Grace Place Sermon Questions

Icebreaker: What is your favorite “kingdom” movie or TV show? What is your favorite “kingdom” time period? Overview: This week we finish our month-long refresher of fundamental Christian beliefs with a study of the kingdom of God. We love a good TV show or movie where the good prince wages war against the bad prince and wins the whole kingdom (and usually a beautiful princess). The people during Jesus’ time had experienced those types of kingdom takeovers. They expected Jesus to be the conquering hero and were surprised when He said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” “Christ rejected the idea of an earthly, carnal kingdom. Every kingdom that has been built by force has fallen; and if Christ’s kingdom were established on the same principle, it would be no better than the kingdoms of this world. An earthly kingdom is inadequate for God’s kingdom.” – Arlo F. Newell, The Church of God as revealed in Scripture . Discussion: Being asked by the Pharisees when th...

Icebreaker: What are you currently reading? Have you or how many times have you read the Bible through? Overview: While attending a Christian retreat, we were taught the practice of Lectio Divina. Basically, you select one Scripture passage which you read slowly, then you read the passage again reflecting on words that stand out to you, after reading the passage a third time you pray for God to speak to you through His Word and repeat back what you heard Him say and finally you thank God and rest in His Word. The Bible is God-breathed and useful for our development as Christians. This week during your quiet time try Lectio Divina using today’s Scripture, 2 Timothy 3:16-17.     Discussion: Read 2 Timothy 3:10-17. Sola Scriptura (Latin: by scripture alone) was a foundational doctrinal principle of the Protestant Reformation held by many of the Reformers, who taught that authentication of scripture is governed by the discernible excellence of the text as ...

Icebreaker: What is your most treasured right as an American? What responsibility goes along with that right? Overview: We cherish our rights as American citizens. We even have a Bill of Rights which guarantees our personal freedoms and preserves the rights of the states and the people. This week as we refresh our understanding of the fundamentals of our Christian faith, we look at the rights and responsibilities of the Body of Christ – the Church. It is uplifting to remember our rights as Children of God in His Body but along with those rights come sobering responsibilities. Discussion: Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, 13:1-13. Ekklesia, the Greek word translated “church” in the New Testament, never refers to a building or structure. An ekklesia was a gathering of people. It meant those whom He brought together and called by His name. The people of God. – Chuck Colson Rights: How do we become a member of the Body of Christ – the church? Why is being a pa...

Icebreaker: How many pumpkin spice items have you consumed this week? What is your favorite fall flavor? Overview: This month’s sermon series digs deeper into the fundamentals of our faith with Fundamentals 2.0. Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews, a highly educated and respected teacher of the law. He knew the fundamentals of faith; yet, he struggled to understand the truth that Jesus revealed to him. Just like our smartphones, Nicodemus needed an upgrade. What does it mean to be saved? Discussion: Read John 3:10-21. Jesus sees us for who we are Pastor Ben played the “Dove Real Beauty Sketches” video to illustrate the difference between how we see ourselves and how others see us. (Find on You Tube by searching Dove or follow this link https://youtu.be/litXW91UauE .) How did Nicodemus see himself? How did Jesus see him? Why do we need to be honest about who we are? See Jesus for who He is Who do we see Jesus to be? Why is it important for us to...