Grace Place Sermon Questions

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: What is the nicest thing someone has ever done for you? What is the nicest thing you have ever done for someone? Overview: I saw a billboard on a church that read: “Do for one person what you wish you could do for everyone.” I may not be able to give everyone a gift or shower everyone with love, but I can do it for one person. The Apostle Paul instructed Titus that we should be ready for “every good work” and “show perfect courtesy toward all people.” Division and discord are breaking out all around us trying to snuff out the fire of the Spirit! To keep the blaze of the Holy Spirit burning, we need to treat others with the goodness and loving kindness of God, even if we start small. Discussion: Read Titus 3:1-11. Causes of division and discord: Quetta’s testimony:   A few years ago, I suffered a fractured relationship with another person in our church because of an action they took in which they felt justified. I felt justified as well and o...

Icebreaker: What is your dream car? When have you been tempted to spend money on a luxury item? Prayer: During this series on prayer, determine to spend more time in personal prayer each day. As a group, pray before your discussion. Start a prayer log to record requests and answers. Check the church’s weekly email blast for needs to add to your log. Overview: Temptation can make us do things we wouldn’t normally do. I once bought an expensive purse during a “retail therapy” session after a difficult day at work. I didn’t need the purse. I didn’t really like the purse. Once I came to my right mind, I returned the purse. It would have been better had I prayed in my weak moment for God to rescue me from my temptation instead of trying to salve my hurt feelings with pretty things. An expensive purse is a harmless example of a momentary temptation. Sometimes the results of temptation are more hurtful and have ramifications that can span generations. Heavenly Father deliver...

Icebreaker: How long have you attended Grace Place? What brought you to the congregation? Overview: Read 1 Corinthians 15:58. If you have been in small group, Sunday school or Wednesday night class with me when the sermon discussion questions are used, you will know I try not to make a big deal out of the fact that I am the one who writes this curriculum weekly for the church. It is not that it is a secret or that I am embarrassed. The fact is that this is my service, my Do Something, to God and the church. God has given me an ability to write and I am willing to use it to His glory and purpose. Writing for the church is not a burden; it is a privilege.   I recently heard Jim Lyon, General Director of Church of God Ministries, speak and he mentioned how they use Socratic questions, named for the Greek philosopher, Socrates, in their radio ministry to help the listener learn Biblical truths. After the service, I told him that I had been writing what I hoped are S...

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 Lead Pastor Tommy Dove at the Grace Place on Sunday, July 30, 2017.  Past sermons are available offline at www.nashvillechurch.com .  Click on “Media” to view the video. Weekly Warm-up: What was your favorite part of back to school? What was your least favorite part of back to school? How would you feel about going back to school as an adult? Weekly Overview: Learning to love as God loves takes a lifetime or perhaps an eternity.  We get glimpses of God’s love but, for the most part, we never understand the true depth of His love.  Have you ever had faulty windshield wipers during a thunderstorm?  You can sort of see but not as clearly as you want or need to.  Our understanding of God’s love is cloudy.  But, someday, when we stand face to face with God, all will be made clear.  I love that! Weekly Dis...

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 Lead Pastor Tommy Dove at the Grace Place on Sunday, July 23, 2017.  Past sermons are available offline at www.nashvillechurch.com .  Click on “Media” to view the video. Weekly Warm-up: How are you spending your hot, summer days? What outdoor activity do you have to do but hate? What outdoor activity do you do because you love it? Weekly Overview: At the end of my mom’s journey with dementia, she was bedridden and could not speak.  The day before she passed, her tech told me something amazing and wonderful.  My mom said, “I love you,” to those who cared for her.  How could that be?  I have pondered that inconceivable fact much in the five years since then and here is what I know – love remains.  Somehow.  Someway.  God is love.  When we have God, we are love.  When all else is stripped...

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 Pastor Jon Green at the Grace Place on Sunday, July 18, 2017.  Past sermons are available offline at www.nashvillechurch.com .  Click on “Media” to view the video. Weekly Warm-up: Who do people say you sound like? How would you characterize your voice?  (deep, squeaky, sultry, etc.) What are the different ways you use your voice? Weekly Overview: We went to church with a woman who lost her voice box due to illness.  After her surgery, her lips moved and breath came out but there was no sound.  It was like she was whispering but there was no sound at all.  Amazingly, we could still understand her because we knew her.  We had heard her speak and knew her voice.  We knew the patterns of her language and the way her lips formed her words because we were familiar with her speech.  She had lost her vo...

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, July 9, 2017.  Past sermons are available offline at www.nashvillechurch.com .  Click on “Media” to view the video. Weekly Warm-up: What was the last new skill you learned? How often are you required to re-train at your job? What new skill would you like to learn? Weekly Overview: Christianity is not really a religion; it is a relationship.  Attending a certain church or following a set of rules is not what is required.  Jesus said we are to love God first and love others more than we love ourselves.  It sounds simple but it is not easy. Weekly Discussion Questions: Read 1 Corinthians 13:2-3, Acts 10:9-20, Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37 What was God telling Peter in the vision? Why was this such a radical idea? What value is theology and doctrine? ...

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, April 23, 2017.  Past sermons are available offline at www.nashvillechurch.com .  Click on “Media” to view the video.  For more information on participating in a Life Group study, contact Pastor Jon Green. Weekly Warm-up: Each person must choose one body part to be and defend their choice. Have you ever had a body part out of commission? How did the rest of the body feel about it? Weekly Overview: No man (or woman) is an island regardless of how independent we might want to be.  We need each other.  We were designed to work, live and play in groups.  We are born into families.  We learn from an early age in our families how to interact with others to accomplish goals beneficial to the group.  God put us in churches for the same reason.  We...

Daily devotionals have been prepared to accompany the First Quarter Series, BROKEN.  They ae 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 Pastor Tommy Dove at the Grace Place on Sunday, January 15, 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 small group study, contact Pastor Jon Green. Weekly Warm-up: What skill did you have as a child that you can no longer do? What skill did you have as a child that you wish you still had? Watch Weekly Video: (optional) Weekly Overview: (skip if video...

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, August 7, 2016.  To get the most from these questions, go to http://www.nashvillechurch.com and click on “Media” to either stream the current service or listen to a previous sermon. 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 participating in a small group study, click on "Life Groups" at the top of www.nashvillechurch.com. Fellowship: Icebreaker: What does back to school mean to you? Homework and bedtimes? Vacation and fall sports? How did you feel about back to school as a child? Scripture: Matthew 5:7 and 9, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Lesson: In the 1980’s sitcom Full House (and now Fuller House ), Uncle Jesse exclaims, “Have mercy!” when the children get into crazy predicaments.  We have all had those moments of exaspera...

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, April 24, 2016.  To get the most from these questions, go to http://www.nashvillechurch.com and click on “Media” to either stream the current service or listen to a previous sermon. 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 participating in a small group study, click on "Life Groups" at the top of www.nashvillechurch.com. Fellowship: Icebreaker: Which different religions have you encountered? Tell about a relationship you have had with someone of a different religion. How did you live out your beliefs? Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 Romans 14: 12-23 Lesson: In our multi-cultural society, we have all met someone whose beliefs did not match up with ours.  It is sometimes tricky to live up to our personal beliefs without be...

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 participating in a small group study, click on "Life Groups" at the top of www.nashvillechurch.com. Fellowship: Icebreaker: Did you wear your “I’m a Missionary” badge out in public last week? What response did you receive? How did you feel wearing it? Praise Song:  (Optional) “Pass it On”  (Find on GP Community Groups Facebook page) Scripture: Proverbs 20:29, Jeremiah 9:23-24, 1 Corinthians 1:30 Lesson: If you are fortunate enough to live long enough, you will discover there is nothing new under the sun.  Fashions come and go, technology is obsolete overnight, life changes but God’s mission does not change.  Whether we are old or young, our mission is to live a life of obedience and share God’s love with the people around us.  Pass it on to every generation! What characteristics describe you...

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, September 13, 2015.  To get the most from these questions, view the service at http://www.graceplace.us and click on “Streaming.”  From there you can watch or 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 the week, upcoming events) Icebreaker: (Get to know your fellow believers a little bit better using this week’s topic) Who is/was the oldest person you ever knew? How old is/was your oldest relative? How do you plan to celebrate your 100 th  birthday? Scripture: (Read the word together – use different readers, different versions, ju...

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, August 30, 2015.  To get the most from these questions, view the service at http://www.graceplace.us and click on “Streaming.”  From there you can watch or 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: Icebreaker: Predict the future – 2065: How will we communicate? What will transportation be like? How will the church adapt? Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:9; 15:50-58 Lesson: It is hard to predict the future.  All we have to go on is how life has changed in the past.  One thing is for sure; however, our spiritual future.  We have seen what our future holds and the futu...