This is a small group companion to Highrock’s More than a Meal sermon series. It’s designed to be used with a small group, but it can also be used individually. Within the companion, you will find space each week for notes on the sermon and Scripture text, reflection questions, and prompts to discuss your reflection with others. 

Group conversation always benefits when members have spent time reflecting before the meeting. The LISTEN section will prompt reflection as you listen to the sermon. The READ questions ask you to reflect on scriptures that relate to the topic for the week. REFLECT offers a starting point for group conversation and RELATE invites you to think about how what you discussed impacts how you engage with the world.

When considering the reflection questions, notice those that resonate with you and spend some time considering them. The goal is not to answer everything or have all the “right” answers―instead, let these questions serve as a starting point for curiosity in your conversation with God and others. See the Appendix of this guide for more resources and opportunities to engage with this study.

We hope that all small group discussions are lively and enriching, but sometimes tough topics will be discussed. The Conversation Covenant* is an agreement to hold respect and grace toward all participants within a small group, no matter the conversation. Please adhere to the Conversation Covenant, or think about how to create one that fits your context.

I pledge: 

• To act in good faith, with curiosity. I will assume the best about my conversation partners when entering into our groups. I will give the benefit of the doubt, recognizing that they may know something I don’t. 
• To show respect. I will show respect. I will be polite and give due regard for the feelings and traditions of others. I understand that I do not have to agree with someone to show them respect.   
• To speak the truth. I won’t use rhetorical tricks to try to win an argument. I will speak what I genuinely believe is the nuanced truth. 
• To aim to discover the truth. I will not enter into a conversation with the purpose of changing the mind of anyone to my way of thinking. 
• To focus on what we can change. I will focus on what we can do differently in the future since we cannot change what we did in the past.   
• To take responsibility for the conversation. I will take responsibility for the quality of the conversation and the abidance of the rules both in principle and in spirit.   
• To follow the covenant even when others fail to do so. I will abide by the rules regardless of whether another person breaks them.
• To lighten up and approach the conversation in good humor. I recognize that humor is a hallmark of a constructive, generative conversation and take the conversation in good humor.

*Adapted from https://conversational-leadership.net/conversation-covenant/

Listen

Find sermons on Highrock Online's YouTube channel.

• What are your initial reactions to the sermon? Note any curiosities or questions.
• Note themes, phrases, words of hope, healing, and/or hospitality.
• Are there new qualities of God and/or Jesus that struck you?

Read

Scripture reflection after listening to the sermon.

• Read 1 Corinthians 11:17-34.
• Reflect on themes of Hospitality and Inclusion.

Reflect

Discuss 3-4 of the prompts below with your small group.

• Discuss with your group the observations, curiosities, and/or questions that came up during the Listen and Read sections. 
• Talk about significant meals you’ve shared. What was memorable and why? What is symbolized by sharing a meal with a person or people? What was significant about the meal discussed this week?
• What do this meal and story tell us about what it means to be the Church? What warnings are important to heed?
• What does it look like to incorporate the hospitality and freedom Pastor Dave discusses? What might feel like costs to you? What would feel like freedom?

Relate

Conclude your small group time with these questions.

• What might God be inviting you to do, pray, or consider through this week’s reading and sermon? A next step might be: ______________
• Share how you are feeling invited to practice hospitality this week. It could be through sharing a meal, practicing a hospitable attitude, opening your home, or something different!
• ​Someone (else) I’d like to talk about this with is ______________________

Pray

O God, let us receive your truth just as we’d receive a favorite meal – eagerly and joyfully! Satisfy our deep longings and nourish our spirits through your Holy Word, we ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Highrock Prayer for Illumination, 9/11/22

Listen

Find sermons on Highrock Online's YouTube channel.

• What are your initial reactions to the sermon? Note any curiosities or questions.
• Note themes, phrases, words of hope, healing, and/or hospitality.
• Are there new qualities of God and/or Jesus that struck you?

Read

Scripture reflection after listening to the sermon.

• Read Exodus 16.
• Reflect on themes of Provision and God’s faithfulness.

Reflect

Discuss 3-4 of the prompts below with your small group.

• Discuss with your group the observations, curiosities, and/or questions that came up during the Listen and Read sections. 
• In our culture, where there is constant pressure to have more or feel how much you lack, what does it mean to be satisfied/have enough? 
• How do you find yourself relating to the community in this passage? What would you have struggled with or found comforting about this meal?
• What do you depend on daily? Do you find it satiating for body or spirit? Discuss small or significant things. 
• In seasons of abundance or scarcity, what can you take away from this example of God’s provision in the desert?

Relate

Conclude your small group time with these questions.

• What might God be inviting you to do, pray, or consider through this week’s reading and sermon? A next step might be: ______________
• As you go through your week, prayerfully ask God to show you the provision and faithfulness you haven’t been noticing.
• ​Someone (else) I’d like to talk about this with is ______________________

Pray

O God, you have provided for your people so faithfully in so many seasons of history. Let us feed on your Holy Word, delight in your provision, and know that you have given us what we need most. Amen.

Highrock Prayer for Illumination, 9/18/22

Listen

Find sermons on Highrock Online's YouTube channel.

• What are your initial reactions to the sermon? Note any curiosities or questions.
• Note themes, phrases, words of hope, healing, and/or hospitality.
• Are there new qualities of God and/or Jesus that struck you?

Read

Scripture reflection after listening to the sermon.

• Read Matthew 14:13-21 (present in all Gospels)
• Reflect on themes of Offering and God’s Provision.

Reflect

Discuss 3-4 of the prompts below with your small group.

• Discuss with your group the observations, curiosities, and/or questions that came up during the Listen and Read sections. 
• If you were to name the loaves and fishes you offer to God, what would you say they were? Discuss how you feel God receives them in light of the text and sermon. 
• Do you feel like what you have to offer is ever not enough? What makes that feeling stronger and what helps you overcome that mindset? 
• Consider the implications of having a posture where God can multiply what we offer rather than criticize or minimize it. How could this outlook be a blessing to the church and your community? Would it change how gracious you are with yourself and others?

Relate

Conclude your small group time with these questions.

• What might God be inviting you to do, pray, or consider through this week’s reading and sermon? A next step might be: ______________
• What in your week feels like you don’t have the “loaves and fish” you think you need? Name these as a group and pray together to entrust these to God. Then this week, prayerfully ask God to show you provision and sufficiency. Follow up next week with how this mindfulness went and what you noticed.
• ​Someone (else) I’d like to talk about this with is ______________________

Pray

O God, inspire us as we receive the scriptures now to find satisfaction in Jesus and live in the abundance he creates. Some of us feel like we don’t have enough today – let us be reminded that in Christ we have everything we need. Amen.

Highrock Prayer for Illumination, 9/25/22

Listen

Find sermons on Highrock Online's YouTube channel.

• What are your initial reactions to the sermon? Note any curiosities or questions.
• Note themes, phrases, words of hope, healing, and/or hospitality.
• Are there new qualities of God and/or Jesus that struck you?

Read

Scripture reflection after listening to the sermon.

• Read Luke 14:15-27.
• Reflect on themes of full life and Jesus’ care for the oppressed.

Reflect

Discuss 3-4 of the prompts below with your small group.

• Discuss with your group the observations, curiosities, and/or questions that came up during the Listen and Read sections. 
• What are the roles of mealtimes in your life? Do they tend to be a reminder of connectivity or perhaps not?
• What was the role of the meal in this story? What does this parable highlight about the habits and attitudes of the people?
• Consider your meal habits. Who do you share meals with? Where do you do your food shopping, get takeout, or eat out? Do these patterns reveal anything about communities you might avoid intentionally or unintentionally?

Relate

Conclude your small group time with these questions.

• What might God be inviting you to do, pray, or consider through this week’s reading and sermon? A next step might be: ______________
• What are ways you can practice radical hospitality that models Jesus’ compassion for the oppressed?
• ​Someone (else) I’d like to talk about this with is ______________________

Pray

O God, you invite all people – those with little and those with much – to come and feast at your heavenly table. Let us set aside all that distracts us, that we may follow you more closely, and join you in welcoming more and more at your table. Amen.

Highrock Prayer for Illumination, 10/2/22

Listen

Find sermons on Highrock Online's YouTube channel.

• What are your initial reactions to the sermon? Note any curiosities or questions.
• Note themes, phrases, words of hope, healing, and/or hospitality.
• Are there new qualities of God and/or Jesus that struck you?

Read

Scripture reflection after listening to the sermon.

• Read Luke 19:1-26.
• Reflect on themes of the Unexpected and Restoration.

Reflect

Discuss 3-4 of the prompts below with your small group.

• Discuss with your group the observations, curiosities, and/or questions that came up during the Listen and Read sections. 
• Read the passage together. Which characters do you resonate with: Zacchaeus, the onlooking crowd, another character? Why?
• What can we learn from Jesus’ surprising interaction with Zacchaeus as well as Zacchaeus’ surprising response to Jesus? 
• How might you have felt seeing Jesus pay attention to someone like Zacchaeus the tax collector? Who would be a modern stand-in for his role in this story?
• What can this interaction teach us about being the Church? What does it teach us about the love of God?

Relate

Conclude your small group time with these questions.

• What might God be inviting you to do, pray, or consider through this week’s reading and sermon? A next step might be: ______________
• How can you practice surprising hospitality this week? Whom would it be surprising to? Is there a cost for you to consider: reputation, relationships, or something else?
• ​Someone (else) I’d like to talk about this with is ______________________

Pray

O God, you are exceedingly generous and you spare nothing to care for your people. As we receive your Word now, inspire us to show generosity and hospitality like you do. We ask in Jesus’ name, Amen

Highrock Prayer for Illumination, 10/9/22

Listen

Find sermons on Highrock Online's YouTube channel.

• What are your initial reactions to the sermon? Note any curiosities or questions.
• Note themes, phrases, words of hope, healing, and/or hospitality.
• Are there new qualities of God and/or Jesus that struck you?

Read

Scripture reflection after listening to the sermon.

• Read Luke 24:13-35.
• Reflect on themes of Hospitality and Presence. 

Reflect

Discuss 3-4 of the prompts below with your small group.

• Discuss with your group the observations, curiosities, and/or questions that came up during the Listen and Read sections. 
• How were these men practicing hospitality to this person they thought was a stranger?
• Having their eyes opened to Jesus would have been a huge revelation. Consider together what seeing Jesus after he was crucified would have meant to them.
• Have you ever experienced eye-opening hospitality? Take some time to share your stories.
• How can you break bread with others so that they might experience God’s love? How might this practice also grow your own faith and trust in God?

Relate

Conclude your small group time with these questions.

• What might God be inviting you to do, pray, or consider through this week’s reading and sermon? A next step might be: ______________
• What are ways you or your small group can practice hospitality in your day-to-day lives that offers a witness to God’s love (to your neighbors, family, friends, and even “enemies”)?
• ​Someone (else) I’d like to talk about this with is ______________________

Pray

O God, you show up in unexpected places and offer unexpected gifts of grace and love. Let each of us, through all our senses, experience your presence and your provision as we receive your Word now. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Highrock Prayer for Illumination, 10/16/22

Below are a few resources to look into if you are interested in diving deeper into some of the topics covered in this series. If you need resources that more specifically address your own experience, demographic, or faith journey, please reach out to a Highrock pastor or to smallgroups@highrock.org and we will be happy to help!