Sermon Study Guide | Series: I Am | Sermon: With You at the Table
Scripture: Luke 22:14-30 | Date: March 22, 2026

We’ve developed a daily devotional reading plan for this series on YouVersion

‍

If you’d like to dig deeper take a look at our Series Resource Page

CONNECT - “A Personal Reflection”

This section is designed to help you relate personally to the theme of the sermon. It encourages you to reflect on your own life experiences and how they connect to the message.

Think about a time when you walked into a space and felt truly wanted, not just welcomed, but prepared for, remembered, and cared for before you even arrived. What made that moment feel so personal?

Now consider your relationship with God. Do you tend to approach Him like you have to earn your seat at the table, prove you belong there, or clean yourself up first? Where in your life right now do you most need to hear this truth again: Jesus wanted you at His table before you were ready? Share with your group

ENGAGE - “Exploring the Scripture”

This section invites you to dive into the biblical passage, discuss its meaning, and apply it to your life through thoughtful questions.

Read Luke 22:14–30 together and discuss:

• What stands out most to you about the fact that Jesus “earnestly desired” to eat this meal with His disciples?
  
  
• Why does it matter that Jesus knew exactly who was at the table and what each of them would do next, and still chose to sit down with them?
  
  
• Judas had a seat at the table, even with betrayal already in motion. What does his presence reveal about Jesus’ posture toward broken, conflicted, and compromised people?
  
  
• Peter also had a seat at the table, even though Jesus knew he would deny Him. How does Peter’s story speak to people who love Jesus sincerely but overestimate their own strength?
  
  
• The disciples moved from a sacred moment into an argument about greatness. Why is it so easy for people to turn grace into comparison, status, or entitlement?
  
  
• In what ways do we sometimes act like our faithfulness earns us a seat, rather than remembering that our place with Jesus is a gift?
  
  
• Jesus says leadership at His table looks like service, not status. How is that different from the way greatness usually works in our world?
  
  
• The message said, “The table is about who was invited. And you were invited before you were ready.” What part of that lands hardest for you personally right now?
  
  
• Which seat do you relate to most in this passage right now: Judas, Peter, or the disciples arguing about greatness? Why?
  
  
• How does communion help us remember, not just think about, the truth that Jesus has welcomed us by grace?

APPLY - “Putting the Scriptures into Action”

This section challenges us to take what we’ve learned and implement it in practical ways in our daily lives.

• Is there a failure, secret, regret, or shame story that has made you feel like you do not belong at Jesus’ table? What would it look like to bring that honestly to Him?
  Write it down.
  
  
• Are you more likely these days to drift toward betrayal, self-reliance, or comparison? What is one honest next step of repentance for you?
  
  
• What would it look like to “set a table” for that person this week in a real, practical way: a meal, coffee, a conversation, an invitation, or simply intentional presence? Take one step toward that.
  
  • Before that interaction happens, how can you prepare with their specific presence in mind so they feel wanted, not tolerated?
    
    
• The message said, “The world doesn’t need more people performing greatness. It needs more people preparing tables.” What is one concrete way you can practice that this week?

PRAY - “Seeking God’s Guidance”

This section offers a short prayer to help us center our hearts and invite God to work in our lives through his scripture.

Jesus, thank You for setting the table and inviting us before we were ready. Thank You that our seat with You has never been based on our strength, our track record, or our ability to hold it all together. Thank You for welcoming us in full knowledge of who we are, where we have failed, and what we still need. Help us receive Your grace honestly and humbly. Free us from shame, entitlement, comparison, and self-reliance. Teach us to sit with gratitude at the table You have prepared, and then send us out with that same spirit to prepare space for others. Make us a people who pull up chairs, extend grace, and reflect Your heart to a world desperate to know it is wanted. Amen.

If you have feedback on this guide or ideas that would help your group engage more deeply, we’d love to hear from you. Your insight helps us continue growing as a church that wrestles honestly and walks faithfully together. Contact msummers@menlo.church

‍