Grace Place Sermon Questions

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: Have you ever borrowed something and not returned it? What was it? Why didn’t you return it? Overview: Our lives are an accumulation of all the people, places and things we have experienced. I like to say we are “Just making memories” but the truth is we are also accumulating stuff. The stuff is not necessarily good or bad. It is how we use the stuff that matters. Are we accumulating to make our lives and the lives of others better or are we accumulating stuff so we can have more than someone else? It is not all about us. Don’t let selfishness put out God’s fire. Discussion: One Heart and Soul Read Acts 4:32-5:1-11. What was life like for those living with one heart and soul? What was the common perspective they shared? Describe life based on money and things. Describe life living by power and grace. Selfless and Selfish Living What is the danger of partial surrender? What role does money play in your life goals? Are you controlling money or is money c...

Icebreaker: What are examples of places where excitement is contagious? How do people respond to the excitement? Overview: Excitement is contagious. Sales organizations use the excitement of rewarding a few superstars with plaques and trips as a way to motivate all the sales team. When surrounded by cheering, successful sales people, everyone catches the vision of what is possible. When we are living a life set on fire for Christ, it is impossible for the flame not to spread to those around us. Discussion: Read Acts 4:1-22. Formula for Fire What were Peter and John doing that got them thrown in jail? What gave Peter the boldness to speak so plainly to the rulers? Fueled by Boldness How did the fire of the Holy Spirit help spread the gospel? Why were the religious rulers in such a difficult position? What did they command Peter and John NOT to do? You can’t stop it! What was Peter’s response to the command? How is the gospel spread? When hav...

The news in April of 2019 that Notre Dame was on fire came as quite a shock. Maybe they meant Notre Dame, the university in Indiana. Surely Notre Dame in Paris, the historic, Gothic cathedral from the 12 th century, was not on fire. That Notre Dame would have fire suppression. It is too precious to risk loss in a fire. Sadly, the beautiful, iconic church caught fire due to an electrical short-circuit and, in order to preserve its original design, the attic was not equipped with firewalls or sprinkler systems. This week there is a new concern for a collapse of the remaining structure due to extreme summer heat. [1] The visual image of a church on fire is disturbing whether it is a priceless cathedral like Notre Dame or small, neighborhood church down the street. Probably more disturbing should be a church that is NOT on fire. We want to see the Holy Spirit’s flaming power moving in our midst. The entire church met God in the fire. On the day of Pentecost, they were covered with ...

When you don’t know what to buy someone for Christmas, try pottery lessons. It helps if the recipient has some artistic ability, but all that is required is a desire to try something new and no concern for getting dirty. Potters are natural seekers of fire. Especially raku potters. They craft their pottery from a carefully selected clay since the clay used determines much of the character of the finished piece. [1] A special raku glaze containing copper is applied and, though it appears white, will produce a coppery green finish when exposed to fire.   In raku firing the glazed pottery is heated in the kiln until it glows bright red. It is immediately placed in a metal trash can full of newspaper strips that ignite on contact with the fire hot pottery. The can is quickly sealed with the lid to allow the fire to burn off the oxygen. When the smoke escapes, the lid is lifted, and the pottery is covered with water to prevent further oxygenation. The copper in the glaze turns gr...

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? ...

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, February 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: What was your last big purchase? How do you recycle, repurpose or reuse? What can you do to promote good stewardship of things? Watch Weekly Video: (optional) Weekly Overview: ...

The following questions are to be used as a study aid for the sermon preached by Pastor Jon Green at the Grace Place on Sunday, October 25, 2015.  To get the most from these questions, view the service by going to http://www.nashvillechurch.com and clicking 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 participating a small group study, click on "Life Groups" at the top of www.nashvillechurch.com. Fellowship: Icebreaker: Where were you born? How many places have you lived? What was your favorite home?  Why? Scripture: Acts 9:1-19a    Saul’s conversion Acts 9:19b-31  Paul’s preparation Acts 9:32-43    Peter’s invasion Lesson: Our annual Grace on the Go will be Sunday, November 8 th .  We will meet for worship at 9 a.m. and then invade o...

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, October 11, 2015.  To get the most from these questions, view the service by going to http://www.nashvillechurch.com and clicking 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 participating a small group study, click on "Life Groups" at the top of www.nashvillechurch.com. Fellowship: Icebreaker: For appointments, are you usually?  a) early, b) on time or c) late. Would you rather?  a) block time on calendar for everything, b) set phone reminders for important stuff,   c) keep it all in your head or d) what’s a calendar? Tell about a divine appointment you have had. Scripture: Acts 16:1-34 Lesson: The jail at Philippi is a deep, dark cave...

The following questions are to be used as a study aid for the sermon preached by Grant Comp at the Grace Place on Sunday, August 23, 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: Have you ever participated in a protest? What was the cause? What is the most courageous thing you have ever done? Scripture: Acts 2:14, 36-41 Lesson: Did you see the news report about three Americans who thwarted a terrorist attack on a train from Amsterdam to Paris?  Two of the three were military servicemen.  When they saw a man with a gun, they did what they had ...

The following questions are to be used as a study aid for the sermon preached by Rev. Tommy Dove at the Grace Place on Sunday, February 15, 2015. To get the most from these questions, go to 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 last week, announcements for next week) Icebreaker: (Get to know your fellow believers a little bit better using this week’s topic) Did you read fairy tales as a child?  Did you read them to your children? How do you feel about Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny? How do you feel about stories about magic and sorcerers? Scripture: ...

The following questions are to be used as a study aid for the sermon preached by Rev Tommy Dove at the Grace Place on Sunday, January 18, 2015. To get the most from these questions, go to 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 last week, announcements for next week) Icebreaker: (Get to know your fellow believers a little bit better using this week’s topic What do you think is your greatest accomplishment? How do you like to be acknowledged for accomplishments? Why do accomplishments matter to us? Scripture: (Read the word together – use different readers, different vers...