The GraceWorks Sunday Sermons

COMMUNITY GROUPS BUILT ON GRACE  

VISION SERIES -- Acts 2:42-47
September 6, 2026
Sermons by Mark Miller and Kevin Pitts

OPENER: Besides your spouse (if you are married) who knows you better than anyone else? 

• What is one way that your CG has impacted you? How about a friendship that has formed because of CG that you appreciate? 
• On a scale from 1-10, how transparent do you feel comfortable being in our group? Why? 
• What makes it difficult to make friends in your current life stage? How might you reach out to someone in a similar life stage to be a friend?
• What are some people's barriers to getting into a CG? How could we address those? 
• The Word is pillar number one of a CG. Why must this be the foundation? Are there ways we could grow in this?
• True Christian fellowship is another pillar of a CG. What does that look like to you? How do we foster more transparency when we have needs or are struggling? What needs do you have currently that our group might help with?
• Prayer is another vital one. How do you feel about our current "group prayer life"? How could we grow?
• An outward view is also important. What needs might we be able to meet in your sphere of influence to impact the Kingdom?
• What else did you hope we would discuss?

FAMILIES BUILT ON GRACE  

VISION SERIES -- Deuteronomy 6:4-9
September 13, 2026
Sermons by Mark Miller and Kevin Pitts

OPENER: What family member of yours are you most like and how?

• What personality trait(s) did you get from your family of origin? How has that impacted you? 
• "The Lord our God, the Lord is one." How can we protect against idolatry or universalism in our homes? 
• "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." What might this look like in practice? 
• The progression seems to be HEAD knowledge that becomes HEART transformation that leads to HANDS on Christian living. How do we teach this to the next generation? 
• What sort of "formal" teaching have you seen or practiced in your home for biblical training? What are some creative ways to do this? What are some of the obstacles that believers face in Christian education as parents? How can a single person help? 
• What's fun "object lesson" or practical application of Scripture have you been able to use with young people before? 
• What are some ways that singles can be involved in helping families? 
• What bedtime routines or wake-up routines can parents use to apply this text? 
• Verse 8 seems to point to the things we DO and also the things we SEE. What should that look like in the home? 
• What else did you want to discuss? 

Wrap-Up Week Application Questions  

Book of Galatians
August 30, 2026

OPENER: What is your favorite thing to unwrap? (Be specific.) 

Whose testimony this week really spoke to you? And how so?  

 Have you ever shared on a Wrap-Up Sunday? What was the experience like?  

What was your favorite passage? Why? (You might want to give people time to review. Also, you may want to tell them what the next question is going to be in advance.) 

What was the most challenging passage for you? How did God challenge you?  

How will you describe this book in the future? (Imagine a friend asks what the book is about, what it is like, etc.)   

What would you like the pastors to know about this book study that may help them in the future? (We preaching pastors would love if you passed on any feedback.) 

EMPTY LEGALISM OR A NEW CREATION?

Galatians 6:11-18
Aug. 23, 2026
Sermons by Mark Miller and Kevin Pitts

Opener: Anyone have any famous last words?

1. What are some things Christians are tempted to do just to "make a good showing" like the Judaizers? Are there any that you are tempted to do? 
2. The Judaizers were avoiding persecution from the Jewish leaders and their followers. What are you tempted to do/not do to avoid persecution? How can we be ready to endure persecution instead? What does enduring persecution WELL look like? 
3. Paul says the Judaizers were trying to get the Galatians to be circumcized so "that they may boast in your flesh. In what ways are Christians guilty of trying to attain "vicarious spiritual points" through others? Have you ever been forced to do or not do something simply because of how it might look? And if so, what was that experience like? How can we avoid doing this to our families? How can we teach the next generation to walk confidently by the Spirit rather than worrying about what others think about them?
4. Paul says the only thing he wants to boast in is the cross of Christ. What might that actually look like? 
5. What does it mean to you that "the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world"?
6. What does it mean that you are a "new creation" in Christ? How should that impact your life? 
7. What forms of legalism have you seen in the church? What about your own personal experiences with legalism?
8. What else did you take away from the sermon? What might you share as a testimony about Galatians? 

Aug 16, 2026

Galatians 6:1-10

Pastor Mark Miller

Pastor Mark preaches on Galatians 6:1–10, explaining five Spirit-led practices: gentle restoration, humble burden-bearing, generous sharing, personal holiness, and practical goodness. He emphasizes sowing to the Spirit, the law of Christ as love, and the connection between daily choices and spiritual harvest.

The sermon calls believers to care for one another in community, support church leaders, live holy lives, and persist in doing good so that the harvest of the Spirit will come.

Free to Live by the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-26
Aug. 9, 2026
Sermons by Dave Shoffner and Kevin Pitts

Opener: Are you ever tempted to work on vacation? How or why?

1. Paul says it four ways in our passage: Walk by the Spirit, be led by the Spirit, live by the Spirit, and keep in step with the Spirit. Which resonates with you and why? 
2. Read verse 17 again; then read Romans 7:14-25. In what ways do you relate to the "ethical duality" in the soul of the believer? What strategies have been effective for you to obey the Spirit rather than the flesh?
3. As you look at the list of "vices" which one(s) did Holy Spirit convict you of? How can we as a CG help you grow in this area? (Potentially add this to prayer requests at the end of your group?)
4. Discuss the differences between salvation and sanctification (the question of "How can I be saved?" vs. "Who should I be BECAUSE I am saved?")
5. How are you encouraged by the fact that verse 21 is talking about inheritance in the Kingdom of God vs. entrance into the family of God? 
6. The Fruit of the Spirit should be the result of my salvation. Which fruit do you need to work on? How can we help? (Add to prayer list, as well?)
7. What does verse 24 mean to you? How can this help you in your sanctification? 
8. What else did you hope to discuss? What stuck out, surprised you, was new to you, or convicted you?

Lock It In, Live It Out

Galatians 4:21-5:15
Aug. 2, 2026
Sermons by Mark Miller and Brian Bruya

Opener: Describe an experience in which someone tried to "knock you off course" in sports, or another area of life?  

1. Read verses 4:21-4:31.  In light of these verses, and Galatians as a whole, describe the polarities of the two mutually exclusive Gospels of the Law and Grace (hint: bondage - freedom, flesh - spirit, etc.) 
2. One of the Gospels is rooted in mankind's effort and one in God's gift; what are the barriers to rejecting one and accepting the other?  How is it a challenge for you to accept that your performance plays no part in your salvation?
3. What adaptations have you heard (podcast, conversation with a neighbor, knock on the door from a missionary from another religion) that aren't true to the beautiful simplicity of God's Grace Based, Christ Centered Gospel?
   1. If these things have raised questions or doubts, what are you doing to resolve them?
4. Let's get pointed and real...
   1. If you've never placed your faith in Jesus, what is standing in your way?
   2. If you have placed your faith in Jesus, what issue or concern hinders you from standing firm in your faith?
5. You've heard of your freedom from bondage, through Christ, where do you feel trapped or stuck as you try and embrace this truth?
6. Read the closing verses of Chapter 5:13-15.  Paul calls us to serve and love one another, and yes, it can be costly. Where are you challenged to improve in this area?  If you committed to Live It Out this week, what would you do?  Who would you reach out to?   
7. What else did the Spirit prompt in you as you listed and reflected on our sermon last Sunday?

A Pastor's Heart

Pastor Mark Miller

Galatians 4:8-20

July 26, 2026

1. ICEBREAKER: Are you a “wear your heart on your sleeve" kind of person? If so, how has that played out for you in the past?
2. What was Paul encouraging the Galatian Churches to avoid? How were they tempted to revert back to their former life?
3. What have you been tempted to “add” to salvation in the past? Have there been works that have crept into your understanding of faith/salvation?
4. What can we do to be prepared for any sort of infiltration of works/legalism into our Gospel?
5. How can we help people who have allowed for legalism to creep back to their lives or their understanding of salvation by faith alone through Jesus Christ alone or have been deceived by smooth talkers?  
6. How was Paul’s heart for the Galatians expressed in this passage? Did it motivate you in any particular way?           

Galatians 3:15-22
July 12, 2026
Sermons by Mark Miller

Opener: What are some promises that we rely on from others? 

1. What are some implications of the fact that God made the promise to both Abraham and Christ to save mankind and bless us? 
2. Why is it important that the law does not contradict nor nullify the promise God made to Abraham? 
3. Do passages like this cause you to desire to study the Old Testament more or less? Why? 
4. Verse 18 declares that we have an inheritance because of the promise. What do you think that means? How can we start to live each day with a more eternal perspective? 
5. What further thoughts did you have as we examined the deficiencies of the law in comparison with the promise of the Gospel? (The law can diagnose, but not cure. The law was temporary. The law was mediated by mortals.) 
6. What further thoughts did you have as we discussed the benefits of the law? (Praise God it can only diagnose. Praise God it was temporary. Praise God for our Mediator, Jesus Christ.)
7. What further thoughts do you have on vers 22? How is sin a prison? What do you do to conquer sin in your life? 
8. Why is a works-based salvation dangerous? Why is it hopeless? What examples have you seen of this being taught by other religions? What would you say to someone who seems to be depending on "being a good person" to save them? 

Galatians 2:15-3:14 
July 5, 2026
Sermon by Mark Miller

Opener: In your family or friend group, who is most likely to be arrested during a traffic stop? 

1. One of the repeated words which was very important to Paul is "justified." Anyone remember what that term means? What does it mean to you, personally, that you were justified through faith in Jesus Christ?
2. Paul draws clear lines between being justified by faith vs. justified by works of the law. What kinds of works to modern-day believers often rely on to save them? How would you explain salvation by faith to an unbeliever? 
3. What does it mean that "I have been crucified with Christ"? How can a believer be more proactive about living every day with that attitude "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me?"
4. Why would it "nullify the grace of God" and "Christ would have died for no purpose" if "righteousness were through the law"? In what other ways do believers cheapen what Christ did on the cross? 
5. What part does Holy Spirit play in our salvation? How can a believer learn to be more reliant on Holy Spirit?
6. Why do you think Paul quotes the law and the prophets so often in his argument? What Old Testament book has made a significant impact in your life? 
7. How is the law a "curse"? How has legalism affected your Christian walk previously? 
8. What else did you hope we would discuss today? What stuck out?