BROKEN: Broken for a Purpose

Daily devotionals have been prepared to accompany the First Quarter Series, BROKEN. They are available at the Welcome Center or online at www.gpbrokenstudy.blogspot.com. The following questions can be used as a weekly recap in a small group setting or as a personal study aid for the sermon preached by Senior Pastor, Tommy Dove, at the Grace Place on Sunday, March 26, 2017. Past sermons are available offline at www.nashvillechurch.com. Click on “Media” and then “BROKEN” to view the video.

Small group members are encouraged to bring their completed daily devotionals to their weekly group sessions to share their BROKEN discoveries with their group. For more information on participating in a Life Group study, contact Pastor Jon Green.

Weekly Warm-up:

How are you at jigsaw puzzles?

What activity have you done that required small pieces be put together to make a larger one? (Such as car parts, quilting, assembly line, stained glass, etc.)

When have you had to break something to fix it?

Watch Weekly Video: (optional)

Weekly Overview: (skip if video is used)

We have come to the final week of our study, BROKEN. Hopefully, you have gained some insight into your brokenness and the brokenness of others from a biblical perspective. We can never know why it happens. We just know that brokenness is a part of the human journey. It is a part of our journey of faith that will end in eternal life with Jesus.

When my mother was struggling with dementia, she would become frustrated by life’s difficulties and ask me repeatedly why life had to be that way. My always answer was, “This is not heaven.” We know two things: God does not send evil our way and God does not waste anything. He will find a way to use even the broken shards to make something new. It is not our job to figure out the why. Our job is to remain faithful to God’s purpose for our often-broken lives.

Our purpose in brokenness is to show the power of God. Our all-powerful God could have created us with a non-breakable, superman body but instead He created us out of dust -- a treasure in a breakable jar of clay. We are designed to be broken. Why are we upset when we break? Paul says not to lose heart! This is only temporary. Some day we will be unbreakable!

Weekly Discussion Questions: (Italicized questions come from daily devotional)

Read 2 Corinthians 4:8-18

How is our brokenness a reminder of the death of Jesus?

What will it be like to have an unbreakable body?

How does the power of Jesus give you strength to press on?

How can you turn a broken situation into something with purpose?

How can you help others feel hopeful for the future?

How does sharing fellowship with other believers lighten your burdens?

What activities can you participate in that will help encourage your fellow believers (and non-believers)?

What have you learned from broken things that you can share to help others along their journey?

Group Prayer:

Pray for direction during brokenness.

Pray for purpose in brokenness.

Pray to be an encourager.

Small Group or Personal Bible Study Questions

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