Worship Around the Table: Sharing Meals and Communion in Microchurch

As we study Scripture in our Microchurch as an act of worship, it quickly becomes obvious that Jesus spent a lot of time sharing meals. He ate not only with His disciples, but also with ordinary people.

Alongside Stonecreek Church, we have begun experimenting with “Community Meal” mission at a local school. It began in September and will continue through December.

Our hope is that church and unchurched people will discover the blessing of sharing a meal together, community, as they journey towards discovering Jesus together, worship.

Jesus Meets Us Around the Table

Jesus said:

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20

There is something powerful about that picture. Jesus does not simply invite us to listen to Him. He invites us to open the door and share a meal with Him.

As we commit to expressing worship in and through our Microchurch, we begin to discover three wonderful rhythms:

1. Hearing His voice

How might we hear His voice together? How might we become so close to Him that we begin to sense His desire for us?

2. Opening the door

What personal and group rhythms might we learn to practise together that help us open the door wide to His presence?

3. Sharing the meal

How might we experience the richness of sharing a meal with Him? A meal that enriches and satisfies us, becoming so meaningful that His presence is undeniable.

All of these are expressions of worship.

What Can We Learn from the Last Supper?

As we consider these questions, let us glimpse one such meal where Jesus ate with His disciples. We know this event as the Last Supper.

Sharing a meal together that includes bread and wine or juice is one of the sacred practices that Jesus instructed us to continually observe. The other is water baptism.

Both remind us of His death and resurrection. They lovingly draw us back to worship Him, celebrate His love for us and recognise the significance of His work of redemption on our behalf.

So, what might this look like in your Microchurch?

Consider sharing a meal together and including communion as part of that meal.

Then take some time to reflect on the experience.

Ask yourselves:

• How did we include an awareness of Jesus in the meal?

• How easy or difficult was it to keep the conversation centred on Jesus?

• How did sharing our stories together prompt us to ask how Jesus might respond?

• What did we notice about one another as we shared the meal?

• How might we make this a regular rhythm in our Microchurch?

Perhaps worship does not always need to look like what we traditionally imagine.

Perhaps sometimes worship looks like opening the door, pulling up a chair, sharing a meal and discovering Jesus together around the table.