Northfield Methodist Church

            Ice Breaker: Do you think prayer helps? Why?
 
 
 
1)      What does the parable of Jesus teach us about prayer?
 
 
2)      Jesus seems to imply that if we persist in prayer, or
 
continue to pester or “nag” God we can force him to
 
answer the prayer? Is this true? Should we not rather
 
just ask God once and believe that he has heard and
 
will answer? Doesn’t pestering God indicate a lack of
 
faith on our part?
 
 
3)     Can we really just ask God for anything and expect
 
him to give it to us? (Luke 11:9 – 10, see also
 
John 15:7 and 16)
 
 
4)     Read Psalm 63:1 – 8. What does this Psalm teach us about prayer?
 
 
5)     Read Eph 6:10 – 18. What does this teach us about prayer as a part of the spiritual armour of God? Why do we need the spiritual armour?   
 
         
 
         Cell Health: Are the cell members growing?
 
     
 
          If not the Possible causes:-
 
          No accountability to change. No sharing of gifts.
 
          Only the leader makes decisions in the cell.
 
 
 
          PRESCRIPTION: Have a session to chat about
 
          holding each other accountable. Do a cell
 
          teaching on the gifts and how all benefit. Ask
 
          the cell for ideas to change the status quo and
 
          put the ideas down on paper. Get consensus on
 
          practical ways of doing it. Draw up a covenant.
 
          Every few months stop and review.
 
 
          Remember - Grace and truth with ground rules.
 
Care
 
·        Being “for” each other.
 
·        Encouraging each other
 
·        Coming alongside each other.
 
 
Safety
 
·        Having a “come as you are” culture.
 
·        Feeling safe enough to be yourself.
 
·        Accepting each other unconditionally.
 
 
Authenticity
 
·        Being “real” with each other.
 
·        Taking relational risks with each other.
 
 
Growth
 
·        Heb 10:24 – Spurring one another on.
 
·        Pushing each other to make growth steps.
 
·        Naming areas where growth needs to happen.
 
 
Help
 
·        Provide resources that others may need.
 
·        Ask for help if you need it.
 
       
 
 

Ice Breaker: What do you enjoy/don’t enjoy about serving in        
 
                               the church? 
 
 
1)      Why do you think many people are put off Christianity?
 
 
2)      In what ways can an obsession with what God wants
 
                 us to do, be unhelpful?
 
 
3)     Why do you think love often takes the initiative?
 
 
4)     What would it look like for you to take the initiative and
 
                do something for God simply out of love and gratitude?
 
 
5)     What more is there to our life with God than just doing
     what God commands?        
 
       
 
        Cell Health: Is the group feeling a bit jaded.
 
     
 
          Possible causes:-
 
          No significant outreach. Too much routine
 
         
 
          PRESCRIPTION: Hold feed-back sessions regularly
 
          to find out how the cell members feel about the cell.
 
 
          Choose outreach that stretches the
          group. Encourage the group to be involved in a
 
          hands-on manner. e.g. if caring for the physical needs
 
          of people get the group involved.
 
 
          Break routine at least every six weeks. Have a casual
 
          supper together or watch a suitable dvd. Change
 
          to a different teaching for a month or so.
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
              
 
       
 
 
        
         
 
 
 
 
                                          
 
 

Ice Breaker: What does the word foundation mean to you now?
Reflection:
What do you know about the "Life of David"?
What about David's life resonates with your experience of Life?
Who or what is your "rock", "shield", "salvation" and / or stronghold (fortress)?
Task
Write a short Psalm of no more than 10 verses that best describes your relationship with God and God's relationship with you.

 Ice Breaker: What does the word “light” mean to you??
 
 
1)      Who has been a significant “light” in your life and why??
 
 
 
2)      What do you find most difficult about the call of Jesus to be a   “light” in the world??
 
 
 
3)     How could you be a “light” in your world??
 
 
               a. Office Environment
 
               b. Home Environment
 
               c. Church Environment
 
   
 
 
 
 
              
 
       
 
 
        
         
 
 
 
 
                                          
 
 

            Ice Breaker: How important is salt in your own eating
 
                                  habits?
 
 
1)     What  are some of the qualities of salt you can
 
     think of?
 
 
2)     What do you think Jesus when he said, “You are
 
     the salt of the earth”?
 
 
3)     What practical examples can you think of
 
                where people have acted as salt in the world?
 
 
4)     The title for the sermon on Sunday was “Getting
 
out of the salt shaker”. What does this say to
 
us and what did you learn?
         Cell Health: Are your group’s functions balanced?
 
 
          Cell diseases:-DEFORMITY
 
         
 
          SYMPTOMS: Distended group body. One of the
           parts larger than the rest: either a mammoth
           brain or heart or tongue that saps all the energy,
           leaving the rest of the body deformed and deficient.
           Out of balance. Distorted. Dysfunctional.
 
         PROBLEM: Imbalance of the three necessary ingredients
                             of a group.
 
 
         PRESCRIPTION: Picture a healthy group with all three
         “legs” in balance. Have regular ”checkups” by  a group
         doctor to see that the group is staying healthy. If not
         prescribe some mid-course corrections. If you need a
         “fourth leg” to stand on, try worship. The rewards are
         worth striving for. Focusing on the Lord instead of
         ourselves is always great.  
                      
         
 
 
 

Questions:
1.) Some say morality in today's world, is in serious decline. Do you agree or disagree? Why do you think this is? Can you think of examples?
2.) What do we mean when we say something is "right" or that something is "wrong"?
3.) Some say that the reason why morals are in decline today is that "freedom" and "personal fulfillment" have become more important than truth. People say things like, "Don't tell me what to do, I am free to decide what's right and what's wrong." "I am free to make my own rules." "It can't be wrong if it feels so good." What do you think?
4.) Christians are sometimes accused of being "narrow-minded" and "out of touch" when it comes to moral issues and what contribution can we make to this problem today? What should our stand point be on the question of morals in our own lives? (What do our readings teach about this?)  

IS PRAYER ANY USE
 
  
 
Ice Breaker: When did you have a prayer answered and what happened?
 
 
1)                 Why do some people feel that god doesn’t answer 
 
           prayer or that their prayers just “bounce off the ceiling”?
 
 
2)                 One of the main purposes of prayer is to connect with
 
           God. Discuss this statement. How can one practice the
 
           presence of God “more fully”?
 
 
3)                 Prayer is a way of getting involved (for God) in the needs
 
           of others and the world. What do you think about this?
 
 
4)                 What have you found helpful / and or hard in developing
 
           a strong prayer life.?
 
   
 
Cell Health: Do the members really know each other?
 
 
Cell diseases:- INFANTILE PARALYSIS
 
         
 
SYMPTOMS: Baby talk. Baby diet. Baby concerns….
even after years together as a group. Dependent on an “authority” figure. No signs of growth. no sense of drive, initiative, concern for others or reproduction.
 
PROBLEM: Stagnation. Growth arrested at infancy.
 
 
PRESCRIPTION: Have a clear picture of the stages of cell
group development and expect a group to develop within a
year to completion level. First phase (6 – 12 weeks) Major
group building. Second phase (12 – 24 weeks) Major Bible
study and gift awareness. Third phase (24 – 36 weeks)
major on finding your mission and if you are more than 12
people, starting a new group (with support of old group).
                                      
 

WHAT’S SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE
 
  
 
Ice Breaker: What is you experience of Grace?
 
 
  I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.
 
 
 REFLECTION   (It is important that people feel free to share or NOT to share)
 
1)        What is the “condition” of your relationship with God 
 
2)        What is your favourite “Hymn” or “Worship Song”
 
a.      Why, what is its significance for you?
 
3)        Who in your life has been an instrument of God’s Grace?
 
4)        How have you experienced God’s Grace in your life?
 
ACTIVITY
 
    Write a short Psalm or Song giving expression to your
 
    longing for, or experience of God’s Grace in your life.
 
 
      Cell Health: Do you look forward to cell nights/days?
 
 
          Cell diseases:-
 
          FLABBY COMMITMENT
 
         
 
          SYMPTOMS: Ill-defined expectations. Un-met goals. No
          mutual accountability No basis for evaluating progress.
 
         PROBLEM: Group has yet to “covenant” together.
 
         PRESCRIPTION: Ask not what the group can do for you…
Ask what you can do for the group. Verbalize and mobilize
your commitment with these sentences:-
·                        The purpose of our group is……..
·                        Our special goals are……..
·                        We will meet_____hours, every____, at_____’s
 
            place, for______weeks, then re-evaluate.
 
We accept 7 of the following group disciplines:
 
□Regular attendance.      □Strict confidentiality
□Full participation            □Mutual accountability
 
□Shared leadership         □Scriptural  authority 
 
□Outreach to _______    □Prayer partner with________
 
□Homework                     □Other__________________
 
 
                                          
 
 
 

WHY FOLLOW JESUS
 
  
 
              Ice Breaker: Share how you met Jesus or why you
 
                                    are interested in Him?
 
 

1. Complete the sentence if you are in a position to do so
    

     ( if not just listen to the others)-I follow Jesus because….
 
 

2. In what one way has following Jesus changed your life?
    

3. What does it mean for you in real life specific terms to
    

           follow Jesus?
 
 

4. How does following Jesus challenge you at the moment?

5. What do you miss most in your following of Jesus
    

              
 
      Cell Health: How close is the group to the Heartbeat of  Jesus?
 
 
          Cell diseases:-
 
          IN-GROWN SYNDROME
 
         
 
          SYMPTOMS: Self-centeredness. Exclusiveness. Deliberate
          “closing the door” to outsiders because of fear –fear that
          someone from outside might ruin the “closeness” or
          betray your confidence.
 
         PROBLEM: Clique complex Anemic mission.
 
         PRESCRIPTION: Envision the church as a place where
         “sinners” are accepted. Expect your Bible study to  energise
         your vision into reality. Use an empty chair to remind the
        group that it is always “open” for one more “sinner” in search
        of God. When you pray ask God to fill it. When it is full pull up   
        more empty chairs.                                     
 
                                          
 
 

WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY GOD
 
  
 
Ice Breaker: How real is God to you right now?
 
 

1. Is the God we believe in as Christians better or greater than
    

     the God other religions believe in?
 
 

2. What are the main characteristics or attributes of the God we believe in as Christians?

2. What are some of the false / inadequate / wrong pictures

           that some people have of God?
 

4. How does Jesus show us or help us to understand who

     God is?
 
 
      Cell Health: When last did the cell do a self examination?
 
                           How goes it with the cell generally?
 
 
·        Are all the members of the cell feeling a sense
of achievement in the cell?
 
·        Is everyone clear about the type of cell you are?
( General Growth group, bible study, parents group,
   etc.)
 
          Cell diseases:-
 
          KOINONIA COMMUNITY
 
          Courtship Failure –
 
          SYMPTOMS: Communication breakdown. Surface chatter
         about “football” or “the weather”. Group sits like a poker  
         game with cards held close to chest. Feelings never shared.
         Or, if somebody does “open up”, nobody “hears it.” Nobody
         cares or gets close.
 
         PROBLEM: No group building. No bonding. No trust.
 
         PRESCRIPTION: Spend the whole first session and the
         first few minutes of every session getting to know each other.
        Covenant together. Share your “God story” with each other.         
 
         Your spiritual ups and downs. Hopes and dreams. Fears and     
         failures. And where you are struggling right now. The group
         that plays together stays together. Not fair having fun without  
         letting the other guy in on it.