"A Meal Before the Movement: From Supper to Spirit"

Foundational Texts: Luke 22:14-20; Luke 15:17-32

Sermon in a Sentence

The Lord’s Supper is not just a meal of remembrance, but a divine invitation for prodigals to come home, receive the Father’s grace, and rise in the Spirit’s power to join the movement of God.

Introduction

Jesus often used the simplest act of sharing a meal to reveal profound spiritual truths. In the Upper Room, on the night before his crucifixion, our Lord shared a meal before the movement - the Last Supper that would lead to the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost. And in one of his most beloved parables, Jesus tells of a father who prepares a feast to welcome home a wayward son. These stories may seem separate, but together they show us a powerful parallel: before every great movement of God, there’s an invitation ot come to the table. The same Upper Room that hosted the Last Super became the place where the disciples waited and received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Likewise, the prodigal son’s journey back home culminated in a celebratory supper that marked a new beginning. In this sermon, “A Meal Before the Movement: From Supper to Spirit,” we will weave together Luke22 (the Lord’s Supper) and Luke 15:17-32 (the Prodigal Son’s homecoming banquet) to discover how God’s table of grace fuels the movement of His Spirit. No matter how far you’ve wandered, God invites you to His table. No matter how long you’ve been waiting for revival, the journey begins with an intimate encounter with Jesus. Today, with an evangelistic heart, let’s explore three powerful truths from these scriptures - truths that will draw you to Christ and inspire you join His ministry movement.

“The Lord’s Table is not for the perfect, but for the repentant who hunger for grace.”

Coming to your senses — The Metanoia Moment

In the parable of the Prodigal Son, the turning point comes in a pigpen, Jesus says “he came to himself” (Luke 15:17 ESV), meaning the young man finally came to his senses. The Greek word for repentance, metanoia, literally means “a change of mind” — a complete turnaround in thinking and purpose. In that filthy pen, the prodigal experiences metanoia: he sees his life clearly, recognizes his sin, and remembers his father’s goodness. He decides to get up and go home. This is the metanoia moment each of us must have — realizing that life apart from God leaves us starving and that even the “servants in my father’s house have bread enough to spare, and here I am starving to death? (Luke 15:17 NIV). Notice that the son rehearses his repentance speech: “I will arise and go to my father and say, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you” (Luke 15:18-19). True repentance is not just feeling sorry: it’s a decision to arise and return. When we approach the Lord’s Table, we, too, are called to examine ourselves and repent (1 Corinthians 11:28). Before the movement of restoration, there must be the meal of surrender at God’s altar. The Last Supper itself was instituted for sinners in need of grace — Jesus broke the bread and said, “This is my body, given for you” (Luke 22:19), indicating that he was offering Himself to pay our sins. An evangelistic church is a repentant church, full of people who have had that pigpen epiphany and turned back to God. Consider the prodigal: he went from starvation to a feast, but it started with surrender. He didn’t presume any rights; he came humbled, ready to confess. Likewise, when we “come to ourselves,” we realize our deep need for the Savior. The good news is that God has already prepared a meal of grace for our return. Jesus’s death and resurrection set the table for our forgiveness. You can’t join God’s movement until you’ve came to His table in surrender.

“Grace meets us at rock bottom. When you finally come to your senses, you’ll find the Father’s table already set for your return. Instead of seeking a table that you can afford or that can afford you; seeking the Lord’s table that accepts you whether you can afford to sit there or not.”

A Seat at the Table — The Father’s Welcome Home

The moment of repentance is met with the miracle of God’s welcome. Jesus describes the prodigal’s return like this: “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). Can you picture it? The son is trudging up the road rehearsing his apology, and his father runs to him before a single word comes out! The Greek term for “had compassion” is splagchnizomai (σπλαγχνίζομαι), which conveys a deep, gut-wrenching mercy — the kind of love that aches for the beloved. The father’s embrace and kiss signify complete acceptance before the son can even finish confessing. This is the heart of our God. He runs toward the repentant sinner with open arms.

In fact, the original text hints at how undeserved this grace is. The son had lived “riotously” or “dissolutely.” The Greek word used is asṓtōs (ἀσώτως) , derived from sōzō (σώζω, “to save”) with an negating prefix essentially calling the son “unsaveable” . Yet here comes the father, proving that no one is truly unsaveable when they turn back toward home! The father doesn’t even let him finish the speech. He interrupts to command the servants: “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it; let’s have a feast and celebrate!” (Luke 15:22-23). Each item has significance:

Robe: a symbol of honor, covering the son’s shame with the father’s dignity.

Ring: a sign of authority and sonship, restoring his identity as a beloved child, not a servant.

Sandals: a sign of freedom – slaves went barefoot, but sons wear shoes.

The father was not content to merely forgive; he celebrated the reconciliation with a feast. This joyous welcome parallels the Lord’s Supper in a beautiful way. On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus welcomed his disciples to the table, even those who would soon falter. He broke bread with Peter, who would deny Him, and even Judas, who would betray Him. Why? Because the meal wasn’t a reward for good behavior; it was an invitation of grace. In Communion, Jesus invites unsaveable sinners to sit and eat with Him because His sacrifice makes salvation possible for all. “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28). The word “covenant” (Greek diathēkē, διαθήκη) tells us that through Jesus’ blood, God has made a binding promise to welcome and forgive those who come to Him by faith. 2 Just as the prodigal’s father killed the fatted calf to celebrate, our heavenly Father provided the Lamb of God, Jesus, whose blood takes away our sin so we can celebrate forgiveness. Every time we approach the Communion table, it’s a prodigal party – a celebration that we who were lost have been found (Luke 15:24). It’s the Father saying, “My child was dead and is alive again; was lost and now is found. We must celebrate!” (cf. Luke 15:32). Remember, the older brother in the parable refused to join the feast because he didn’t understand grace – he thought in terms of earning favor. Let’s not make that mistake. None of us earned a seat at God’s table; it’s given by grace. To gather around the Lord’s Table, “you don’t have to be perfect, only repentant” . The Father’s welcome is wide open to anyone who turns from sin and trusts in Jesus.

“No matter how far you’ve run, the Father’s love runs farther. He has a seat saved for you at His table of grace. At the Lord’s table there is balm for your bruise...calm for your chaos...deliverance for your bondage...forgiveness for your sin...grace for your guilt...healing for your sickness...joy for your journey...peace for your spirit...there is not only room at the cross; there is room at the table.”

(Scripture: Romans 5:8 God demonstrates His love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. The Father doesn’t wait for you to clean up – He runs to meet you and cover you with Christ’s righteousness).

3. From the Table to the Movement – Fueled by the Spirit

When God brings us to His table and fills us with His grace, it’s not the end of the story – it’s the beginning of a movement. The prodigal son’s story doesn’t end with the feast; it launches a new chapter of restored relationship and purpose in the father’s house. Imagine that young man the next morning – wearing his father’s robe, ring on his finger, new sandals on his feet. He woke up not as a hired servant, but as a restored son with a future. In the same way, the Lord’s Supper was a meal that led to a movement. The Last Supper was their last fellowship opportunity After the Last Supper, Jesus went to the cross and rose again, then instructed His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit. Fifty days after Passover, on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit of God was poured out on those same disciples who had shared the bread and cup with Jesus . They were filled with power (dýnamis, δύναμις) from on high and transformed from weary, frightened men into bold witnesses (Acts 1:8, Acts 2:1-4). The Holy Spirit (pneúma ἅγιον) turned a small gathering in an upper room into a global movement that is still growing today – the Church of the living Christ!

Never forget: the feast fuels the movement. We are forgiven and welcomed not just to sit at the table forever, but to go out into the highways and hedges to invite others in. Jesus said, “As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you” (John 20:21). After restoring Peter (who had failed and wept bitterly), Jesus shared a meal of fish with him by the sea and then commissioned him, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17). In Scripture, meals often precede mission. Likewise, our communion with Christ empowers our commission for Christ. When we’ve been fed by the bread of life and filled with God’s Spirit, we carry the invitation of God’s table out to a hungry world.

Think about the celebration in the father’s house – the music, the dancing (Luke 15:25). That celebration wasn’t meant to stay contained in one house; in Jesus’ ministry, every restored life became a testimony to the community. The father in the parable said, “Let’s celebrate,” and that joy surely spread to the whole household. In the same way, when we experience the joy of salvation, the Holy Spirit moves us outward to spread the good news. The Father’s house is not a private party – it’s a launching pad for ministry. He creates “a new community of men and women who regularly break bread together to celebrate the new life they have through Jesus” . We, the Church, are that community – a family of former prodigals turned ambassadors for Christ. The table of grace sends us on the mission of grace.

So what is God calling you to do after you’ve dined on His mercy? Perhaps He’s calling you to serve, to share your testimony, to love the outcasts, or to join a ministry team. The Spirit who fills you will also fuel you to fulfill God’s purpose. Don’t be like the older brother, standing outside the house complaining – be part of the celebration and the invitation. Let the joy you’ve received move you to action. The early disciples “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer… and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42,47). A meal before the movement, and then the movement grew from that meal! Today, God is still adding to His family and sending out His family to bring more in.

“The feast of forgiveness becomes the fire for our mission. God fills us at His table so we can fuel the movement of His love in the world.”

(Scripture: Acts 1:8 – “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses…” We are fed by the Word and empowered by the Spirit to be witnesses – from the table to the ends of the earth.)

Homiletical Closing Illustration: “The Invitation That Changed Everything”

Let me close by painting a picture for your heart.

A young man once received a letter from his estranged father. They hadn’t spoken in years. There was pain, misunderstanding, and absence. But the letter said:

“Son, I know I’ve failed you. But if you’re willing to forgive me, meet me for dinner. I’ve prepared the table. I’ll be waiting for you at 7 PM. I won’t beg, but I will be there. Whether you come or not—I’ll be at the table.”

The young man wrestled with it. Pride said, “He wasn’t there for me—why show up now?” Pain said, “He abandoned me—why bother?” But something in his spirit said, “Go. Just go.”

He walked into the restaurant at 7:05, unsure of what he’d see. And there he was—his father. Tears in his eyes. Arms open. Table set. Meal prepared.

The son sat down. He didn’t even know what to say. But as they broke bread, something broke in him. Years of pain started to heal. A relationship began to be restored. The father looked at him and said, “You came. That’s all I needed.”

Church—that’s what the Lord’s Supper is.

It’s the Father saying, “I’ve set the table. The meal is ready. I gave My Son to bring you home. Whether you’ve been faithful or not, I’ll be here. Whether you feel worthy or not, the seat is still yours.”

The question is—will you come?

Will you sit at the table of grace? Will you eat the bread of forgiveness? Will you drink from the cup of power? And once you’ve dined—will you rise and go tell the world what He’s done?

Because this is more than a meal—it’s a moment. More than a table—it’s a turning point. More than bread and wine—it’s the breaking and the beginning.

“He prepares a table before you not just in the presence of your enemies—but in the presence of your excuses, your past, and your fear. And He’s still saying, ‘Come.’”

Now is your moment. Come to the table. Rise with power. Walk in purpose.

Altar Call – Invitation to Come Home

As we bow our heads in this sacred moment, I want to speak first to those who feel far from God. You might feel like you’re in a distant country spiritually, separated by a wasteland of mistakes and pain. But “while you are still a long way off,” your Father in heaven sees you and has compassion (Luke 15:20). He has been waiting for this very moment. If you’re ready to come home to God, to turn from your sin and trust in Jesus, I invite you right now to respond. You can step out of your seat and come forward as a physical step of faith, or if you’re joining us online or in your seat, pray these words from your heart:

“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against You. I’m not worthy to be called Your child. But I believe you sent Your Son Jesus to die in my place and rise again. I turn from my sin and I come home to You. Please forgive me, clothe me in Your grace, fill me with Your Spirit, and make me new. Thank You for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

If you prayed that prayer sincerely, based on the authority of God’s Word, you are forgiven and restored. The Father has wrapped you in the robe of Christ’s righteousness. Welcome home! We rejoice with you – in fact, the Bible says there is rejoicing in heaven right now over each sinner who repents (Luke 15:7). You have a seat at the table.

Now, I also want to speak to those who are already believers. Perhaps you’ve been at the table, but God is calling you to step into the movement – to serve, to witness, to go deeper in ministry. Don’t be an observer in the Father’s house when you could be a participant in His mission. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead and ignited the early church at Pentecost lives in you. He’s prompting you to use your gifts, to love the lost, to invite the prodigals of our day to the table of the Lord. If that’s you, I invite you to a moment of surrender as well. Pray in your own words, offering God your “yes.” Say, “Here I am, Lord. Send me. Use my life for Your glory.” When you leave this table, you leave empowered – carrying the bread of life to a starving world, carrying the light of the Spirit into the darkness.

A meal has prepared us for a movement. As we conclude, let’s remember the image of the Father’s joyous feast. Let’s become a church that is both welcoming at the table and unstoppable in the movement. There’s a seat for everyone, and there’s a mission for everyone. From supper to Spirit – from communion to great commission – God is drawing us in and sending us out.

Come to the table, receive the Father’s embrace, and rise up in the Spirit’s power to change the world. This is your invitation. This is your moment. The Father’s arms are open, the table is set, and the Spirit of God is ready to propel you forward. Amen.