Skip to main content

HOLLYWOOD HOLIDAYS: The Kindom's Family Vacation


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, December 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)

Icebreaker: (Get to know your fellow believers a little bit better using this week’s topic)
How do you decorate your home for Christmas?
What do you use to decorate your tree?
What is a Christmas tradition you remember from your childhood?

Worship: (Optional for communities who have the time and talent)
“O Christmas Tree”

Scripture: (Read the word together – use different readers, different versions, just read it)
Matthew 1:18-24
 
Lesson: (Delve deeper into the Word and into the sermon using open-ended questions)
Have you ever thought about how Joseph was called to be Jesus’ father?  Both Joseph and Mary received visits from an angel proclaiming Jesus’ birth.  God chose Joseph, a descendant of King David, to be Jesus’ earthly dad.  That was a big assignment!

What kind of person do you think Joseph was?
Why do you think God chose Joseph?
How did Joseph try to make the first Christmas perfect?
What makes Christmas perfect to you?
How is your church family special to you?
What responsibility do you have to protect and nurture your fellow believers?
How can you use Christmas to show God’s love to your Christian family?
 
Prayer: (Share each other’s burdens, become a community of believers)
Think about ways your group can share the real heart of Christmas with the community.  Ideas may be to serve food at the Salvation Army on Christmas, participate in Road to Grace at the church, buy gifts for an Angel Tree child or go caroling in your neighborhood.

 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Small Group or Personal Bible Study Questions

 The best way to use this archive is to use the "Search" feature and just type in the topic or book of the Bible you would like to study. You can also look through the list of topics in the "Labels" section. If you would like to follow a series, click on the "Archive" for publish dates. I hope you find some useful information here. Back several years ago, I had the crazy idea to volunteer to help our pastor by writing questions each week to accompany his sermon. We had just formed small groups after going through Rick Warren's "Purpose-driven Church" study. Our pastor was new to us and wanted to create a sense of unity by having all adults studying the same topic as the sermon for the week. I volunteered to help out and he was crazy enough to let me. I did not know what I was getting into or how far it would take me. God knew, however.  The result was about ten years of writing weekly study materials for our church. One series, Broken, was pu...
Post a Comment
Read more

STEPS OF FAITH

Only the passage of time can judge how far we have travelled and how well we have followed the Lord in steps of faith. Time goes quickly and slowly simultaneously. We encounter tremendous obstacles along the way such as leaders with moral failings and a mountain of debt and the obstacles seems unsurmountable; yet, we put one step in front of the other placing our faith in God. “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” ― Corrie ten Boom   It takes courage and steadfastness to keep going. We have no choice really. We can’t give up! We will keep going in faith until the battle is truly won and Heaven is our home. An old choral hymn by Carlton Pearson says it well: We've come this far by faith Leaning on the LORD Trusting in His Holy Word He never failed me yet Oh' can't turn around We've come this far by faith . Discussion: What emotions did you feel today as the church building mortgage was burned? So we are alway...
Post a Comment
Read more

EMOTIONAL ISSUES: Precious Memories

Icebreaker: Note: Not everyone in your group will have precious memories of their mother. Some in your group may not have known their mother. For women who never had a child, it can be a sad reminder of empty arms. Be sensitive to everyone’s situation.   Overview: On a trip to Ephesus, Turkey, our tour group visited a restored, stone house overlooking the Aegean Sea that is believed by many to be the house where the Apostle John took Mary, the mother of Jesus, after Jesus’ death on the cross. Mary lived in this tiny, mountainside home the rest of her life. No one can say for sure if this dwelling is the actual home of Mary, but I can tell you that when I stepped inside, I was overcome with an emotion that I cannot explain. Mary was a real person who lived and loved her children. She was just like me and millions of other mothers except one of her children just happened to be the Son of God. What precious memories she stored up in her heart! Discussion: Read John...
Post a Comment
Read more