This cell plan is based on the sermon shared on Sunday, February 23rd, 2025 from Rev Dr. Tom Lambshead
Opening
Icebreaker: What is the most extravagant experience you’ve had?
Worship
How was your bible reading in the last 2 weeks, share something from your readings with the group!
Word
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.”[a]
Discussion
Sermon/Teaching Summary
- God’s extravagance is overwhelming, abounding, outstanding
- Life’s precious moments and generosities are not financial but from the hand of God. These instances can look like:
- A comforting presence in a moment of need.
- Events going smoothly and in your favor.
- Your worries and burdens being lifted.
- The extravagance of God is all around us, and most of the time, it’s not financial.
- Additional: Paul aims to broaden understanding and acts of generosity and to live in generosity towards one another.
- Life’s precious moments and generosities are not financial but from the hand of God. These instances can look like:
- God’s response to our generosity is extravagance
- Not to be mistaken with the “Prosperity Gospel”, the idea that prosperity is a reflection of your righteousness.
- In our arrogance, we think that God’s extravagance means only the things that we think are good.
- God can bring Good out of bad (Romans 8:28).
- God’s vision for your life is our conformity to Jesus.
- Glory in our sufferings -> perseverance -> character -> hope (Romans 5:3).
- God can bring Good out of bad (Romans 8:28).
- God uses ALL things!
- Not to be mistaken with the “Prosperity Gospel”, the idea that prosperity is a reflection of your righteousness.
- God will provide just enough trouble to bring us to hope and conformity to Jesus
- We can expect ALL things from God, He is all in.
- God gives us ALL these things so that we will have ALL that we NEED.
- Who decides our needs?
- Option 1: Someone else
- our needs will be that of someone else’s
- our needs will be that of someone else’s
- Option 2: Ourselves
- Life will be formed around your likes and passions, confined to your understanding and imagination, limiting us from the things we can have.
- “Sometimes we got what we wanted and didn’t want what we got.”
- “Better not to have what you want than to have what you don’t want.”
- Option 3: God
- you end up with whatever He can make of you with all of his resources.
- you end up with whatever He can make of you with all of his resources.
- Option 1: Someone else
- God is best suited and most capable of deciding and fulfilling our needs.
- We can expect ALL things from God, He is all in.
- Your faithfulness and obedience will abound in every good work.
- Your perseverance will reveal all the good that you are accomplishing
- If He has called you to serve, then He will provide all that you need to fulfill that calling.
- Your perseverance will reveal all the good that you are accomplishing
Main Reflection & Response:
- What are your needs and have they been met?
- Where has God called you to serve Him (not just at church) and how has He provided?
- Reflect on the past and discern for the future
- How has God provided in areas He called you before?
- Where is He calling you now?
- Reflect on the past and discern for the future
Additional Questions from the team:
- Where can you see God’s generosity and extravagance in your life this week and give genuine thanks?
- How can we perservere in God this week and how can we be the goodness in other people’s lives? (Through prayer, through support, through affirmation, etc)
- Romans 5 speaks about the progression from Suffering > perseverance > character > hope
- In what area of your life are you journeying through this process?
- Who decides your needs?
- Note: Ask this if you feel that the group has the maturity to navigate through this question unguided. This can lead to deeper spiritual discussion if the right group of people are together
Witness
- Grad transition:
- Today: Start praying for our cells, are we ready to welcome grads into the cell? What do we need to do to prepare for the transition.
- 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.
- Easter – the Greatest Gift of Salvation
- The Good Friday event this year will be held on April 18th 3-5pm.
- More details to come via Sunday announcements
- The Good Friday event this year will be held on April 18th 3-5pm.
- Prayer and Outreach
- New Outreach Chat to invite others along when you are looking to do something with friends
- Establish prayer partners