Grace Community

1. Spurgeon tells a story of an old minister who heard a sermon by a young man. When the young man asked the old minister what he thought of it, he was rather slow to answer. At last, he said, “If I must tell you, I did not like it at all; there was no Christ in your sermon.”  
“No,” answered the young man, “because I did not see that Christ was in the text.”  
“Oh!” said the old minister, “but do you not know that from every little town and village and tiny hamlet in England there is a road leading to London?”  

In Luke 24:27, Jesus goes back to the writings of Moses and the Prophets to help unfold the mystery of His death. What does this tactic of Jesus, coupled with Spurgeon’s quote, reveal about the Bible?  

How does this help us better understand and read Scripture?  
How might an overemphasis on this approach lead us to read Scripture inaccurately?  

2. It has been said that the Bible is a "Him" book... it’s all about Him!  
How do Genesis 1:1 and Revelation 22:21 bring this truth together, serving as the perfect bookends of Scripture?  
(See John 1:1-2 and John 1:14.)  

3. In Romans 1:16, Paul says, *“The gospel is the power of God unto salvation.”*  

Why is it necessary, once we are in Christ, to continue preaching the gospel to ourselves daily?  
(Consider 1 Corinthians 15:1-2; Colossians 2:6-7; Galatians 1:6-9.)  

4. The message of the gospel is often seen as culminating at the cross.  

How is this view incomplete, and why does our hope beyond the cross serve as an essential element in understanding the full message of the gospel?  
(Consider Philippians 3:20-21 and 1 Peter 1:3-4.)  

5. How might the words of Jesus in Luke 24:25, *“Oh foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe,”* present both a challenge and a warning for each of us?  

1) How would you explain what it means to “let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ”? Why should the gospel message create in us a desire to pursue righteous living? (Consider 1 John 5:1-3)

2) Philippians 1:27 describes the church as standing firm in one spirit and striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. How can we, as a church, build a community that stands firm and strives side by side? In what ways can we build stronger unity within our church, and how could elders help in that goal? Why is it so important to build a strong unified community that is centred around solid teaching of the gospel of Christ? (Consider 1 Peter 5:8-9, Philippians 3:2, Colossians 3:16)  

3) Striving for the faith of the gospel can mean a defensive, supportive stance, but it could also mean an offensive, proactive stance. What are some ways our church could strive to take the faith of the gospel to the community around us? What are some ways you have seen other churches do this well?

4) Do you think it is important for external missions to have a high profile within the church? Why? How could we, as a church, foster a greater missions focus?

5) What are some ways that Grace Community could encourage a greater prayer life in our community?

Home group questions:

Unity doesn’t mean uniformity, so how can the peace of Christ ruling in our hearts (acting as an umpire) help us stay united when there are cultural, social, educational, and even theological differences? How should our knowledge that we are part of the body of Christ influence our relationships with fellow believers? (Consider 1 Corinthians 12:21-27, Hebrews 10:24-25.)


Some might say that it is more important to pursue peace above doctrine, but how does verse 16 speak against that? (Consider also 1:28 and Titus 1:9.) What has the book of Colossians shown us about the importance of sound teaching? (1:9-10, 2:1-8.) What can happen when the church turns aside from the word of Christ and instead teaches human traditions and philosophies? (Consider 2 Timothy 4:1-4.)


How would you define what it means to do everything “in the name of Jesus”? Why should the name of Jesus be the motivating factor in our lives? (1 Peter 2:9-12.) How should the name of Jesus shape our words and deeds, both in church and out in the world?


Why do you think thankfulness is such a central part of the Christian life? How can thankfulness promote unity within the church? Discuss how we might grow in thankfulness and encourage each other to be thankful.