Skip to main content

HOLLYWOOD HOLIDAYS: Not Home Alone


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 8, 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 like to shop?
Did you participate in Black Friday, Small Business Saturday or Cyber Monday?
How do you feel when separated from family in a store or mall?
What is the biggest store or mall you have ever visited?

Worship: (Optional for communities who have the time and talent)
“Never Alone” One Sonic Society

Scripture: (Read the word together – use different readers, different versions, just read it)
Deuteronomy 31:1-8
 
Lesson: (Delve deeper into the Word and into the sermon using open-ended questions)
Moses had lead Israel out of Egypt and had been with them on their adventure through the desert.  Now, he was going to leave them.  Moses told them that God would go ahead of them but that Joshua was going to be there, too.

How do you think Israel felt about Moses leaving them?
Why did he tell them to be strong and not be afraid?
Why is it important for God to go ahead of us?
How do you feel about being alone?
When have you needed God’s presence most?
Who does God use as stand-ins for Him?
Why do we prefer someone with skin?
 
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

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS: Giving the Best Gifts

Icebreaker: What was your favorite gift this Christmas? What gift are you returning? Overview: We caught a bit of Dolly Parton’s “Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love,” on TV this week. Based on Dolly’s life, it tells the story of a particularly hard winter and a special Christmas gift. Spoiler Alert!) Dolly still believes she was visited by her guardian angel that Christmas. Perhaps we miss receiving the best gifts because we are not waiting and watching for them. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. -- Matthew 2:10b-11 ESV. No matter who we are – wise man, country music icon or a humble writer – we are born to worship and bring glory to Him through the gifts we give. Discussion: Read Matthew 2:1-12. What made the wise men (and the shepherds) so determined? When has God pursued you? W...

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...

I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS: Tough Love

Icebreaker: What is your favorite Christmas movie? What is your favorite Christmas movie quote? Overview: In the Christmas classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” angel Clarence Odbody is forced to lovingly deliver some tough love when George wishes he had never been born. Clarence grants his wish lamenting that there must be an easier way to get his wings. After George has a frightening experience of what life would have been like had he never been born, Clarence says, “ Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?” In the end, George realizes how wonderful his life truly is despite its difficulties. Truth without love is brutality, and love without truth is hypocrisy.   -- Warren W. Wiersbe God loved us so much that He sent His Son as the Baby Jesus to redeem us. He has placed preachers, teachers and a church in our lives to give us direction so we can mature in our faith. He disciplines us wi...