Grace Place Sermon 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...

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...

Icebreakers: How did you test the boundaries set by your parents? Where did you travel when celebrating Christmas with family? Overview: In the hysterically funny, Christmas movie, “Elf,” Buddy realizes he is not like the other elves and leaves the North Pole and Papa Elf in search of his real father. His father tries to turn Buddy into a corporate businessman like himself. In return, Buddy teaches his father how to love. “I planned out our whole day. First, we make snow angels for two hours, and then we’ll go ice skating, and then we’ll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse Cookie Dough as fast as we can, and then to finish, we’ll snuggle.” –  Buddy Jesus left Heaven and His Father to come to earth as a human baby to learn from Joseph, His earthly father. The story of the adolescent Jesus staying behind in Jerusalem to remain in the temple shows us that Jesus had to learn how to be a human boy through obedience to his earthly parents. The balancing act we ...

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...

Icebreaker: Who was your protector growing up? What is the biggest threat to your children? Overview: A family who leaves an eight-year old boy home alone while they go on a Christmas vacation are certainly not providing the child with a safe home. It makes for a funny Christmas movie though since Kevin is not your normal eight-year old and is well able to defend his home when it is attacked by criminals. Kevin says, “This is my house, I have to defend it.” He is so good at it that Hollywood made FIVE Home Alone movies. It seems his parents never learned. People change when they hurt enough that they have to change, learn enough that they want to change, receive enough that they are able to change. – John Maxwell Joseph, Jesus’ earthly dad, did a much better job of providing a safe home for his son. He sensitively listened and followed God’s guidance even when it meant uprooting his life to protect Jesus from danger. We have Joseph to thank for providing a saf...

Icebreaker: Who was in charge at your childhood home? Mom? Dad? Grandma? How are chores divided in your home? Overview: In the movie, The Santa Clause,” actor Tim Allen dons a Santa suit and magically appears at the North Pole. He asks the elves, “Who’s in charge here?” and they reply, “You are!” The new Santa is totally overwhelmed by his expanding responsibilities and waistline. The true measure of leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. – John Maxwell Mary’s betrothed, Joseph, found himself in an extremely difficult situation. After careful consideration, he decided on a plan to quietly break his engagement to Mary and let her deal with the unexpected pregnancy alone. God had a different plan for Joseph. An angel appeared in a dream to tell Joseph he was in charge and what his responsibilities would be concerning his new wife and son. When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him. – Matthew 1:24 ESV Discussi...

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...

Icebreaker: Who is the gentlest person you know? What is the difference between gentleness and weakness? Overview: While working for an international company, a Christian was passed over for a promotion because he lacked the degree required for the position. The position was filled by a qualified candidate from an out-of-state branch of the company. The Christian had to work closely with the new hire but was determined not to like him. The office environment was filled with jealousy and rivalry. Management noticed. When the root is bitterness, imagine what the fruit might be. -- Woodrow Kroll As the months passed, the Christian continued to pursue his education and slowly a relationship developed between him and the new hire. The new hire was not a Christian and had a troubled personal life. The Christian became something of a mentor and spiritual adviser to the younger man. He prayed for him and the Holy Spirit began to work in the lives of both men.  ...

Icebreaker: Who is the most talented person you know? What is the difference between talent and gifting? Overview: A young couple fell in love while attending a Christian college. The young man was studying for the ministry while the young woman worked toward a degree in elementary education. By the time they graduated, they were married and headed to their first pastorate at a small, rural church. They were excited and full of plans for their new congregation. There was only one, small problem – the young woman did not play the piano and could not carry a tune in the proverbial bucket. These were skills expected of a pastor wife and much needed in their small congregation. Start where you are, do anything you can do, and do everything you can do, until you find something you must do! That something is probably your spiritual gift. – Jim George She couldn’t play or sing but she could organize, plan, teach and love people into the Kingdom of God so that is what sh...

Icebreaker: Who is the most powerful person you know? What is the difference between personal power and positional power? Overview: The early church did not let persecution stop them from being filled with joy and power from the Holy Spirit. Sometimes (all the time) God wants the best for us but we have to get out of the way and let it happen. A young woman applied multiple times for a job at a Bible publisher. She finally landed her dream job of marketing a new translation of the Bible. A couple of years passed but a downturn in the economy forced the company to lay-off hundreds of people including the young woman. She was devastated and desperate. She took a part time job at a Christian bookstore, tied on a green apron and started selling the very Bible she had helped design. Where was God? What was His plan for her now? Months later she was hired by an international company to market their broad line of consumer products. What got her the job? Her retail experience a...

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...