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BROKEN: Broken Praise

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 Adult Education Pastor, Jon Green, at the Grace Place on Sunday, March 5, 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 does praise make you feel?
What is your favorite way to receive praise?
From whom do you most enjoy receiving praise?

Watch Weekly Video: (optional)


Weekly Overview: (skip if video is used)
Praise for God should bubble out of us.  Oozing from us like a year-round spring that the earth cannot contain.  Our expression of appreciation for God through praise should be continuous and unrestrainable.  Praise is a form of our worship.  Reverence and adoration that is reserved for God alone.  Praise and worship cannot be demanded.  It is voluntary and must come from a place of gratitude. 

When our praise is broken, our relationship with God is broken.  The stream has been stopped up by life’s debris.  We must clear out the blockage and return to our free-flowing, spontaneous praise of our Heavenly Father.   Matt Redman sings a song that expresses our desire for unbroken praise.  “Unbroken praise be Yours, God, forever.  All my praise be Yours, God, forever.  Lord, take this life. Let it become Your throne.  Unbroken praise be Yours.” 

Weekly Discussion Questions: (Italicized questions come from daily devotional)
Read Isaiah 29:13-14
Read Matthew 15:5-9
Why did Jesus call the Pharisees hypocrites?
Broken praise is a symptom of what other problem?
Why must praise come from our hearts not just our lips?
What should constitute our praise of God?
How has God protected you when you made praise and worship a priority?

Read Psalm 51:15-17
What had been the form of worship up to this point?
How did David know that God wanted praise and obedience instead of a burnt sacrifice?
Make a list of ways you can praise God:
How specifically can God use one of these to lead someone to Him?

Prayer:
Prayer is a form of praise!
Pray for unfettered, unbroken praise.

Pray for those who find it hard to praise due to their brokenness.

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