1. Pray. Ask the Lord to open your eyes, that you might behold wondrous things out of his Word (Ps. 119:18). 

2. Read Sunday's passage. Feel free to read it more than once, or in another translation.

3. Review the sermon outline. Try to see how the points came out of the text.

4. Answer the questions below. Focus on personal application.

5. Pray. Praise and thank the Lord, then ask him to work in mighty ways. 

Remember, we live not by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God (Dt. 8:3; Mt. 4:4).

12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13 And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” 16 And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

17 And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18 And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19 They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” 20 He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. 21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 

Intro: The Lord's Supper is one of the most peculiar things we do as Christians. As we do it, what should we be thinking about? What should we do?

I. LOOK UP to the God who planned his own death (v. 21). It was written that Jesus would suffer and die. Therefore, he was in full control, exactly where he wanted to be, all according to plan. His death was deliberate.

II. LOOK IN to see our need for his death (v. 17–21). By not immediately revealing who would betray him, Jesus intentionally forces his disciples to examine their own hearts. We are all capable of betrayal, like Judas. We all need a Savior, because of our sin. 

III. LOOK BACK to the Lamb who died for our sins (v. 22–24). This is a Passover meal, which commemorated when God's judgment "passed over" each house covered by the blood of a lamb. Notably, at the Last Supper, there is no lamb at the meal; Jesus himself is the lamb! God's judgment would "pass through" him so it can "pass over" those who trust in Jesus. By eating the bread and drinking the cup, we express our faith in Jesus, identifying ourselves with him in his death. 

IV. LOOK FORWARD to the promise of another meal (v. 25). Jesus promises that another meal is coming, and this one will be in the Kingdom of God. There is always another meal, if you put your trust in Jesus.

Conclusion: As we continue to participate in the Lord's Supper, remember all that Jesus did for us in his death, anticipate our future meal in his kingdom, and give thanks!

1. Look up to the God who planned his own death.

-  Why do we believe Jesus is divine?

- By saying that God died at the cross, what do we mean? What do we not mean? (Imagine you are answering this for a non-believer). 

- How is the true God different in nature and character from other so-called deities? 

- Why would God plan the cross?

2. Look in to see our need for his death. 

- Where can you see your own resemblance to Judas? 

- Where are you not obeying Christ in your life? 

- Why did we need Jesus to die for us? 

- Is following Jesus a means to an end for you, or is he the thing worth having? 

- If God stripped you of what you hold dear (like Job), could you say "blessed be the name of the Lord?"

3. Look back to the lamb who died for our sins.

- How would you explain the Passover to a non-Christian friend?

- With the same friend, how would you explain the connection between the Passover and the Lord's Supper? 

- For the Israelites to be spared from God's judgment that night, they had to put the lamb's blood on their house (see Exodus 12:12–13). What do we need to do to be spared from God's judgment? 

- How do we do it?

- How would you explain this to a non-believer? 

4. Look forward to the promise of another meal.

- When you think of Christ's return, do you feel fear, hope, joy or any other emotions? Why?

- Paul tells us that we should be encouraged when thinking about his return (see 1 Thess. 4:18). What is encouraging about it?

- What comfort does the coming Kingdom give to us? 

- How can we be fully present today, while also longing for that glorious tomorrow? 

1. Praise and thank God for our Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ, whose body and blood were given over to death, so that we could receive eternal life. 

2. Ask God to reveal your own heart, especially any areas in which you resemble Judas more than Job.

3. Ask God to help you faithfully serve Christ now, while eagerly awaiting the not-yet (his fully consummated Kingdom).

4. Ask God to show you the people in your life for whom you should pray, and with whom you should share the Gospel, in hopes that they, too––by faith in Christ––will join us at that heavenly banquet.

Thanks for reading the Bible Study Guide! I pray it helps us "continue to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ" (Eph. 4:15).

Sincerely, your brother in Christ,

Tom Hansen, Senior Pastor