Surprises In The Dirt

The following questions are to be used as a study aid for the sermon preached by Rev. Kimberly Majeski at the Grace Place on Sunday, November 3, 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)

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

Remember some big events that created a lot of dirt: 
Explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger
Collapse of the World Trade Center
Building a new house

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

“We Won’t Be Shaken”  Building 429

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

Jonah 3:6, Isaiah 52:1-2

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

Big disasters and big changes create a great deal of dust and dirt.  Ashes or dust is a sign of repentance and mourning.  Like the people of Israel, we have to shake off the dust, quit our whining and be the person God created us to be.  There may even be some surprises in the dirt!

How did the people of Israel get stuck in the dust?

Why where they mourning when they were God’s people?
Who do you know that is stuck in the dust?
How do you resist change?
How can changes bring about good things?
Tell of a time when you were surprised by good that came from a bad situation.
What is God planning for you?

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

Pray for new community groups that will be forming, their leaders and hosts.