Prayer (5 Minutes)
- Have everyone share one thing they were thankful for in the week.
- Have everyone share one prayer request.
Song (5 Minutes)
Catechism (5 minutes)
Have everyone read aloud simultaneously or allow everyone to try to answer before revealing the answer.
Q32: What do justification and sanctification mean?
A: Justification means our declared righteousness before God. Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness. (1 Peter 1:1–2)
A: Justification means our declared righteousness before God. Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness. (1 Peter 1:1–2)
Questions from: https://newcitycatechism.com/. Go there to start from beginning or to read more.
Scripture (5 Minutes)
Matthew 26:26–30 (NLT)
As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.”
And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”
Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”
Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
Discussion (5-10 Minutes)
You can lead through a teaching or use the following questions to start a discussion:
- Why do you think Communion is important?
- Why do you think Jesus wanted us to keep doing this to remember Him, instead of just telling us to never forget?
- In what ways is Communion similar to the Passover meal?
- Why do you think it is important for us to examine ourselves before we take Communion?
Closing Prayer (3 Minutes)
From 1 Corinthians 10:16–17.
Jesus, you feed us with the spiritual food of your body and blood. Thank you for offering yourself as the sacrifice for our sin. May we receive it thankfully in remembrance of you. The bread we break and the cup of thanksgiving are participation in your body and blood. By your Spirit give me and all those who are in your church the strength and courage to love and serve you. In your name, amen.
Jesus, you feed us with the spiritual food of your body and blood. Thank you for offering yourself as the sacrifice for our sin. May we receive it thankfully in remembrance of you. The bread we break and the cup of thanksgiving are participation in your body and blood. By your Spirit give me and all those who are in your church the strength and courage to love and serve you. In your name, amen.