Grace Place Sermon Questions

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...

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, September 17, 2017.  Past sermons are available offline at www.nashvillechurch.com .  Click on “Media” to view the video. Weekly Warm-up: What principles did your parents teach you? Which one do you wish you had applied better? Which one do you teach others? Weekly Overview: We are truly blessed if our parents taught us obedience and to love God and others from an early age.  Not everyone had Christian parents to teach them these valuable life lessons.  However, it is never too late to learn to love God.  Jesus promised us that God will always be with us in the form of the Holy Spirit if we love God and keep His commandments.  Yes, the love relationship goes both ways.  He loves us but we must love Him and be obedient to Him! Weekly Discussion Questions...

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, July 2, 2017.  Past sermons are available offline at www.nashvillechurch.com .  Click on “Media” to view the video. Weekly Warm-up: What foreign languages have you studied? Which language would you like to learn? Weekly Overview: Most of us realize we should speak to each other with love.  It is easier said than done especially when it is someone with whom we spend a great deal of time such as a spouse or other family member.  If you have read The 5 Love Languages , you may remember that people respond differently based on their love language or their perception of your message.  If you are not speaking and listening with love, your words may sound like a noisy gong to the listener and the message you hear may sound like a clanging cymbal. Weekly Discussion...

The following questions are to be used as a study aid for the sermon preached by Pastor Paul Shields at the Grace Place on Sunday, June 19, 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 was your favorite pet? What was your most unusual pet? What pet would you like to have? Scripture: 1 John 4:7-11 Lesson: My crazy, baby brother says a person can’t really know real love unless they have loved a dog.  Well, I don’t know about that but I do know that if we don’t love God, we can’t really love each other.  We see this exhibited in the actions of lone ass...

The following questions are to be used as a study aid for the sermon preached by Student Pastor, Beverly Robinson, at the Grace Place on Sunday, May 8, 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 was your favorite toy as a child? Why was it so special to you? How did you feel about sharing it? Scripture: 1 Samuel 1: 1-28 Lesson: When we love something, we want to hold on to it tightly like a child clinging to a precious toy.   In this week’s scripture story, Hannah loved Samuel so much; yet, she gave him away to serve in the temple.  God so lo...

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, February 14, 2016.  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 in a small group study, click on "Life Groups" at the top of www.nashvillechurch.com. Fellowship: Icebreaker: What do you love?  (First thing that comes to your mind.) Food you love?  Place you love?  Animal you love? Why do we feel so passionately about these things? What is the difference between like and love? Scripture: John 3:1-21 Lesson: Christians are often criticized for judging others.  Usually, the criticism is not because of a judgement ...

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, November 1, 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: What did you do on Halloween? What was your favorite costume? Share a favorite Halloween memory. Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21 Lesson: Since Halloween is just past, a discussion about love sounds appropriate.  John says “Perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment.”  We love to be afraid when we know it is just for fun like at Halloween....

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, June 14, 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: What is your favorite summer group activity? Who would be in the group? Why would you include them? Scripture: Philippians 2:1-18 Lesson: Have you ever visited another church and instantly felt a bond?  Maybe you have met someone new and felt the unspoken bond of a fellow believer.  As Christians we share in the fellowship of one love, one spirit, one purpose and ...

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, March 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) Who do you consider your mentor?  Why? What do you learn from your mentor? Who considers you their mentor?  Why? Scripture: (Read the word together – use different readers, different versions, just read it) John...

The following questions are to be used as a study aid for the sermon by Rev. Tommy Dove, at the Grace Place on Sunday, August 24, 2014. 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) How do you learn best?  (Audio, visual, tactical, combination) What lasting image do you have from your childhood?  (People, place, activity) How would you feel if you could never forget? Scripture: (Read the word together – ...

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, March 23, 2014. To get the most from these questions, go to https://soundcloud.com/#graceplacehermitage and 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 use to help you remember? What is the most difficult thing you have ever had to memorize? What things are easy for you to remember? What things are hard for you to remember? Worship: (Optional for communities who have the time and tale...

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, March 9, 2014. To get the most from these questions, go to https://soundcloud.com/#graceplacehermitage and 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) How do you remain friends over a long distance? How do you remember friends on special occasions? How do you use social media to stay in touch? Worship: (Optional for communities who have the time and talent) Scripture: (Read the word together – use dif...

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, July 7, 2013. To get the most from these questions, go to https://soundcloud.com/#graceplacehermitage and 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) Yard and garden work is an important part of living in the South in the summertime. What is your favorite yard work? Do you have a garden?   What are you growing in it? What type of yard work did you have to do as a child? At what age did you start mowin...

  The following questions are to be used as a study aid for the sermon preached at the Grace Place on Sunday, February 17, 2013, by Pastor Tommy Dove. To get the most from these questions, go to www.graceplaceonline.us and listen to the sermon first. These questions can be used in your private Bible study during the week or as a basis 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 .   Explore: Have you ever played Charades? What do you like/dislike about the game? Go around your group acting out Biblical characters. (Suggestions:David; Mary, Mother of Jesus; Moses; Saul/Paul; Samson)   Scripture Reference: Ephesians 5:1-20   Excavate: What does imitating God mean? How do you feel about Christians who do not show love? How do people react to light (kindness) shining on their darkness? What is our sens...

The following questions are to be used as a study aid for the sermon preached at the Grace Place on Sunday, July 1, 2012, by Pastor Tommy Dove. To get the most from these questions, go to www.graceplaceonline.us and listen to the sermon first. These questions can be used in your private Bible study during the week or as a basis 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 . Explore: What kind of relationship do you have with your neighbors? What activities does your community sponsor? What benefits do you gain from being a member of community? Scripture Reference:   Romans 12 Excavate: Who is in your community of love? How is a person transformed? What is your responsibility as a member of the community? Why do people have such different gifts and abilities? Extract: What does love in the community...