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, August 24th by Pastor Michelle.
Prepare Ahead
- Read Cell Vision Statement
- Meditate on Revelation 2:12-17
- Pray and discern next steps for your cell for outreach / prayer partners / grad transition
- 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: If you were a pastry, what would you be and why?
Worship
Bible Reading Sharing:
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 allot this portion of the night to something else feel free to use the prayer exercise:
- Prayer Exercise
- Lectio divina
Word
Revelation 2:12-17 NIV
12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.
14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
Discussion
Reminders and Recommendations for Nurturers:
- Spend some time in the sermon review to ensure the group has a grasp of the main point of the sermon
- Ask if there’s anyone who wasn’t able to join, if there is, spend a bit of time to go through the sermon summary being going in to the review questions
- If everyone was at the sermon, skip directly to the review questions
- Review the questions ahead of time and decide which questions to ask your group. Typically, a good discussion will only be able to accommodate 2-3 questions for a meeting.
- If being asked in a large group, invite others to join in and response if they have shared similar experiences or thoughts
- Try to avoid from going around in a circle, as the nurturer, ask follow-up questions and avoid giving advice.
- In order to allow for deeper discussion, consider breaking the group up into smaller groups to allow more space for sharing.
- Reminder to leave space and time for prayer and witness
Sermon Summary
- City of Pergamum was the epicentre of Asia Minor, unconquerable
- Jesus says this is where Satan dwells because it’s a city full of idols
- God doesn’t call us to leave Satan’s city but commends those who remain true to his name
- Between salvation and glorification, sanctification happens.
- Salvation: Exodus out of Egypt
- Sanctification: Mosaic Laws
- Glorification: Promised Land
- Teachings of Balaam, sexual immorality -> both references to the Israelites in Numbers.
- Nicolaitans: Belief that spirit and flesh are separate; encourages worldliness and downplays the consequences of sin.
- We have to be sanctified as one (church) not just as individual
- Repent: turn back emotionally, physically and spiritually; burn your house down
- Wait for his reward: White stone is a symbol of innocence, invited to the banquet of the Lord
Sermon Review
- Core theme: Sanctification happens between salvation and glorification
- Main Takeaway:
- We have to continue to work out our salvation, to become more like Jesus
- Sermon Review questions:
- What happens between salvation and glorification?
- What is repentance?
- Discussion Questions:
- Introductory
- Who are you: What do you look forward to when you come to cell?
- Where are you in your faith?: On a scale of 1-10 how has your relationship with Jesus been over the last 2 weeks?
- Exploratory (4-6 people)
- Facing Adversity in Faith: Can you think of a time when it was challenging to stand firm in your beliefs or values, and what helped you through it?
- Being sanctified as one: How are you impacting those in our church? (sanctified vs stumble vs no impact)
- In Depth (2/3 people)
- Repentance: What is something that God is calling you to repent from? (turn away from and turn to God)
- Self evaluation: what kind of report card would Jesus give to you?
- Introductory
- Additional questions:
- What would Jesus commend and condemn you of?
- Would you turn back to Jesus in repentance?
- How can we be reassured of His reward this week?
Witness
- Help Needed for Adult Zone!
- We’re looking for help in the following specific areas:
- Administration – Help organize zone wide information
- Cell Planners – help review sermons and create biweekly cell plans!
- We’re looking for help in the following specific areas:
- 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.
- Prayer and Outreach
- As discussed in our last meeting, we will be shifting outreach to be a zone wide initiative to encourage similar life stage members to partner together to witness to their friends, with cell being a place for them to join once they are ready to be a part of the community, as part of this shift:
- New Outreach Chat to invite others along when you are looking to do something with friends
- Establish prayer partners
- Suggestion: Monthly same gender rotations to encourage biweekly checkins to strengthen relationships.
- Note that the above is a suggestion and may not be the best approach based on the make up of your cell, pray and discern how best to approach this for the benefit of your cell
- As discussed in our last meeting, we will be shifting outreach to be a zone wide initiative to encourage similar life stage members to partner together to witness to their friends, with cell being a place for them to join once they are ready to be a part of the community, as part of this shift: