Cell Group Meeting 36
Little Children- Cell Church
1. God's View of Community
Welcome (Ice Breaker)
Can you think of a time when you met a group of people who had something you wanted to be a part of?
Worship
Grant is leading tonight
Word
1. Homework. Did everyone read Matthew 1-4? Any problems? Any questions?
2. Have there been opportunities to talk to people about Jesus?
3. We are starting a new topic this week. About Cell Church and based on Ralph Neighbour's book “Christ's Basic Bodies.” Neighbour was a key founder of the cell church movement. Recommend the book especially the Kindle version. About values not information, cell group about transformation. Church is community not institution. Hand out papers with definition on it:
Christ's Basic Bodies
A community formed and baptised by the Holy Spirit. Each member is led by the embodied Christ, who edifies and reveals his presence, power, and purpose through them.
What strikes you about this definition? Do you think we are there yet? Making progress? Fail to thrive?
4. Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-17, 27-28. How does God see the church? What does this passage teach us about community or belonging together?
5. Generally speaking, how does the wider church do at generating this kind of unity?
6. Read Matthew 18:18-20. What sort of power does the church hold? What is the quorum for such a body to be together?
7. What does it mean for Christ to be in the midst of us?
8. When you think of church as community, totally united in faith together, what feelings do you experience?
9. What sort of things need to change in our thinking or in our hearts for this to become possible?
10. What do we need to pray about?
Witness
Pray for people on the prayer list
Housekeeping/ Homework
Who would like to organise worship next week?
Where will we meet?
Read Luke 1-3, and come with any questions you might have.
Look for opportunities to share the gospel.
Cell Group Meeting 37
Little Children- Cell Church
2. Body Parts in the Right Proportion
Welcome (Ice Breaker)
What is the biggest crowd you have ever been a part of?
Worship
Word
1. Homework. Did everyone read Luke 1-3? Any problems? Any questions?
2. Have there been opportunities to talk to people about Jesus?
3. Last week we talked about Community and the cell as “Christ's Basic Body.” Any thoughts about this? Re-read Ralph Neighbour's definition and discuss.
4. Can you think of some of the “one another” commands in scripture? Can you see how they can only operate in a small intimate community? Include confess to one another, pray for one another.
5. Some things are best done in a larger group. Cells as fractals-- build up to clusters, congregations, movements.
6. Read Acts 2:42-47. Note the two sizes of meetings. How many believers are there at this stage?What do you think they did in the two groups?
7. Generally what are the relative advantages of large groups and small groups?
8. As a church how can we improve what we do? What are you willing to contribute to this?
9. If time, read some of Ralph Neighbour's descriptions of cells, clusters, congregations.
10. What do we need to pray about?
Witness
Pray for people on the prayer list
How about a Yarrie Lake trip during the holidays?
Housekeeping/ Homework
Who would like to organise worship next week?
Where will we meet?
Read John 1-3 and come with any questions you might have.
Look for opportunities to share the gospel.
Cell Group Meeting 38
Little Children- Cell Church
3. Ishmael and Isaac
Welcome (Ice Breaker)
What was one part of Christmas/ New Year that you particularly enjoyed this year?
Worship
Word
1. Homework. No homework this week!
2. Have there been opportunities to talk to people about Jesus?
3. Last year we were talking about Community and the cell as “Christ's Basic Body.” Any thoughts about this? Re-read Ralph Neighbour's definition and discuss.
4. Read Genesis 15:1-6, 16:1-4, 15-16. What do you think of the comment in 15:6 and the subsequent actions? What are some factors that might have you go from great faith one day to unbelief another day?
5. Read Genesis 21:1-21. How old was Ishmael when Abraham sent him away?
6. In some ways Ishmael represents what might be good for a time but needs to be let go of so that the best thing can come in. In what ways can the good thing become the enemy of God's thing?When have you experienced this process in your life?
7. How can churches fall into the trap of holding onto “Ishmael”? How can we avoid that trap?
8. Reformation, Pentecostal renewal- changed signs and practices but kept the old wineskin. New wineskin is about community experiences in small groups. Not so new- Wesley. Need to understand that church is not Sunday morning. Church is the community of faith. Cell is primary, celebration is gathering of cells.
9. Pray for one another.
Witness
Prayer list.
Yarrie Lake on Australia Day?
Housekeeping/ Homework
Who would like to organise worship next week?
Where will we meet?
Read Psalms 51-60
Cell Group Meeting 39
Little Children- Cell Church
The “One Anothers”
Welcome (Ice Breaker)
When was one time when you were forced to depend on somebody else?
Worship
Word
1. Homework. Did everyone read Psalms 51-60? What stood out in these psalms? Was there anything you did not understand?
2. Have there been opportunities to talk to people about Jesus?
3. Is there anything that people do not understand or have trouble with accepting about the concepts of cell church we have been discussing?
4. Brainstorm- can you think of the “one another” commandments in the New Testament?
4. Read Galatians 6:1-10. How does Paul describe relationships within the church?
5. What are some practical ways we can do this in this group?
6. What would our church look like if we took this passage seriously?
7. What would you find hardest to obey in this passage?
8. Pray for one another.
Witness
How can we help or bless people on our prayer list this week?
Housekeeping/ Homework
Who would like to organise worship next week?
Where will we meet?
Read Psalms 61-70