Opening
Icebreaker (Game): Guess Who?
Worship
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.”
Psalm 95:1-3
Word
1 Peter 2:9-12
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Discussion
Sermon/Teaching Summary
We tend to identify ourselves by attaching a lot of titles through our relationships, our jobs, our hobbies, or our community. We often forget that despite these earthly titles, only one title truly matters (God’s chosen people).
We were created for a purpose/mission. We are only able to achieve that goal if acknowledge and live in the reality of our God given identity.
- We are God’s chosen people, therefore:
- We belong to God (v.9a)
- We no longer live in darkness/sin (v.9b)
- We are a spiritual community (v.10a)
- We receive God’s mercy (v.10b)
- As a result of our new identity:
- We are special (living with a wholistic mindset of physical and spiritual).
- We live in the light of God’s truth and power (We have been and are being transformed).
- We are not alone (Together we share with others about the goodness of God).
- You have been saved!
Main Reflection & Response:
- How do people identify you? How do you identify yourself?
- Reflect on the below questions about our identity:
- Do you belong to God?
- Do you live in darkness/sin?
- Are you in a spiritual community?
- Have you received God’s mercy through the cross?
- How can you go forth and show your true identity off this week?
Additional Questions:
- Are there things that hold you back from embracing your true identity?
- Is there an actionable step to embracing your true self that you need support with?
Witness
- 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!
- 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.
- Sign up at: https://gcgcny.link/christmas
- 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.