OUR MEAL AND HIS SUPPER
OUR MEAL
Some of the most meaningful things in life happen around a table. In the Gospels we often see Jesus and His disciples eating together while discussing life and spiritual matters.
Don’t rush the important fellowship that happens at mealtime. The meal is not just about food—it’s about building family.
Meals can be simple and shared in different ways:
Do potlucks.
Take turns providing meals.
Ask someone to oversee a meal calendar to help organize who is bringing food.
If needed, you can use a banking app to reimburse costs so the financial burden doesn’t fall on one person.
Keep the meals simple and budget-conscious. Whatever you do, don’t get into competition or one-upmanship with meals.
Sharing meals together also prepares us for His Supper.
Our Meal and His Supper in the Early Church
Warren W. Wiersbe
Since the beginning of the church, it was customary for the believers to eat together (Acts 2:42, 46). It was an opportunity for fellowship and for sharing with those who were less privileged. No doubt they climaxed this meal by observing the Lord’s Supper. They called this meal “the love feast” [Jude 12] since its main emphasis was showing love for the saints by sharing with one another (The Bible Exposition Commentary, p. 604).
In the New Testament church, the Lord’s Supper was actually a supper. At a potluck meal, the Memorial Meal of Jesus’ sacrifice was shared. After passing the chicken and vegetables, they passed the bread and the cup to one another to remember their common salvation in Jesus.
This shared meal, accompanied by the Lord’s Supper, was not without problems. For example, in 1 Corinthians 11 we read of some people hogging food and even getting drunk. It seems that the well-to-do Christians who came early to the potluck didn’t leave any food for the less fortunate who had to come late because of work. Paul isn’t so much addressing a worship problem in 1 Corinthians 11 as a fellowship problem. So he calls them out for poor one-anothering.
Jude addresses a fellowship and a worship problem. False teachers were joining their Love Feasts, which likely included the Lord’s Supper as well, without being disciplined (Jude 12).
Despite these problems, our shared meals remain a fitting place to celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
HIS SUPPER
1. Celebrate at Every Gathering
Plan to celebrate the Lord’s Supper at every gathering.
You could celebrate the Lord’s Supper during your shared meal, or during Worship, Discovery, Community, or Mission (see the GATHERING GUIDE).
2. The Directions of the Lord’s Supper
Look BACK - To Jesus’ Last Supper and death on the cross
1 Corinthians 11:23-25 (NIV)
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
The Lord’s Supper is a memorial meal. We look back and remember Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross—His body given and His blood poured out for us.
Look TO - To Jesus and His sacrificed blood and body
1 Corinthians 10:16 (NIV)
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
The word participation translates the Greek word koinonia, meaning sharing in common—communion, fellowship, or unity.
The Lord’s Supper is not only about remembering Christ’s past sacrifice (Look BACK), but also about actively sharing in Him now (Look TO). As we eat and drink, we are spiritually communing with Jesus—receiving by faith the ongoing benefits of His body and blood.
We are not just looking back to what He has done, but looking to Him as our present Savior.
Look AROUND - To the body of Christ
1 Corinthians 10:17 (NIV)
Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
The Lord’s Supper is not only communion (koinonia) with Jesus and His sacrificial death (Look TO), but also communion (koinonia) with one another (Look AROUND). As we share one loaf, we express our unity as one body.
Look WITHIN - In self-examination
1 Corinthians 11:27-29 (NIV)
27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.
We are called to participate in a worthy manner. This requires honest self-examination and discerning the body of Christ.
Is Paul referring to the body of Christ crucified or the body of Christ gathered as the church? The answer is both. We are to reflect on our relationship with Jesus and with one another.
Is there sin to confess? Is there division to address? Is there forgiveness to extend?
It is important to note that this passage primarily addresses communal sin—such as division, selfishness, and disregard for others—rather than merely personal sin—like irreverence.
Look UP - To Jesus in thanksgiving and worship
Matthew 26:26-30 (NIV)
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
1 Corinthians 10:16 (NIV)
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
Jesus gave thanks, and His disciples responded in song (Psalms 113-118). The Lord’s Supper is therefore an act of worship—marked by gratitude, praise, and joy.
As we partake, we lift our hearts to God, giving thanks for the new covenant secured through Christ.
Look OUTWARD - To proclaim Jesus’ death
1 Corinthians 11:26 (NIV)
For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
The Lord’s Supper is the Good News acted out. As we eat and drink, we proclaim Christ’s death—not only to one another, but also to a watching world.
This simple act declares the good news: Jesus gave His life for sinners.
Look FORWARD - To when Jesus comes again
1 Corinthians 11:26 (NIV)
For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Matthew 26:28-29 (NIV)
28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
The Lord’s Supper points us ahead to a future meal—the day when Jesus will drink it anew with His people in His Father’s kingdom.
We remember His death, rejoice in His presence, and anticipate His return.
Summary
In the Lord’s Supper, we:
Look BACK and remember Christ’s sacrifice
Look TO and commune with Christ in the present
Look AROUND and embrace unity in His body
Look WITHIN and examine our hearts
Look UP and give thanks in worship
Look OUTWARD and proclaim the Good News
Look FORWARD and anticipate His return
We do this together—until He comes.
3. Scripture Readings
You may read the story from one of the Gospels or from the Apostle Paul:
Matthew 26:26–30
Mark 14:22–26
Luke 22:14–20
1 Corinthians 10:16–17
1 Corinthians 11:23–26 or 11:23–29
You could also read:
Psalm 23
Isaiah 53
4. Who Should Participate
The Lord’s Supper is intended for those who trust in Jesus, so regularly mention this before celebrating. At the same time, stress that anyone can become a believer right then and there and use the Lord’s Supper as a declaration of their faith in Jesus.
You might say something like:
“All who trust in Jesus are welcome. If that’s not true of you, we encourage you to trust in Jesus and celebrate with us.”
Encourage everyone to take a moment to examine their hearts before taking the bread and cup—reflecting on their relationship with Jesus and their relationship with one another.
Serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic wine or juice. Children, pregnant women, and those who do not drink alcohol for the sake of health or conscience may be present, so have a non-alcoholic option available.
If someone in your MicroChurch is struggling with alcoholism or is strongly opposed to the use of alcohol, the strong may need to forgo their freedom for the sake of a weaker brother or sister and not serve alcoholic wine (see Romans 14–15).
For the sake of simplicity, you may choose to serve only non-alcoholic juice.
5. Serving the Bread and Cup
As you pass out the bread and cups, you can say:
“The body of Christ, given for you.”
“The blood of Christ, shed for you.”
Or simply:
“The body of Christ and the blood of Christ for you.”
6. Creative Communion
Here are some ways to creatively celebrate communion with each other:
Have different people pray before taking the bread and the cup.
Invite someone to share what the Lord’s Supper means to them or what Jesus’ sacrificial death means to them.
Have someone share the Good News of Jesus Christ as a way to prepare for the Lord’s Supper and practice sharing the faith.
Lay hands on each person, pronounce a blessing over them, and then serve them the Lord’s Supper.
Take turns sitting in a chair, serving that person the Lord’s Supper, asking how you could pray for them, and gathering around them to pray. Then have the person who was prayed for serve the next person.
Wash each other’s feet and then serve communion.
Be creative in how you celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Celebrating it in different ways can help keep it fresh and meaningful.
7. Liturgical Forms
Here are two liturgical forms you could use for the Lord’s Supper. The first form was already introduced in Week 6 – Mission (Part 2).
LORD’S SUPPER
Form 1
Leader:
We give thanks to God the Father that our Savior, Jesus Christ, before He suffered, gave us this memorial of His sacrifice, until He comes again. At His last supper, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way, He took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this in remembrance of Me.” For whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
Together, let us declare our faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed (1).
All:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ,
His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day He rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit
the holy Christian (2) church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
Leader:
Together, let us pray as Jesus taught us to pray.
All:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
Leader:
All who trust in Jesus are welcome.
Take, eat, remember, and believe that the body of our Lord Jesus Christ was given for the complete forgiveness of all our sins.
Take, drink, remember, and believe that the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ was shed for the complete forgiveness of all our sins.
(1) This creed is called the Apostles' Creed not because it was formulated by the apostles themselves but because it contains a brief summary of their teachings.
(2) Traditionally, “the holy catholic church”. That is, the true Christian church of all times and all places.
LORD’S SUPPER
Form 2
Leader:
We praise You, merciful Father, because in Your tender love You gave the world Your only Son, in order that the world might be saved through Him. He made You known by taking the form of a servant, healing the sick, freeing the captives, and seeking the lost. Betrayed, reviled, and nailed to the cross, He confronted the power of sin and disarmed it forever. In His offering of Himself, He became the perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Redeemed by Christ, we have been adopted as Your children. By Your pardon, You have made us worthy to praise You.
Together, let us declare our faith.
All:
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
Leader:
We give thanks to God the Father that our Savior, Jesus Christ, before He suffered, gave us this memorial of His sacrifice, until He comes again. At His last supper, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way, He took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this in remembrance of Me.” For whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
In obedience to Him and with grateful hearts we approach Your holy table, remembering our Savior’s sacrifice, and rejoicing in His victory.
Together, let us confess our sin.
All:
Most holy and merciful Father,
We confess to You and to one another,
that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
We have not fully loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We have not always had in us the mind of Christ.
You alone know how often we have grieved You
by wasting Your gifts, and by wandering from Your ways.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
Forgive us, Father, and free us from our sin.
Renew in us the grace and strength of Your Holy Spirit,
for the sake of Jesus Christ Your Son our Savior. Amen.
Leader:
Send Your Holy Spirit on us that as we receive this bread and this cup we share in the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and feed on Him in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving. May we be renewed in His risen life, filled with love, and strengthened in our will to serve others. May our lives be a pure and holy sacrifice, acceptable to You. And knit us together as one in Your Son Jesus Christ, to whom, with You and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever.
All:
Amen.
Leader:
All who trust in Jesus are welcome.
The body of Christ, given for you.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.
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