WEEK 3 SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

Eating and Drinking: Christmas Offering

Introduction:

The table in the Bible is a powerful symbol of God’s provision, presence, and reconciliation. It represents a place where God provides for His people, where believers can experience His presence and fellowship with one another, and where broken people find reconciliation and a sense of belonging. Jesus’s meals with both friends and “sinners” illustrate the table as an invitation for all to be reconciled with God and with each other, and the Lord’s Supper is a specific, recurring reminder of this atoning sacrifice.

Bottom line: The life that you have been searching for grows around the table.

 Something To Talk About:

1. Eating and drinking together is the best soil for spiritual transformation to take place: Spiritual growth often flourishes in a community or fellowship where believers share experiences, encourage one another, and discuss their faith. Sharing a meal or gathering around the table can create a warm, open environment conducive to deep conversations, mutual support, and spiritual encouragement. Such settings can strengthen bonds and inspire personal and collective growth in faith.
2. Eating and drinking together fosters well-being and community: Eating and drinking together nurtures both body and soul, promoting well-being and community. Shared meals create opportunities for connection, conversation, and mutual care. They break down barriers, build trust, and strengthen relationships, reminding us that we are not alone. As we gather around the table, we celebrate life’s blessings and express gratitude. In community, we find comfort, encouragement, and joy, cultivating bonds that sustain us through life’s challenges. Remember, mealtime is more than nourishment; it’s a sacred act of fellowship that unites us in love, fostering a healthier, happier, and more compassionate community.
3. Eating and drinking together is a tangible expression of love, central to the way of Jesus: Eating and drinking together is one of the simplest yet most profound ways to embody love. Around a shared table, walls come down and hearts open. Jesus often revealed God’s love not in temples or crowds, but over meals—with friends, sinners, and strangers alike. The table became His classroom of grace and belonging. When we share food and drink, we extend that same welcome, saying, “You matter. You belong.” Every meal can become a slight echo of the Kingdom, where love is tangible, forgiveness flows freely, and everyone has a seat at the table of Christ.
4. Eating and drinking together are practices the modern church must recapture: Eating and drinking together were central to the life of the early church. Around the table, believers shared not only food but faith, joy, confession, and compassion. It was where Christ’s presence was felt in fellowship, not just formality. The breaking of bread was both communion and community — a sacred act that broke down barriers and fostered a sense of belonging. Today’s church must recapture that simplicity and warmth, trading programs for presence, performance for participation. When we gather around the table in sincerity and love, we rediscover the heartbeat of the gospel — Jesus made known in the breaking of bread.
5. The best aspects of life happen around a table in a home, not just in church buildings: Some of the best moments of life happen around a table at home. The laughter of friends, the prayers of family, the warmth of shared food—these are sacred gatherings where hearts connect and grace flows. The early church often met in homes, breaking bread and sharing stories of faith. God’s presence fills living rooms as much as sanctuaries, reminding us that discipleship isn’t confined to pews. Around a table, we learn to listen, forgive, encourage, and belong. The church may gather in a building, but it comes alive when love is practiced in the home.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the symbolic and spiritual significance of the table?
2. How does the act of sharing a meal, even a simple one, help build stronger connections and combat loneliness?
3. Jesus ate with those considered marginalized. What does it look like for us to open our tables to people who are different from us?
4. How can you make your own table a more welcoming and safe space for others this week?
5. In what ways have community and meeting with other believers contributed to your spiritual transformation? 
6. How does remembering Jesus’ sacrifice at the Lord’s table encourage you to live a life of sacrificial love?
7. What does it mean for God to be present with you at the table, both in moments of joy and pain?
8. How can you be more intentional about extending your table beyond your usual social circles to include those who might be far from God?
9. What is one practical step you can take this week to share your table and extend radical hospitality to someone else?
10. How can your small group help one another live out this “table life” on a regular basis? 
11. What is the one takeaway from this message?

Take one thing home with you:

The real value of a Christmas offering is its ability to provide tangible support to those in need while also fostering a community spirit of generosity, compassion, and gratitude. It helps meet immediate needs like food and bills, and creates a “ripple effect” of kindness that can inspire further giving and strengthen social bonds throughout the year.

Meets practical needs: Christmas offerings can directly provide essentials to those facing hardship, such as food for families, assistance with bills, or a coat for someone experiencing homelessness. Provides joy and hope: Contributions can mean a child receives a gift they would otherwise go without, bringing joy and relieving stress for families.

Connects the community: Offering services such as a community Christmas dinner or caroling in nursing homes creates meaningful, shared experiences and helps combat isolation.