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BLESS: Eat with Others

Luke 9:10–17 (ESV)
Alex Hogendoorn – January 25, 2026

Tagline

At the table of Jesus, we are welcomed, satisfied, and sent in overflowing grace.

Sermon Summary

There is something deeply human and even sacred about eating together. Across cultures and generations, tables "show" belonging, they don't just "tell" about it. In Luke 9, Jesus reveals the kingdom of God through a meal. What begins as the disciples’ desire for rest and retreat becomes an unexpected moment of welcome, care, and abundance as Jesus receives the crowd, teaches them, heals them, and ultimately feeds them.

This passage exposes the disciples’ tension between control and trust, scarcity and surrender. Jesus’ command, “You give them something to eat,” invites them to participate in Jesus' mission. As the bread is blessed, broken, and shared, Jesus reveals himself as the true bread from heaven, the one who will be broken for the life of the world. The meal ends not in exhaustion but in overflow, as each disciple carries away a basket of abundance. At Christ’s table, we are forgiven and assured that we belong; that we are also sent out to welcome others to the same generous table of the Lord.

Group Discussion Guide

Icebreaker Question (pick one)

  • Playful: Name one of the more memorable meals you've had in your life.

  • Meaningful: When did a meal impact you with a deep sense of belonging or being cared for?

Opening Prayer

Ask the Spirit to speak through the word and to lead your time together.

Scripture Reading

Read Luke 9:10–17 aloud as a group.

Main Discussion Questions

God Revealed
What does this passage reveal about Jesus’ heart, especially in the way he welcomes the crowd, meets their needs, and refuses to send them away?

Humanity Mirrored
Where do you see yourself in the disciples: feeling interrupted, depleted, or tempted to manage access to Jesus rather than trust him?

Gospel-Centered Vision
How does the image of the table help us understand the gospel as forgiveness of sins, welcome, provision, and belonging in the kingdom of God?

Transformed Living
When have you noticed the difference between serving out of obligation or self-reliance versus responding to something you sensed Jesus was calling you into? How did the outcome differ?

Sharing and Witness
Who have you welcomed and cared for through a simple invitation—to a meal, a coffee, or shared time? Did it feel like Jesus' table?

For Further Study (ESV)

  1. Exodus 16:4–15 – God feeds Israel with manna in the wilderness, revealing his faithful provision.
  2. Psalm 23:5 – God prepares a table as a sign of abundance and belonging.
  3. Isaiah 25:6–9 – The promised kingdom is pictured as a feast for all peoples.
  4. Luke 14:15–24 – Jesus’ parable of the great banquet reveals God’s desire to fill every seat.
  5. Luke 22:14–20 – Jesus connects the breaking of bread with his self-giving sacrifice.
  6. Luke 24:30–35 – The risen Jesus is recognized in the breaking of the bread.
  7. John 6:35 – Jesus declares himself the bread of life who satisfies true hunger.
  8. Acts 2:42–47 – Shared meals become a central expression of life in the early church.
  9. 1 Corinthians 10:16–17 – Participation in the bread expresses unity in the body of Christ.
  10. Revelation 19:6–9 – The story of Scripture culminates in the wedding supper of the Lamb.

 

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