WARM UP

Making Your Last Meeting Great: As we end the quarter this week, we want to celebrate how God has worked. Most of your time should be spent looking back how God has worked and taking communion. You’ll have options to start with some lighter questions and then move into a time of sharing and communion.  Guide your group as time allows.    

Fun Optional Warm-up Questions (pick one or two): 

• Will you eat turkey and stuffing this Thanksgiving?   
• What was a favorite Christmas tradition for you as a kid? (Do you still keep it up?)  
• As Christmas season approaches, what are one or two things you’re looking forward to? 

 

1. Looking back during this quarter with your Life Group, what stands out as a significant growth point in your journey with Jesus?

– Discussion suggestion – you may want to add to this question “a small and or significant growth point,” as it is often small, repeated steps that make a difference over time but may not seem significant yet.   

– Transition option to communion – go to “Live It” section to set up communion or go directly to communion if tight on time. 

* NOTE: you can also move this entire question to the communion section and cover it there after you read the first two communion verses.   

 

2. What was something as a child that you would consider suffering at the time that you now think of as either incredibly beneficial or enjoyable?

Examples would be the pain of practicing a hobby or sports to later see the results, being upset and bored because you’re not getting what you want (a toy, food, screen time, etc.) to find yourself later creating your own fun without them.   

 

3. What have you remembered or held onto most since hearing this weekend’s message?

Additional Question: How could this weekend’s message prepare us to take communion?  

Communion is about remembering the incredible sacrifice Jesus made for us.  This can be a great transition into answering the question about how you’ve grown and now into communion.   

 

KNOW IT   

1. 1 Peter 4:13 tells us to rejoice in our sufferings “inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.” Because of this passage and the message this weekend, how can one find joy during difficult times?

Focus on direction rather than destination. Realize what you have in Christ, and as opposed to how you’re not there yet.    

2. James tells us to consider it pure joy whenever we face trials, as the testing of our faith produces perseverance (James 1:2-3).

Paul tells us that all things (that would include when life comes at you hard) work together for good for those who love God and have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Is the potential for our own spiritual growth, and making God’s name great, enough for us to commit to obedience in the hardest of times and suffering? Take a moment just to discuss the hard reality of whether or not it’s enough.  

 

SHARE IT

1. Is there a time when you witnessed someone going through a life-shattering trial that didn’t shatter their faith in Jesus, in fact made His name even greater, which inspired you to trust and obey Jesus just as they did?

Good question to see if anyone has examples for this.  If you go here, you’ll probably be limited on time. Possibly set it up to have just a couple people share.  

 

LIVE IT

1. As a community of believers, we remember Christ’s suffering on our behalf until His glorious return through Communion. As Christ followers, we too may suffer for His name’s sake (1 Peter 4:16).

How is it possible to identify with the suffering of Jesus in our own lives when participating in Communion? See Philippians 2:1-8.

Additional Questions – What does it mean (and not mean) “to make ourselves nothing”? v. 7   Can we think too lowly of ourselves? What is an example of how you can honor someone above yourself? v3 

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.”  CS Lewis This captures the idea that true humility isn’t about belittling yourself; instead, it’s about shifting focus from yourself to others and to God. It’s about knowing your worth without inflating or deflating it. Does this fit what you were looking for? 

 

COMMUNION

Jesus wants us to remember what He has done for us and that He is here to walk through life with us. That’s why He told the disciples at the Last Supper to keep coming together and take Communion. Communion is about remembering all that Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection. It’s through His sacrifice that we receive His grace and mercy.

This week, your Life Group will wrap up by doing what the disciples did – taking Communion together. To get ready for this, read the following verses and think about Jesus’ commitment and work in your life. Jot down a few thoughts on how each verse impacts you.

Romans 5:7-8 ; John 15:12-17  ; 1 Corinthians 11:23-27 

COMMUNION IDEAS: You may want to involve others by asking them to read Scriptures. The bread and juice can also be set on a table in the middle of the room, and people can take Communion after you read the Scripture and pray, or while the group sings or listens to a worship song.  

1. PURPOSE: Introduce Communion by sharing that it’s about being intentional in remembering the great love God has for us by sending His son Jesus to suffer and die that we might have live. 

READ (and share option): You can have others read it or you as a leader. 

Read Romans 5:7-8 
Read John 15:12-17    

Question option – “What are you grateful for in light of these verses as to who God is and how he has worked in their life this past year.”  Looking back during this quarter with your Life Group, what stands out as a small or significant growth point in your journey with Jesus?  

Read I Corinthians 11:24-26 and have everyone take a Communion.  

“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.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.  

Music / Worship Option – Play In Christ Alone while your group takes Communion – You can play it while you pass out the Communion  

 
* Video Option – If you would like, you can use this video to lead your group in Communion. A pastor will take you through communion and it will then transition to the worship song To Christ Alone.  But please feel to lead it yourself if you desire to. northcoastchurch.com/communion 

Lyrics – To Christ Alone if you’d like to print or distribute them to your group  

2. DISTRIBUTE: As a leader/host team, you may want to serve each person as a symbol of Christ’s love and service to us. Pass the bread, thank the Lord for it and eat together. Pass the cup, thank the Lord for it and drink together.  
3. PRAY: Move into prayer time, thanking Jesus for His commitment to love us and how He is working in our lives. Close your time in prayers of praise.   

Take Communion with us this week! If you are not in a Life Group and would like to take Communion with us, see northcoastchurch.com/communion to follow along.