GCGCNY Cell Plans

God’s Power in your Weakness

This plan is designed to have a Nurturer guide the study, feel free to have other cell members support any of the sections as part of nurturing. All instructions are identified for Nurturer. A separate document (cell content) is meant to be shared.

This cell plan is based on the sermon shared on Sunday, November 10th, 2024.

Prepare Ahead

Opening

Nurturer: If there are new members today joining for the first time. Ask everyone to share their something about themselves.

  • Has it been a while since your cell has reviewed the cell vision statement? Review it together at: Cell Based Ministry

Icebreaker question: In a job interview, how would you answer the question, “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”

Worship

Go into musical worship if someone is scheduled. Continue to ask if members of the cell are willing to in the future.

Please pray for the group to begin the study.

Nurture: For those who would like to lot this portion of the night to something else feel free to use the prayer exercise:

Word

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

12 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Discussion

Nurturer: Review the sermon with the group and ask if there’s anything that stood out, then go through the discussion questions. Ask the following questions, the goal is to facilitate conversation, not a Q&A, this section doesn’t have to have everyone share their personal thoughts but try to get everyone in the conversation. In order to allow for deeper discussion, consider bring the groups up into smaller groups to allow more space for sharing.

Sermon/Teaching Summary
  • Paul’s thorn in the flesh is a personal weakness that brought him sorrow and torment from Satan.
  • God did not take away his thorn, so as to keep Paul from becoming conceited
    • In Paul’s weakness, he was able to experience and display God’s power
  • God’s grace is:
    • Revelation of Jesus–is Jesus your Lord?
    • Power made perfect in weakness–who will do it?

Main Reflection & Response:

  1. Do you have/have had any unanswered prayers? How has it affected your relationship with God?
  2. Which areas of your life do you approach with an attitude of self-sufficiency? When are you reliant on God’s power?
  3. What opportunities do you currently see for God’s power to be made perfect in your weakness?
    • Do you see an opportunity for this to be a testimony to others?

Additional Questions:

  1. What are some thorns that we have in our lives right now? How do they affect us?
  2. What are some things we can admit to God that we are weak/struggling in?
  3. How can we serve others this week? (individual, as a cell?)
  4. How can we obey God’s will for us this week? (self reflection?)

Witness

  • Operations Christmas Child – Nov 15th / 17th
    • This year, our church is participating in operations Christmas child to pack shoeboxes for those in need. We encourage each cell to participate together and pack shoeboxes ahead of the drop off date
    • Details can be found at this link
      • Boxes, labels for gender/age, and elastics to close the boxes will be available in the English Congregation cubicle in the church office
      • Packed shoeboxes can be dropped off in Pastor Santos’ office up to Sunday, Nov. 24th at 12:30 PM
      • Each cell is responsible for coordinating Christmas shoebox on their own time
      • For those that are not part of a cell, there will be a communal packing session on Friday, November 15th from 7:30 – 10 PM in the small gym
  • Cell Teams
  • Christmas EV: On Dec 20, 2024, we will be having our annual Christmas EV dinner evening. Begin praying for who we are inviting to this event to share the good news of Jesus others. If you are interested in serving, reach out to Xiao for more details.
  • Cell Outreach Process
    • Gather a group cell members to go and get to know people/person that we are hoping to bring into the cell.
      • Existing Relationships
        • Share the details with the cell group and pray for the outreaching process
      • Cell Request List
        • The cell request list is for people without direct connections to anyone in cell right now, pray regularly for the list to see if God is moving you to reach out of any of them
    • As relationships establish with others in the cell (outside of the cell setting), share with them the purpose of cell groups (leverage vision statement) and invite them in.

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