Opening
Icebreaker: What was your favourite meal through the Christmas season?
Worship
How was your bible reading in the last 2 weeks, share something from your readings with the group!
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
Sermon/Teaching Summary
- 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
- God calls all people equally to make a breakthrough into the promised land
- 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:
- From the sermon, which group do you identify the most with? Dive deep with each other
- Did not Gentiles: Experiences (acknowledges) God but don’t commit to following Him.
- 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.
- Modern-day example: Experienced God a great deal, however, shying away from opportunities to experience God.
- How is God calling you to breakthrough from where you are this year
| 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 makes you hesitant to commit?
- 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.
- 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
- Thinking about joining the cell team? Talk to your nurturer!
- 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
- Existing Relationships
- 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.
- Gather a group cell members to go and get to know people/person that we are hoping to bring into the cell.