Group Study Guide: The Lord's Supper - Biblical Background and Significance

Opening Prayer and Introduction: Begin by asking someone to open in prayer, asking God to help the group grow in appreciation for the Lord's Supper.

Key Takeaways from the Sermon
1. The Lord's Supper is our primary purpose for assembling on the Lord's Day (Acts 20:7)
2. The first day of the week is the resurrection day - every Sunday is a celebration of Christ's victory over death
3. The Lord's Supper is:
* A Covenantal Feast - reminding us we are in covenant relationship with God
* A Communal Feast - we participate together in Christ's sacrifice
* A Commemorative Feast - we remember Christ's death and our redemption

Discussion Questions
Section 1: The Purpose of Our Assembly
Question 1: The sermon emphasized that Acts 20:7 shows the primary purpose of our assembly is "to break bread." How does this change or challenge your understanding of why we gather on Sunday?
Question 2: How might viewing the Lord's Supper as our primary purpose (rather than just one of several acts of worship) affect:
* How we prepare our hearts before Sunday?
* Our attitude during the communion?
* Our priorities when we can't attend?

Section 2: The Resurrection Day
Question 3: The sermon connected Psalm 118:22-24 to the resurrection. Read this passage together. How does understanding "This is the day the Lord has made" as specifically referring to the resurrection day impact your view of Sunday worship?
Question 4: Why do you think God ordained that we commemorate Christ's death on the day of His resurrection rather than on a Friday (the day He died)? What does this tell us about the gospel message?

Section 3: A Covenantal Feast
Question 5: Read Matthew 26:28 and 1 Corinthians 11:25. Cliff pointed out we often "glaze over" the words "New Testament/Covenant." Why is it significant that Jesus specifically mentioned the covenant when instituting the Supper?
Question 6: In Exodus 24:4-8, Moses sealed the Old Covenant with blood. Does understanding the Lord's Supper as a "covenantal feast" deepen your appreciation for what happens each Sunday when we partake?

Section 4: A Communal Feast
Question 7: Read 1 Corinthians 10:16-17. The sermon compared the Lord's Supper to Old Testament "peace offerings" (fellowship offerings) where the worshiper partook of the sacrifice. What does it mean to you that we "participate" or have "communion" in Christ's sacrifice?
Question 8: How does verse 17 ("we being many are one bread and one body") emphasize the communal nature of the Supper? What are practical ways we can better express this unity when we observe communion?

Section 5: A Commemorative Feast
Question 9: The sermon connected the Lord's Supper to both:
* The Passover (remembering our Passover Lamb - Christ)
* The Sabbath (Israel's weekly reminder of their deliverance from Egypt)
How does the Lord's Supper serve as our weekly reminder of redemption and deliverance from sin?

Question 10: Read 1 Corinthians 11:24-25. Jesus said "do this in remembrance of Me" twice. What specific aspects of Christ's person and work should we be remembering when we partake?

Practical Applications
Individual Reflection
Choose one or two of these to implement this week:
1. Prepare Differently: Before next Sunday, spend 15-30 minutes in prayer and Scripture reading specifically preparing your heart for the Lord's Supper.
2. Study the Connections: Read through Exodus 12 (the Passover) and note the parallels to Christ's sacrifice. Journal about what you discover.
3. Meditate on the Covenant: Each day this week, read one of these covenant passages and thank God for the New Covenant:
* Monday: Jeremiah 31:31-34
* Tuesday: Hebrews 8:6-13
* Wednesday: Hebrews 9:11-15
* Thursday: Hebrews 10:11-18
* Friday: 2 Corinthians 3:4-11
4. Remember the Resurrection: When Sunday comes, consciously remind yourself: "This is the day the Lord has made - the resurrection day."

Group Application
Discuss together: How can we as a group help one another approach the Lord's Supper with greater reverence and understanding? Are there ways we can encourage each other in preparation or follow-up?

Closing Activity
Reflection Exercise: Take 3-5 minutes of silence for each person to write down:
* One new insight about the Lord's Supper from this study
* One way this will change how you participate next Sunday
* One prayer request related to growing in appreciation for communion
Share and Pray: Have volunteers share their insights, then close in prayer, thanking God for:
* The New Covenant in Christ's blood
* The resurrection victory
* The privilege of weekly communion with Him and each other

Additional Resources for Further Study
* Read Hebrews 9-10 for more on the covenant connection
* Study the Passover in Exodus 12 and compare to 1 Corinthians 5:7
* Research the Old Testament peace/fellowship offerings (Leviticus 3, 7:11-21)
* Memorize 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Next Week's Preparation:
Come prepared to discuss: How has your perspective on the Lord's Supper changed after this study? What difference did it make in your worship?

5-Day Devotional: Remembering the Lord's Resurrection and Redemption

Day 1: The Day the Lord Has Made
Reading: Psalm 118:22-24; Acts 13:32-33

Devotional: "This is the day which the Lord hath made." These words carry profound meaning beyond a simple morning greeting. The psalmist prophetically points to the resurrection day—the day when God's marvelous doing reversed humanity's rejection of the Messiah. When the builders rejected the stone, God raised Him as the cornerstone of salvation. Every Lord's Day, we gather not merely because it's Sunday, but because it commemorates the greatest victory in history. The resurrection declares that death could not hold our Savior. As you begin this week, reflect on how the resurrection transforms every day into an opportunity for rejoicing. The same power that raised Christ dwells in you, making each day significant in God's redemptive plan.

Day 2: The Blood of the New Covenant
Reading: Exodus 24:4-8; Matthew 26:26-28

Devotional: "This is my blood of the new testament." When Jesus spoke these words, He connected our weekly communion to something far greater than a memorial ritual. Just as Moses sprinkled blood to seal the old covenant at Sinai, Christ's blood inaugurated a superior covenant. Each time you partake of the cup, you are not merely remembering—you are affirming your covenant relationship with the living God. The old covenant required repeated animal sacrifices; the new covenant was established once for all through Christ's perfect offering. As you approach the Lord's table, recognize you are standing in covenant relationship with God Himself, purchased by precious blood and secured by divine promise.

Day 3: Partakers of the Sacrifice
Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; Leviticus 7:11-15

Devotional: The peace offerings of ancient Israel allowed worshipers to partake of the sacrifice—a unique privilege pointing forward to our communion with Christ. When Paul asks, "Is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?" he is revealing a profound mystery: We participate in the benefits of Christ's sacrifice. Though many individuals, we become one body through sharing one bread. This communal aspect transforms the Lord's Supper from individual meditation into corporate participation in redemption. You are not alone at the table; you are joined with believers across time and space, all partaking of the same sacrifice. Next week, as you break bread with fellow Christians, recognize the unity purchased by Christ's body. Let this fellowship offering draw you closer to both God and His people.

Day 4: Remember Your Deliverance
Reading: Deuteronomy 5:12-15; 1 Corinthians 5:7

Devotional: God commanded Israel to keep the Sabbath as a memorial of their deliverance from Egyptian bondage. Every seventh day reminded them: "You were slaves, but I redeemed you." For Christians, the first day of the week serves this purpose—reminding us of our greater exodus from sin's slavery through Christ, our Passover Lamb. Just as Israel could not earn their freedom but received it through God's mighty hand, we cannot save ourselves but are delivered by grace. The resurrection day becomes our weekly reminder that we serve a living Savior who conquered death itself. When you gather on Sunday, you are not observing an arbitrary tradition; you are commemorating your emancipation. Let this remembrance fuel gratitude and obedience throughout your week.

Day 5: Until He Comes
Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Revelation 19:6-9

Devotional: "This do in remembrance of Me . . . till He come." The Lord's Supper points both backward and forward—commemorating Calvary while anticipating the marriage supper of the Lamb. Every week we proclaim Christ's death, but we do so on resurrection day, declaring that death does not have the final word. This weekly rhythm keeps us anchored in history while oriented toward hope. We remember what He did; we anticipate what He will do. The broken bread and poured cup will not be needed in glory—there we will feast with Him face to face. Until that day, we faithfully gather, proclaim, and remember. Let this dual perspective shape your worship: gratitude for accomplished redemption, longing for promised consummation. The same Lord who rose will return. Maranatha!