Advancing for Breakthrough

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, January 5th, 2025.

Prepare Ahead

• Read Cell Vision Statement
• Meditate on Joshua 1:1-9
• Link to sharable version for members: Cell Content

Opening

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

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

Icebreaker: What was your favourite meal through the Christmas season?

Worship

In addition to the regular musical/prayer/reading worship section, we will be incorporating a bible reading section

Ask: How was your bible reading in the last 2 weeks, share something from your readings with the group!

Note: If sharing is scarce and always the same people, can start a rotation schedule

Go into musical worship if someone is scheduled. Continue to ask if members of the cell are willing to lead this portion 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:

• Prayer Exercise
• Lectio divina

Word

Joshua 1:1-9

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: ² “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. ³ I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. ⁴ Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. ⁵ No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. ⁶ Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

⁷ “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left,that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸ Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

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 breaking the group up into smaller groups to allow more space for sharing.

Sermon/Teaching Summary

1. Context: The Israelites have been in the desert for 40 years, and they are about to go into the Promised land with a mix of people:
   • 40 Years of punishment through wandering but God continued to bless them through it, they had everything they needed during that time without work.
   • Gentiles: There were gentiles that were with them because they saw God’s work in Egypt. Some did not believe even though they experience God daily
   • 2nd Generation: Heard the stories and experiences God regularly, uncommitted. God is just regular life and take God’s presence for granted.
   • Leaders: Capable, fear God, trustworthy, hate dishonest gain
   • Elders: Served and ready to retire
2. God calls all people equally to make a breakthrough into the promised land
3. Certainties
   • They will enter the promised land, a better future
   • There will be people in the promised land, there will be opposition
   • When we obey, God will protect us
   • God will be with you
     • Faith must breakthrough from passive acceptance to active following

Main Reflection & Response:

As this is the first sermon of the theme/year, this is a good opportunity to reflect and allow space for cell members to deepen their spiritual commitment to each other and to God. There are only 2 questions and they serve mainly as guiding questions to guide discussion. Avoid going around in circle and having people answer in sequence, aim to create an environment of discussion through followup questions, allowing multiple people to input and ask questions.

Ideally, the most conducive discussions will happen in groups smaller than 5, break up your cells accordingly

1. From the sermon, which group do you identify the most with? Dive deep with each other
   • Gentiles: Experiences (acknowledges) God but don’t commit to following Him.
     • Modern-day example: Some Christian exposure but low to no commitment.
   • 2nd Generation: Heard the stories and experiences God regularly but uncommitted.
     • Modern-day example: Grew up in the church but low commitment.
   • Leaders/Faithful followers: Active members in the community.
     • Modern-day example: Experiences God regularly and actively serving others.
   • Elders: Served and ready to retire.
     • Modern-day example: Experienced God a great deal, however, shying away from opportunities to experience God.
       
2. How is God calling you to breakthrough from where you are this year

Note: A table has been included in the plan to help further conversation and to give a visuals for those that can’t identify with the examples given above. Feel free to also use this table to explore specific areas like the Bible, prayer, serving, etc.

	Low Commitment	Medium Commitment	High Commitment
Low Exposure
Medium Exposure
High Exposure

Follow up questions:

• Why do you feel that way?
• How have you experienced God?
• What hinderances hold you back commitment/ greater commitment?
• If someone has similar experiences, feel free to jump in.

Witness

• Bible Reading:
  • This year, we will be going through a 2 year bible reading plan together. Access to plan at gcgcny.link/readbible. Use this to share regularly in your cell about what you’re hearing from God.
• Ask your cells:
  • English congregation is planning to have a day conference early spring next year (April/May), it is still preliminary and we want to get a sense of what people are looking for and whether they’re willing to help with the event:
    • Some details for now:
      • The conference will be a day event
      • It will be for everyone in English and the focus will be around the 5 pillars of our church
      • A mix of equipping, visioning and fellowshipping.
• Cell Teams
  • Thinking about joining the cell team? Talk to your nurturer!
    • Summary of new Cell Roles: Document Link
    • More Details and Sign up forms: https://gcgcny.link/adultzone
• 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.