Parents & Teens Celebration Dinner | A Dinner to Remember God's Goodness

Hey everyone! Tonight we're gathering as a family to pause, remember God and His goodness, and give thanks.

We're going to look at three key moments in Scripture: the first Passover in Egypt, Jesus' last meal with his disciples, and a mountain conversation where Jesus talks about his own "Exodus." These stories help us understand God's heart— He rescues, He provides, and He walks with us through everything. Tap each section below to read together.

1. Read Together Scripture

📜 Exodus 12:1–14 (The First Passover)

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And YHWH said to Moses and to Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,

"This month shall be for you the beginning of months;

it shall be for you the first of the months of the year.

Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying,

'On the tenth of this month,

each man shall take for himself a lamb

according to the house of his fathers,

a lamb for each household...

And they shall take some of the blood

and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel

of the houses where they eat it...

For I will pass through the land of Egypt on this night,

and I will strike every firstborn in the land of Egypt,

from human to animal;

and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—

I am YHWH.

And the blood shall be for you as a sign

on the houses where you are.

And I will see the blood,

and I will pass over you,

and there shall not be among you a plague of destruction

when I strike in the land of Egypt."

What's happening here: God tells Israel to mark their doorways with the blood of a lamb. When the Lord sees the blood, He "passes over" and rescues His people from judgment and from Pharaoh's slavery. They couldn't free themselves—God had to do it.

🍞 Matthew 26:17–29 (The Last Supper)

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Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,

the disciples came to Jesus, saying,

"Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?"

And while they were eating,

Jesus took bread,

and after blessing it, he broke it

and gave it to the disciples,

and said, "Take, eat;

this is my body."

And he took a cup,

and after giving thanks,

he gave it to them, saying,

"Drink from it, all of you,

for this is my blood of the covenant,

which is poured out for many

for the forgiveness of sins.

I tell you,

I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on

until that day when I drink it new with you

in the kingdom of my Father."

What's happening here: Jesus celebrates Passover with His disciples. But He takes the bread and cup and says, "This is my body... this is my blood of the covenant." He's showing them (and us) that He is the Passover Lamb who brings a new kind of freedom—not just from Egypt, but from sin and death itself.

⛰️ Luke 9:29–31 (Jesus' "Exodus")

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And as he was praying,

the appearance of his face was altered,

and his clothing became dazzling white.

And behold, two men were talking with him,

Moses and Elijah,

who appeared in glory

and were speaking of his departure

[literally: "exodus"],

which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

What's happening here: This is at the Transfiguration. Moses and Elijah (two huge figures from Israel's past) show up and talk with Jesus about His "Exodus"—the Greek word used here is literally exodos. Jesus is the new and greater Moses, leading a new Exodus at Passover—not just out of Egypt, but out of sin, death, and spiritual darkness.

💡 Tip: Have someone read one passage out loud, or take turns summarizing each story in your own words. The goal is to hear God's story together, not just check a box.

2. The Main Point: Remembering God's Rescue and Provision

In the original Passover, God saw His people suffering under Pharaoh's cruelty and He acted. He made a way out when there was no way out. The lamb's blood on the doorframes was God's sign— "I see you. I'm protecting you. You're mine."

Centuries later, at the Last Supper, Jesus took the Passover bread and cup and gave them new meaning. He was pointing to something even bigger: God was making a way through death itself. Jesus would become the ultimate sacrifice, opening the door to forgiveness and new life with God.

Tonight, as we share this meal together, we're remembering both stories. We're thanking God for rescuing us from things we can't rescue ourselves from— whether that's sin, fear, shame, or anything else that keeps us in bondage. God is in the business of making ways out.

💭 What enslaves us today?

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One of the strongest forms of "slavery" today isn't a Pharaoh with a whip—it's the quiet pressure to prove yourself. These modern slave-drivers tell us we're not enough unless we perform:

Social Media & Comparison: Everyone else seems happier, more confident, more successful. We curate a perfect version of ourselves online.
Approval Addiction: Basing our worth on likes, comments, or what people think of us.
Performance Pressure: Grades, sports, achievements—feeling like we're never quite enough.
Fear & Anxiety: Worry about the future, about fitting in, about measuring up.
Shame & Guilt: Past mistakes that keep replaying in our minds.

Jesus says: "You are mine. You are loved. You don't have to earn your worth."
Jesus leads us out of comparison, through the wilderness of insecurity, and into a life shaped by God's love instead of people's approval.

So what does this mean for us?
This dinner is about gratitude. We're pausing to recognize God's goodness in our lives— the ways He's provided, protected, and walked with us. We're also bringing our struggles to Him, trusting that He can free us from whatever holds us captive.

3. Share Around the Table Thanksgiving

Now it's time to share. Go around and let each person express gratitude or talk about where they've seen God's provision. This isn't about having perfect answers—just be real and listen well to each other.

Pick one or two questions to answer:

What is one thing God has already freed me from in my life, or something I'm asking Him to free me from right now?
Where have I seen God's provision this year? Something I know I couldn't have pulled off alone?
What is one "slave-driver" in my life right now? (This could be pressure, fear, a sin pattern, or a distraction that's pulling me away from God.)
What's one word or short sentence of thanks to Jesus for His sacrifice?

💡 Optional: After sharing, each person can say a short prayer like: "Lord, thank you for freeing me from ______. Help me trust you more with ______."

4. Close in Prayer Together

You can have one person pray this for everyone, or take turns reading one line each:

"God of Exodus and God of mercy, thank You for seeing us, knowing us, and loving us. Thank You for the ways You've rescued us, provided for us, and walked with us through hard times. Tonight we remember Your goodness and faithfulness. We bring You our gratitude for all You've done, and we also bring You the places where we still need Your help. Show us where we need freedom, and teach us to trust You more. In Jesus' name, amen."