Grace Point Church

We hope you enjoy and benefit from Grace Point Church's messages. Thank you for taking time to listen!

We hope you enjoy and benefit from Grace Point Church's messages. Thank you for taking time to listen!

Message Discussion Guide - 7.26.20

Read James 5:1-3 with your group.

· James begins a new section of his letter in which he harshly condemns "you rich" people. He begins by warning them of misery headed their way. Why do you think James issues such a stern warning?

· James describes a group of people who have hoarded their wealth. Is James condemning the very possession of wealth? Look at James 1:9-11.

· Do you consider yourself wealthy? Why or why not?

· Do you agree that money can be dangerous?

Read James 5:4-6 with your group.

· Now that we’ve read this passage, let’s look at James’ main point. James describes the ways these people have trusted in their wealth and it has led to some serious sin.

· Devon said “The reason why money is so dangerous is because it can quickly become the thing we trust most.” Have you ever found yourself putting trust in wealth alone? What happens when that is the case?

· What do you think it means that our hearts follow our treasure?

· If you are a follower of Jesus, do you think that means we should use our wealthy differently? How so?

· If your bank account is the best account, what does it say about you right now?

· How does Christ set us free from the worldly way of consumption and hoarding of wealth?

Message Discussion Guide - 7.26.20

Read James 5:1-3 with your group.

· James begins a new section of his letter in which he harshly condemns "you rich" people. He begins by warning them of misery headed their way. Why do you think James issues such a stern warning?

· James describes a group of people who have hoarded their wealth. Is James condemning the very possession of wealth? Look at James 1:9-11.

· Do you consider yourself wealthy? Why or why not?

· Do you agree that money can be dangerous?

Read James 5:4-6 with your group.

· Now that we’ve read this passage, let’s look at James’ main point. James describes the ways these people have trusted in their wealth and it has led to some serious sin.

· Devon said “The reason why money is so dangerous is because it can quickly become the thing we trust most.” Have you ever found yourself putting trust in wealth alone? What happens when that is the case?

· What do you think it means that our hearts follow our treasure?

· If you are a follower of Jesus, do you think that means we should use our wealthy differently? How so?

· If your bank account is the best account, what does it say about you right now?

· How does Christ set us free from the worldly way of consumption and hoarding of wealth?

7.19.20 Message Discussion Guide – “Win, Lose, or Peace”

Read James 3:13-18 with your group.

· James defines worldly wisdom using these words/phrases: bitter envy and selfish ambition. We have all sinned at one time or another by harboring one of these. How have you guarded against bitter envy and/or selfish ambition?

· James then describes Godly wisdom using these words: pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, merciful, fruitful, impartial, and sincere. Which of these characteristics do you feel comes most natural to you? Which one have you been asking (or need to ask) God to grow in you?

· Mike said a roadblock to peace is when noise drowns our wisdom. He said when that happens, it’s time to turn off the noise and turn up the wisdom of God. How do you accomplish making this happen?

· Another roadblock to peace that Mike mentioned is when passion triumphs over principle. Most arguments aren’t over right or wrong, but rather MY DESIRE being superior to YOUR DESIRE. When was a time when your passion trumped principle? How do you maintain principle over passion when it comes to your day to day conversations?

Read James 4:1-10 with your group.

· Now that we’ve read this passage, let’s circle back to Mike’s blueprint for “getting back on track.” He lists five ways, based on what James writes in this passage:

1. Get out of the driver’s seat – “submit yourselves to God” (verse 7)

2. Silence the lies – “resist the devil” (verse 7)

3. Nurture your relationship with God – “draw near to God” (verse 8)

4. Remove the dirt – “cleanse your hands” (verse 8)

5. Realign your heart – “purify your hearts” (verse 8)

· When you consider all five points, what are you doing daily to either get back on track or stay on track?

· What do you think it means to truly submit to God?

· In what way will you think and live differently as a result of today’s message from James?

7.19.20 Message Discussion Guide – “Win, Lose, or Peace”

Read James 3:13-18 with your group.

· James defines worldly wisdom using these words/phrases: bitter envy and selfish ambition. We have all sinned at one time or another by harboring one of these. How have you guarded against bitter envy and/or selfish ambition?

· James then describes Godly wisdom using these words: pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, merciful, fruitful, impartial, and sincere. Which of these characteristics do you feel comes most natural to you? Which one have you been asking (or need to ask) God to grow in you?

· Mike said a roadblock to peace is when noise drowns our wisdom. He said when that happens, it’s time to turn off the noise and turn up the wisdom of God. How do you accomplish making this happen?

· Another roadblock to peace that Mike mentioned is when passion triumphs over principle. Most arguments aren’t over right or wrong, but rather MY DESIRE being superior to YOUR DESIRE. When was a time when your passion trumped principle? How do you maintain principle over passion when it comes to your day to day conversations?

Read James 4:1-10 with your group.

· Now that we’ve read this passage, let’s circle back to Mike’s blueprint for “getting back on track.” He lists five ways, based on what James writes in this passage:

1. Get out of the driver’s seat – “submit yourselves to God” (verse 7)

2. Silence the lies – “resist the devil” (verse 7)

3. Nurture your relationship with God – “draw near to God” (verse 8)

4. Remove the dirt – “cleanse your hands” (verse 8)

5. Realign your heart – “purify your hearts” (verse 8)

· When you consider all five points, what are you doing daily to either get back on track or stay on track?

· What do you think it means to truly submit to God?

· In what way will you think and live differently as a result of today’s message from James?

James 3:1-12

It [your dragon] can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire… [our dragon] can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

James 3:5-6 [The Message]

3 WARNINGS for your WORDS

1. Your words hold power; your words express weakness v. 1-2

Therefore, let your words be few. Ecc 5:2

2. Your words are small; your words are huge v. 3-5

5 ways your SMALL tongue makes a HUGE impact…

1. Too many words

Ecc 5:3; Job 13:5 (the Message); Job 16:3; Ecc 5:7

2. Gossip

Leviticus 19:16

3. Lies

Revelation 21:8

4. Flattery

Psalm 12:3

5. Grumbling

1/2 spoken 1/2 concealed complaint

Exodus 15: 24; 16:2; 17:3; Phil 2:14

LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Grumblers don’t solve problems, they multiply problems

3. Your words take life; your words give life v. 6-12

Matthew 12:36; Prov 18:21; 15:1; Ephesians 4:29

Discussion Questions

1. Have you or someone you know been adversely affected by cyberbullying? why is it so easy to say something online about someone vs. saying your offense it to the person's face?

2. Mike mentioned common pitfalls with our words: speaking too much (too many words), gossip, lies, flattery, and grumbling. Are there any other common ways we misuse our words? How have you seen these damage a relationship?

3. Can you think of a time when grumbling made the problem worse than finding a healthy solution?

4. What is the best way to stop a person when you hear them grumbling? How can you steer them toward a better way with their words?

5. Who has been the most life-giving with their words in your own life? How did their words give you life?

6. Can you relate to a time that someone's words wounded you deeply, could be a wound that you are still living with?

7. Close with reading: Proverbs 18:21. Take time to write a note of encouragement to 1- 3 people this week, thanking them for something, they said or did that made a positive, life-giving impact in your life.

James 3:1-12

It [your dragon] can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire… [our dragon] can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

James 3:5-6 [The Message]

3 WARNINGS for your WORDS

1. Your words hold power; your words express weakness v. 1-2

Therefore, let your words be few. Ecc 5:2

2. Your words are small; your words are huge v. 3-5

5 ways your SMALL tongue makes a HUGE impact…

1. Too many words

Ecc 5:3; Job 13:5 (the Message); Job 16:3; Ecc 5:7

2. Gossip

Leviticus 19:16

3. Lies

Revelation 21:8

4. Flattery

Psalm 12:3

5. Grumbling

1/2 spoken 1/2 concealed complaint

Exodus 15: 24; 16:2; 17:3; Phil 2:14

LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Grumblers don’t solve problems, they multiply problems

3. Your words take life; your words give life v. 6-12

Matthew 12:36; Prov 18:21; 15:1; Ephesians 4:29

Discussion Questions

1. Have you or someone you know been adversely affected by cyberbullying? why is it so easy to say something online about someone vs. saying your offense it to the person's face?

2. Mike mentioned common pitfalls with our words: speaking too much (too many words), gossip, lies, flattery, and grumbling. Are there any other common ways we misuse our words? How have you seen these damage a relationship?

3. Can you think of a time when grumbling made the problem worse than finding a healthy solution?

4. What is the best way to stop a person when you hear them grumbling? How can you steer them toward a better way with their words?

5. Who has been the most life-giving with their words in your own life? How did their words give you life?

6. Can you relate to a time that someone's words wounded you deeply, could be a wound that you are still living with?

7. Close with reading: Proverbs 18:21. Take time to write a note of encouragement to 1- 3 people this week, thanking them for something, they said or did that made a positive, life-giving impact in your life.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

What is the leading indicator that we have a great nation? (Proverbs 14:34)?

What is righteousness?

What does God expect from our leaders (Proverbs 16:12)

How do we become righteousness as a person and as a nation (1John 1:9)

What will keep a nation from being great? (Proverbs 14:34)

what is an example of NORMALIZING SIn that we ultimately LEGALIZED and SPIRITUALIZED (saying it must be okay with God)

How can we promote UNITY in our divided land at the same time call out the sin and promote righteousness?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

What is the leading indicator that we have a great nation? (Proverbs 14:34)?

What is righteousness?

What does God expect from our leaders (Proverbs 16:12)

How do we become righteousness as a person and as a nation (1John 1:9)

What will keep a nation from being great? (Proverbs 14:34)

what is an example of NORMALIZING SIn that we ultimately LEGALIZED and SPIRITUALIZED (saying it must be okay with God)

How can we promote UNITY in our divided land at the same time call out the sin and promote righteousness?