the Clouded to the Clear as Disciples of Jesus

Preacher: Daniel Dixon

Downtown

Date: 17th August 2025

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Ever feel like you're the only one who cares? Like you have to fix every injustice or no one will? Many of us cycle between doing too much, burning out, then either withdrawing completely or blaming others for not stepping up. This pattern destroys both activists and movements.

Drawing from the ancient story of prophet Elijah's breakdown and recovery, Daniel explores how sustainable resistance requires intentional rest. He weaves together current events, Palestinian concepts of steadfast resistance, and practical psychology to show why caring for yourself isn't selfish—it's strategic.

Whether you're overwhelmed by news cycles, exhausted from volunteering, or struggling to balance self-care with showing up for others, this offers a framework for staying engaged without losing yourself in the process.

Why One-Size-Fits-All Therapy Doesn't Work

Anthony Parrott — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 10:30:00 +0100

Why One-Size-Fits-All Therapy Doesn't Work

Series: What Lies Beneath: Moving from the Clouded to the Clear as Disciples of Jesus

Preacher: Anthony Parrott

DC Bilingual

Date: 10th August 2025

How to Stay Calm When Others Panic

Anthony Parrott — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 10:30:00 +0100

How to Stay Calm When Others Panic

Series: What Lies Beneath: Moving from the Clouded to the Clear as Disciples of Jesus

Preacher: Anthony Parrott

DC Bilingual

Date: 3rd August 2025

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Ever notice how one person's stress can spiral through an entire family, workplace, or friend group? This talk explores why anxiety is "viral" and how we unconsciously pass our emotional states to others—often without realizing it.

Drawing from family systems theory and stories of Jesus navigating conflict, Anthony introduces the concept of "non-anxious presence"—the ability to stay emotionally regulated and connected during others' crises without absorbing their chaos or requiring them to change for you to feel okay. You'll learn practical ways to distinguish between healthy conflict and actual abuse, stop triangulating others into your problems, and recognize when past trauma is distorting your current reality.

If you're tired of feeling like everyone else's emotional dumping ground or find yourself constantly reactive in relationships, this offers concrete tools for breaking cycles and creating healthier dynamics.

Why Your Family Still Controls You

Anthony Parrott — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 10:30:00 +0100

Why Your Family Still Controls You

Series: What Lies Beneath: Moving from the Clouded to the Clear as Disciples of Jesus

Preacher: Anthony Parrott

DC Bilingual

Date: 27th July 2025

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Ever feel like you're finally independent, only to realize you're still making decisions based on what you're rebelling against? This talk explores how anxiety spreads through families like a virus, creating patterns that control our choices long after we've left home. Using family systems theory and the story of Joseph, Pastor Anthony reveals how we often think we're being ourselves when we're actually just reacting to inherited dysfunction.

You'll discover the difference between making yourself "really big" (gaining control) versus "really small" (people-pleasing) as trauma responses, and why both keep us trapped. Learn practical ways to notice when you're being reactive versus responsive, and how to stop letting other people's emotional chaos dictate your decisions.

Ready to break free from patterns you didn't even know were controlling you? This is part one of a two-part series on family systems and healing.

When Life Takes the Long Way Around

Heidi Mills — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 17:00:00 +0100

When Life Takes the Long Way Around

Series: What Lies Beneath: Moving from the Clouded to the Clear as Disciples of Jesus

Preacher: Heidi Mills

Downtown

Date: 20th July 2025

Passage: Exodus 13:17-22

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What if your life isn’t “off track”—just on a longer, more winding route than you expected? For anyone wrestling with job loss, big transitions, or that nagging feeling of being stuck, this sermon explores what it means to navigate uncertainty without losing hope.

Drawing from the story of Moses and the Israelites, we look at how guidance often shows up—not in big, dramatic signs—but in everyday moments: a quiet breath, a conversation with a friend, a walk under the trees. You’ll walk away with three simple practices to help you notice your own “pillar of cloud and fire” when the future feels foggy.

Whether you’re figuring out your next step or just trying to stay afloat, this message offers practical ways to listen for what matters—and find your way forward, one step at a time.

When You Have No Idea What You're Doing

Daniel Dixon — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 10:30:00 +0100

When You Have No Idea What You're Doing

Series: What Lies Beneath: Moving from the Clouded to the Clear as Disciples of Jesus

Preacher: Daniel Dixon

DC Bilingual

Date: 20th July 2025

Passage: Exodus 13:17-22

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Ever feel like you're making major life decisions based on dreams about cats? You're not alone. In this honest conversation about discernment, Daniel Dixon explores what it means to figure out where you're going when you genuinely have no clue. Moving beyond the tired "God has a plan" rhetoric and simplistic self-help formulas, this talk gets real about navigating life's big questions.

Through stories of getting lost in Bangladesh, adopting an unhinged kitten, and organizing for justice, discover practical tools for making decisions that actually matter. Learn why your grief might be a better guide than your pros-and-cons list, how indigenous wisdom can reshape your thinking about the future, and what it means to find your place in the ecosystem of change.

Perfect for anyone tired of pretending they have it all figured out.

Who Am I Really Beneath the Surface?

Shae Washington — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 10:30:00 +0100

Who Am I Really Beneath the Surface?

Series: What Lies Beneath: Moving from the Clouded to the Clear as Disciples of Jesus

Preacher: Shae Washington

DC Bilingual

Date: 15th July 2025

Passage: Exodus 3:1-22

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Many of us feel stuck between who we think we should be and who we actually are. Whether you're questioning your purpose, feeling unworthy of your dreams, or wondering if you even have a "calling" at all, you're not alone in this struggle.

Through the story of Moses and the burning bush, Shae Washington explores three common obstacles we face when trying to live authentically: not knowing ourselves deeply enough, feeling unworthy of our aspirations, and the pressure to find one perfect purpose. She offers a refreshing perspective that shifts focus from finding the "right" thing to do to cultivating the "right" way to be.

This isn't about religious obligation or spiritual performance—it's about discovering what it means to live as your full self while staying connected to something larger than yourself.

Why Busy People Need Boring Moments

Bekki Fahrer — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 17:00:00 +0100

Why Busy People Need Boring Moments

Series: What Lies Beneath: Moving from the Clouded to the Clear as Disciples of Jesus

Preacher: Bekki Fahrer

Downtown

Date: 6th July 2025

Passage: Exodus 3:1-22

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Ever feel like you're constantly performing the "right" version of yourself while your authentic self gets buried under endless expectations? This conversation explores how we've outsourced our sense of identity to social media, productivity culture, and other people's definitions of success—leaving us fractured and exhausted.

Through the story of Moses discovering a burning bush during his mundane shepherd days, we examine how intentional solitude and margin aren't luxuries for introverts, but necessary practices for anyone wanting to reconnect with who they really are. Whether you're an extrovert with ADHD or someone who thrives on constant stimulation, there are practical ways to step outside the relentless flow and create space for curiosity, creativity, and authentic connection.

Perfect for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the "everything everywhere all at once" pace of modern life and wondering how to find themselves again beneath all the noise.

How Busyness Became a Tool of Oppression

Trevor Wentt — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 10:30:00 +0100

How Busyness Became a Tool of Oppression

Series: What Lies Beneath: Moving from the Clouded to the Clear as Disciples of Jesus

Preacher: Trevor Wentt

DC Bilingual

Date: 6th July 2025

Passage: Exodus 3:1-22

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We live in a culture that glorifies the grind, where every moment must be productive and every silence filled. But what if our constant busyness isn't just exhausting—what if it's actually keeping us from the life we want? This conversation explores how margin and attention have become revolutionary acts in a world designed to overwhelm us.

Drawing from ancient wisdom and modern realities, Trevor examines how taking time to notice—whether it's a burning bush or your partner's words—can fundamentally shift how we experience life. He unpacks why slowing down isn't laziness but resistance, and how creating space for ourselves and others might be the most subversive thing we can do.

If you're tired of feeling scattered, rushing from one thing to the next, or missing the moments that matter most, this episode offers a different way forward—one that starts with the simple act of turning aside.

Beyond Bible Roulette: Actually Hearing the Divine

Anthony Parrott — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 10:30:00 +0100

Beyond Bible Roulette: Actually Hearing the Divine

Series: What Lies Beneath: Moving from the Clouded to the Clear as Disciples of Jesus

Preacher: Anthony Parrott

DC Bilingual

Date: 29th June 2025

Passage: Exodus 3:1-7

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We've all been there—desperately trying to figure out what we're supposed to do with our lives, maybe even resorting to flipping open the Bible and pointing at random verses (anyone else tried "Bible roulette"?). The question "How do I know God's will?" might be the most common one pastors hear, yet it remains frustratingly elusive for many of us.

Using the story of Moses and the burning bush, this talk explores why hearing God's voice feels so difficult and offers practical ways to tune into the divine amid all the noise. Spoiler: it's less about dramatic signs and more about learning to pay attention to the ordinary moments where the sacred shows up. You'll discover why boredom might be your spiritual superpower and how to distinguish God's voice from all the other voices competing for your attention.

Whether you're new to faith or have been wrestling with these questions for years, this conversation offers fresh perspective on one of life's most persistent challenges.

When Faith Feels Empty (That's Normal)

Anthony Parrott — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 10:30:00 +0100

When Faith Feels Empty (That's Normal)

Series: What Lies Beneath: Moving from the Clouded to the Clear as Disciples of Jesus

Preacher: Anthony Parrott

DC Bilingual

Date: 22nd June 2025

Passages:

Exodus 2:11-25
Exodus 3:1-5

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We all curate the best parts of ourselves for public consumption – but what about the messy 90% beneath the surface? Using Moses' 40-year wilderness period as a framework, this talk explores why spiritual dryness and deconstruction aren't signs of failure, but often necessary stages of growth.

Drawing from Christian mysticism and personal experience with loss and religious trauma, Pastor Anthony challenges the idea that authentic faith should always feel good. Instead, he suggests that our most difficult seasons – when prayers feel empty and old beliefs no longer fit – might actually be where real transformation begins.

For anyone who's felt spiritually homeless, questioned their faith, or wondered if they're "doing it wrong," this conversation offers permission to sit with uncertainty and find the sacred in ordinary, difficult places.

Why Self-Optimization Is Sabotaging Your Soul

Heidi Mills — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 10:30:00 +0100

Why Self-Optimization Is Sabotaging Your Soul

Series: What Lies Beneath: Moving from the Clouded to the Clear as Disciples of Jesus

Preacher: Heidi Mills

DC Bilingual

Date: 15th June 2025

Passage: Luke 9:28-36

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We're told constantly to level up, hustle harder, and become the best version of ourselves. But what if this relentless pursuit of self-optimization is actually keeping us from the peace and purpose we're seeking? In a culture that treats exhaustion as a status symbol and measures worth by productivity, many of us are burning out while chasing an impossible standard of perfection.

This conversation explores an ancient alternative to our modern obsession with doing more and being better. Through the lens of a profound moment in Jesus's life, we'll discover how creating space for rest, practicing presence, and embracing our imperfections might be the real path to transformation—not the kind that comes from grinding harder, but the kind that happens when we finally stop trying to optimize ourselves into oblivion.

Whether you're drowning in your to-do list, feeling guilty about not doing enough, or just exhausted from trying to upgrade every aspect of your life, this might offer a different way forward.