LIVING IN A COMMUNITY OF GRACE: Healthy community

The following questions are to be used as a study aid for the sermon preached by Pastor Tommy Dove at the Grace Place on Sunday, September 1, 2013. To get the most from these questions, go to https://soundcloud.com/#graceplacehermitage and listen to the service first.

These questions can be used in your private Bible study during the week or as the topic for a small group study. For more information on hosting or leading a small group study, click on "GP Small Groups" under "GP Ministries" at www.graceplace.us.

Fellowship: (Break bread with your community, share life from last week, announcements for next week)

THIS WEEK, LITERALLY BREAK BREAD WITH YOUR GROUP.  If your fellowship includes a meal with bread, have someone bless the food and physically break the bread.  Pass the bread around the table first before any other food is passed.  If you don’t have a meal or don’t normally have bread, buy a loaf of bread or some rolls that can be broken and passed.  This could be done after the scripture is read.

Icebreaker: (Get to know your fellow believers a little bit better using this week’s topic)

Vote:  Bagels or English muffins?  White or whole wheat?  Hard or soft rolls?  Biscuits or cornbread?
Have you or a family member ever made bread?  Who?  What kind?

Worship: (Optional for communities who have the time and talent)

“If we are the Body” Casting Crowns

Scripture: (Read the word together – use different readers, different versions, just read it)

Acts 2:42-47

Lesson: (Delve deeper into the Word and into the sermon using open-ended questions)

The setting of today’s scripture is from right after Pentecost.  Everyone was fired up and feeling the love.  The end result was “and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

What do you think the time in the scripture felt like?

How does your group compare to that time?
How does our church community compare?
Pastor Tommy shared some examples of going without:
•                 Learning without application
•                 Fellowship without discipleship
•                 Worship without life change
•                 Busyness without connection
•                 Outreach without care for the Body
When do the “withouts” become obstacles to growth?
How does getting folks connected to a group solve the “withouts?”
What is our next step in adding new folks to our group (or helping start a new group)?

Prayer: (Share each other’s burdens, become a community of believers)