Discussion Guide: The Lord’s Supper — A Meal of Grace, Presence & Hope
Desired Takeaway:
Participants will come to a deeper understanding of Communion as a gracious invitation to receive Christ’s sacrifice, presence, and future hope — not as something earned, but as a meal for the spiritually hungry and needy.
**Leader note: what would it look like to receive Communion together during your group meeting? Consider ending your gathering with Communion.
Icebreaker:
What is one of the most memorable meals you’ve ever shared with others? Why does it stand out?
1. Lean In:
Jesus redefined the Passover meal by making it about himself, a shocking move for his disciples. Can you think of a time when a familiar tradition or routine was redefined or changed drastically for you? How did it change your experience of it?
2. Look Down:
Read Matthew 26:26-30 aloud. What stands out to you about Jesus' words and actions during this meal? How do you think the disciples might have felt hearing him say, “This is my body” and “This is my blood”?
3. Look Out:
In many cultures, meals are deeply symbolic and relational. How do you think the practice of Communion speaks to people in a world marked by individualism, achievement, and striving? How might it challenge common cultural values?
4. Look In:
The sermon highlighted that Communion is about receiving, not achieving. Reflect on your typical approach to Communion:
Do you come feeling like you need to “get right” first, or do you come ready to receive grace as you are?
How might seeing Communion as a meal for sinners, not a reward for the righteous, change your experience of it?
5. Live It Out:
Imagine if we all fully lived as people shaped by the Lord’s Supper — marked by remembering Christ’s sacrifice, encountering his presence now, and living with hope for his return. How might that change the way we treat others, approach hardship, or participate in our church and community?
Optional Exercises for the Week:
Prayer Prompt:
Lord Jesus, thank you for inviting us to your table — not because we are worthy, but because you are gracious. Help us to receive your sacrifice with humility, to experience your real presence today, and to live in hope of your return. Strengthen us as we go into the world, marked by your love and grace. Amen.
Suggested Resources for Further Study:
Participants will come to a deeper understanding of Communion as a gracious invitation to receive Christ’s sacrifice, presence, and future hope — not as something earned, but as a meal for the spiritually hungry and needy.
**Leader note: what would it look like to receive Communion together during your group meeting? Consider ending your gathering with Communion.
Icebreaker:
What is one of the most memorable meals you’ve ever shared with others? Why does it stand out?
1. Lean In:
Jesus redefined the Passover meal by making it about himself, a shocking move for his disciples. Can you think of a time when a familiar tradition or routine was redefined or changed drastically for you? How did it change your experience of it?
2. Look Down:
Read Matthew 26:26-30 aloud. What stands out to you about Jesus' words and actions during this meal? How do you think the disciples might have felt hearing him say, “This is my body” and “This is my blood”?
3. Look Out:
In many cultures, meals are deeply symbolic and relational. How do you think the practice of Communion speaks to people in a world marked by individualism, achievement, and striving? How might it challenge common cultural values?
4. Look In:
The sermon highlighted that Communion is about receiving, not achieving. Reflect on your typical approach to Communion:
Do you come feeling like you need to “get right” first, or do you come ready to receive grace as you are?
How might seeing Communion as a meal for sinners, not a reward for the righteous, change your experience of it?
5. Live It Out:
Imagine if we all fully lived as people shaped by the Lord’s Supper — marked by remembering Christ’s sacrifice, encountering his presence now, and living with hope for his return. How might that change the way we treat others, approach hardship, or participate in our church and community?
Optional Exercises for the Week:
- Examine & Receive: Before the next time you take Communion, spend a few minutes in quiet reflection. Confess where you feel unworthy or distant, and ask God to meet you with grace at the table.
- Table Fellowship Practice: Share a meal with someone this week — a friend, family member, or someone new. Be intentional to make the meal a space of gratitude, grace, and connection, mirroring the posture of the Lord’s Supper.
- Future Hope Reflection: Read Revelation 21:1-5 sometime this week. Write down or journal what you’re most longing for in the new heaven and new earth, and bring that longing with you next time you take Communion.
Prayer Prompt:
Lord Jesus, thank you for inviting us to your table — not because we are worthy, but because you are gracious. Help us to receive your sacrifice with humility, to experience your real presence today, and to live in hope of your return. Strengthen us as we go into the world, marked by your love and grace. Amen.
Suggested Resources for Further Study:
- "The Meal Jesus Gave Us" by N.T. Wright – A short, accessible book on the significance of Communion.