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Outline: Loving the lost - Responsibility
Outline: Loving the lost - God and our Friends
Outline: Loving the lost - Taking Opportunities
Outline: Loving the lost - Fears that Hold us Back
Outline: Everyone growing up - Learning to Please God
Outline: Everyone growing up - Learning from the Bible
Outline: Everyone growing up - Old out, new in
Outline: Everyone growing up - Passing it on
Outline: Everyone taking part - All Bring Something!
Outline: Everyone taking part - Different Abilities or Gifts
Outline: Everyone taking part - Respect
Outline: Everyone taking part - Servants
Outline: Jesus at the centre - God’s Love First
Outline: Jesus at the centre - Doing the Right Thing
Outline: Jesus at the centre - He’s in Charge
Outline: Jesus at the centre - God of our Future
Outline: Caring Community - Watch Your Tongue!
Outline: Caring community - Don't envy one another
Outline: Caring community - Accept one another
Outline: Caring community - Encourage One another
(^ back to the top ^)Ask each person: If your house was burning down, what two things would you rescue from your bedroom and why?
Worship
Go around the group, each perspn saying something good that has happened to them or something God has said to them. Turn that into prayer and thanks.Read Romans 10:8-14.
What do we have to do to be saved?
Who can remember something that someone said or did that was significant in them becoming a Christian. How do you feel about what that person did or said?
Who has said something to someone about God and how did you feel before and after?
How does the idea that we are responsible to tell our friends make you feel?
What prevents you from talking to your friends about Jesus?
Turn that into ministry for each other that God would help you.Put the names of all your friends you are praying for on a piece of paper. Pile the pieces of paper up in the middle of the group. All lay hands on the pile and pray that God will show Himself to them and that you will have the guts to tell them about Jesus.
Outline: Loving the lost - God and our Friends
(^ back to the top ^)
Welcome
Ask each person: when you were small children, what was something that you had that was very special to you ( like a ‘security blanket’ or a teddy ). OR have you ever got lost? What happened and how did you feel?
Worship
Take two songs that you have on tape / CD that are good for worship. Make one of the songs one that is about how God has got us to be Christians ( eg ‘I’ve Found Jesus’ Cutting Edge ). Make sure that you have the words written out so that everyone can have a copy. Sing them through. At the end get everyone thanking God that ‘We’ve found Jesus!’.
Word
Read a verse each, until you’ve read all of Acts 9:1-19.
What role does Ananias play in Saul becoming a Christian?
Ask the group ‘Why would God want to speak to us about our not-yet-Christian friends?
Who’s heard God speak to them about a friend or the situation a friend is in?
What should you do about it when God does speak to you?
Pray for each other that God would give you some of His feelings for your friends.
Witness
Go around the group. Each person name one of their friends they are praying for and give a brief description. Ask God to speak to you about them, spend a minute listening and then tell what you’ve heard.
Outline: Loving the lost - Taking Opportunities (^ back to the top ^)
Welcome
Each person say one thing you’d like to do before you die and why. OR
Each person tell a story of a missed opportunity that you regretted not taking, or an opportunity that you took and were glad of.
Worship
Each person tell of something that God has rescued them from and something that He’s helped them to do. Worship God by thanking Him for the things you’ve talked about.
Word
Read Colossians 4:2-6 as a group.
Why should we be wise in the way we act towards those who don’t know Jesus?
What opportunity have you had to show something of Jesus to a friend who doesn’t know him yet? Help the group draw out of their experiences the ways of taking opportunities.
Who’s found it hard or is having problems?
Take it into ministry for the problems that come up and to ‘pray in’ some of the ways we can make the most of situations.
Witness
Colossians 4:3 says to pray for ‘doors of opportunity’ to be opened’ - Pray for your not-yet-Christian-friends for chances to tell them about Jesus. Break into groups of three, write the names of the three friends you are praying for and put them in the middle of the group. Pray that each person would have opportunities to ‘make the most of’ with their friends.
(^ back to the top ^) Tell us one person who used to scare you when you were younger! OR
Ask each person: Tell us when you were afraid of doing something and you either didn’t do it, or did it anyway. Tell us what you were thinking and how you were feeling. Read Psalm 18 around the group, a verse at a time. At the end, think about the psalm for a minute and then feedback on things that struck you out of it, that mean something in your life. Turn that all into prayer and thanks.Read Matthew 26:69-75
Break the group into two. Each group spend two minutes converting the incident into a modern day setting at school. Each group act their story out for the other!
What fears might stop us telling others that we’re with Jesus?
Who’s been in a situation where you were scared of admitting you were a Christian OR knew you should do / say something as a Christian but were afraid to?
Who’s broken through a fear?
Who has fears that stop them ‘being a Christian’ in front of you friends?
Who worries what their friends will think about them if they know you are a Christian or if you talk about Christian things with them?
Take it into ministry. Don't forget to ask for forgiveness where you’ve given in to fear. Pray for boldnessWrite your name and the names of your three friends on a piece of paper. All stand up and stand on your piece of paper ( make sure you are roughly in a circle! ). Move onto the next persons piece of paper. Pray for the person that they will be bold about Jesus with their three friends.
Outline: Everyone growing up - Learning to Please God
(^ back to the top ^)
Welcome
Ask each person: what was something really dangerous that you did without realising when you were young? OR What did you do to try to please someone and they didn’t like it, or it went horribly wrong?
Worship
Everyone think of something out of God’s creation that they really appreciate. Ask why do you appreciate it and what does it show you about God? Turn it into thanks to God.
Word
Read Romans 12:1-2.
What does it mean to ‘offer your bodies as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God?
What steps you from doing this? What does it cost you?
Why is it important to renew your mind? How can you do this?
How can we help one another?
Who recently did something ‘new’, did something you hadn’t done before, behaved in a new way and felt good that you’d pleased God - done what was right?
Did anyone feel they should do something, but didn’t do it?
What situation are you facing where you need to please God at the moment?
Turn that into ministry
Witness
Get into threes. Each take one of the friends that you are praying for and explain what they think God is like? Take time together praying for your friends that they would learn more about who God really is.
Outline: Everyone growing up - Learning from the Bible
(^ back to the top ^)
Welcome
Each person choose a verse from the bible that has meant a lot to you and say why.
Worship
Choose a worshipful song. Someone read the lyrics out. Everyone meditate on them for a while. Respond with your own words of worship. Now listen to the song and worship more.
Word
Read 2.Tim 3:10-17.
How did Timothy learn?
What does this bit say the bible is good for ( verse 15 & 16 )?
Read Psalm 119:97-112.
Is this your attitude to the word of God?
Lead a time of confessing and repenting if it is relevant.
Break into threes and ask: when was the last time that your life changed because of something that you read in the bible?
When can you read the bible more so that it changes your life more?
What problems are you experiencing with this?
Pray for each other.
Witness
2 Timothy 3:15 says that bible helps us see our need for God. Pick one of your friends, and pick a bit of the bible that you think they need to know ( help each other if some find that hard). Go around, each praying for your friend that they’ll understand what is in that bit of the bible. Pray that you might have a chance to show or tell them it!
Outline: Everyone growing up - Old out, new in (^ back to the top ^)
Welcome
Ask each person: what was something sneeky, cheeky or horrible that you did when you were younger? OR what was something that you were glad you did when you were young?
Worship
Take two or three songs of tapes or CDs and play them fairly loud so that the group can sing along without being self-conscious. Make sure that you have the words on sheets of paper for people to see. Make the last song one about wanting God to change us (e.g. ‘Obsession’ by Cutting Edge ).
Word
Read Ephesians 4:20-24
explain that the ‘old self’ is living with selfish attitudes and the ‘new self’ is living for God
Brainstorm on a large sheet of paper with two columns:
1. What are the old attitudes we need to ‘take off’?
2. What are the new attitudes we need to ‘put on’?
Now make your own personal list on your own bit of paper with the three attitudes that you most struggle with ‘taking off’ and the three attitudes that you most struggle with ‘putting on’.
Each person explaining their sheet to the group. Ask the person how the group can help them to do this. Now get the group pray and minister to them.
Witness
Ask yourselves, what bad attitude do you most have towards your not-yet-Christian friends. What is the good attitude that you should have. Break into twos and ask forgiveness together and pray for each other, ask that God would be in the way you are with your friends.
Outline: Everyone growing up - Passing it on (^ back to the top^)
Welcome
Ask each person: When was the last time you stole something? What happenend? OR what’s the most embarrasing thing that you did to try and impress someone?
Worship
Each think of two people that have really helped you grow as a Christian. Go around thanking God for those people. Now spend some time thanking God for the cell group and what He’s done in your life and given you through it.
Word
Read Hebrews 5:11-14
What do you thing ‘milk’ and ‘solid’ food are?
What does it mean to be mature?
Look at verse 12, why should we be hungry to grow ourselves [ so that we can teach others ].
What have you learned in the last month or so?
How have you passed things on to others in the last month or so?
Break into twos and say what you think holds you back from ‘maturing’ as a Christian? Pray for this to change.
Witness
Put the names of all the friends you are praying for on a big sheet of paper in the middle. Spend some time listening to God about what He wants to say or do for any of them - write it next to their name. Pray those things.
Outline: Everyone taking part - All Bring Something! (^ back to the top ^)
This session needs people to be told to do something before the group!
Read 1 Corinthians 14:26.
When we’re worshipping God or helping each other grow, each of us can bring something, from the youngest Christian to the oldest. Get everyone to bring something to the meeting to give to the group. Give them some thoughts...A song, explaining why they’ve chosen it
A part of the bible that they really like and why they’ve chosen it
A part of the bible they think that God wants to say to the group and why.
Something they have made / cooked for the group to express something to them.
Be creative!The only requirement is that it helps people to be stronger Christians! Tell people they can ring you if they have problems!
Welcome
Maybe someone will bring something that’s good as a Welcome ( like food etc. ), but if not then ask the question...
What was your favourite toy when you were 7 and why?
Word + Worship
When you get together...
Open the group up to people contributing. Explain that we’re going to really encourage people with what they bring no matter whether it’s large or small!! Have fun.
Witness
Maybe someone will have something to contribute in praying for your non-Christian friends. If not, then put a ‘hot seat’ in the middle of the group and leave it empty. Get all the gorup praying that one of their friends will come and fill this seat, get to know Jesus and join the group.
Outline: Everyone taking part - Different Abilities or Gifts (^ back to the top ^)
Welcome
Each person: Who’s your favourite T.V. / film character and why? OR
Tell us a time when you did really well in something.
Worship
Give each person an improvised instrument ( like a tin of beans and a wooden spoon, a comb and paper, a vacuum hose etc...). Read Psalm 150. Try and make a ‘joyful noise’ to God using one of the groups favourite worship songs as a basis for the noise!
Now put the song on the CD player and sing along with the words. Go into thanking God for all that He’s given to us.
Word
Get someone to read Romans 12:3-8 and Ephesians 4:11-12.
Write out on a large piece of paper in the middle of the group the gifts or abilities that are listed in these two passages.
Check that everyone understands what these gifts mean and ask people to identify which gifts they have.
You can often tell which is your gift because it is something you feel good about and you might have been complimented when you have used it. But it’s OK not to know what your gift is ( although everyone does have gifts ).
When did you last have an opportunity to use your gift?
How can you use your gift more effectively?
Pray for each other for opportunities to use your gifts. Don’t forget to pray for those who don’t yet know their gift.
Witness
How can you use your gift to help your friends who don't yet know Jesus to ‘come closer’ to him?
Make a committment to Jesus and to each other to use your gifts to make God known in the world.
Outline: Everyone taking part - Respect (^ back to the top ^)
Welcome
Ask each person: If you could have a chat in McDonalds with someone dead or alive who would it be? What would you ask them?
Each person tell us about someone from your past that you really respected and why.
Worship
Turn the lights down low, or even out and use candles. Read Psalm 145, one verse each, slowly ( you could have atmospheric background music on if you like ). Focus on God. After that, start going around the group ( go around two or three times if you like ) saying this prayer..."God, you have my respect because..." and each person fill in their own thoughts.
Word
Read 1 Peter 2:13-17
According to these verses, how should we live in order to please God?
In verse 17, what does ‘respect’ mean? How do we show respect to others?
What should our attitude be towards those who don’t live as God would want them?
Who can tell us a time when they were appreciated and respected for something they did or said?
Read James 2:1
Do we give more respect to what some say compared to others?
Turn it into repentance and / or ministry.
What practical things can we do to make sure that we respect each other and the gifts each brings to this group? (e.g. drawing out the quieter people - not interrupting when others are speaking).
Witness
In threes ask each other how you are going to show respect to your not-yet-Christian friends this week. Pray that you’ll do that.
Outline: Everyone taking part - Servants (^ back to the top ^)
Welcome
Ask each person: What’s the most horrible or embarrassing job or chore that you had to do?
What’s something that you did for someone that you felt so good about?
Worship
Make a list of all the things that Jesus put up with / went through in becoming human, living amongst us and dying to rescue us. Turn that into thanks and prayer. Now put a song on about what Jesus went through for us, and focus on God during it ( e.g. ‘White Ribbon Day’ by Delerious )
Word
Brainstorm a list of things that are done in the life of the cell ( e.g. someone operates the CD player; reads the bit out of the bible; organises the ‘witness section’; does the washing up; rings up people to see how they are doing etc...).
Ask someone to read John 13:1-17.
Verse 1 says that Jesus showed the disciples the full extent of His love, how did He do that?
If we are to be obedient to Jesus, what should we be doing?
What attitude should we have and are their limits to what we would be prepared to do?
In groups of three, be honest about where you are at on the serving issue. Confess to one another and pray for forgiveness.
Ask the Lord to give you opportunities to serve.
Witness
Each person ask themselves are you shying away from doing or saying things to your friends so they can know about Jesus, because they’re uncomfortable for you to do. Have some time thinking, listening to God, praying. Ask what practical things are you going to do or say to your friends to help them see Jesus more? Pray for all your friends, out loud at the same time.
Outline: Jesus at the centre - God’s Love First (^ back to the top ^)
Welcome
Ask each person: tell us about an act of rebellion in your life. Or tell us a time when you had to say sorry for something pretty bad.
Worship
Spend a few minutes writing your own Psalm, thanking God for forgiving you and accepting you to be His child. Read them to each other.
Word
Read Luke 15:11-32.
Why does God’s love for you mean he lets you go and ‘blow your life’ if you want?
How do you know that God loves you?
What stops us from receiving God’s love?
Who wants to know God’s love more in their life now?
Turn that into ministry.
Witness
Who amongst all the friends you are praying for is being a ‘prodigal’ and running away from God at the moment. Pick two or three and the whole group pray for them.
Outline: Jesus at the centre - Doing the Right Thing (^ back to the top ^)
Welcome
Ask each person: what’s the worst lie you’ve told / thing you’ve stolen and why? What were the consequences.
Worship
Prime two or three people in the group to bring one of their favourite songs that speaks about God and what He’s done for us. Get them to speak for a minute on what the song means to them, then play it. Encourage people to worship as they listen to the songs.
Word
Read 1 Corinthians 10:13
Who is this passage saying gets tempted?
What might be some of the ways out that God gives us?
Who’s had an experience where they wanted to do or say something that wasn’t what God wanted / wasn’t right? What did you do and what were the consequences?
Anyone facing a situation like that now? Pray for them.
Spend some time listening to God, asking Him to say anything into your own life that he wants you to do / not do. Feedback and then pray.
Witness
Everyone think about whether there is anything that their friends have done that you need to forgive them for. Ask God to show you any attitudes that you might have towards your friends that are bad - listen for a minute. Feedback and pray for each other.
Outline: Jesus at the centre - He’s in Charge (^ back to the top^)
Welcome
Ask each person: who was your favourite teacher in your last school and why? OR
Tell us about a promise that you were unable to keep.
Worship
Put some meditative music on. Someone read over the top of it Matthew 26:36-46. Think for a while about what Jesus went through. Still over the music, thank God.
Word
Read Matthew 7:21-23
How can we be sure that Jesus will ‘know us’?
If we call Jesus ‘Lord’, what does that mean in reality, day by day, for us?
Is there any part of your life that you’ve held back from God in the past, even if others think that you are a ‘go for it’ Christian?
Is there any part you are struggling to give to him now?
Turn that into ministry.
Spend some time silently thinking about the following prayer...
"You’ve shown me you’re real. You’ve forgiven me the wrong things I’ve done. I ask you to be lord of all my life. Teach me your ways of living in all parts of my life."
Then pray it all out loud together - if you mean it.
Witness
Spend some time asking God to give you His heart for your friends. If anyone gets any thoughts, words or bits of the bible let them share it. Ask God that He’s show Himself powerfully amongst your friends.
Outline: Jesus at the centre - God of our Future (^ back to the top ^)
Welcome
Ask each person: what’s something that you’ve always wanted to do but never had the chance to yet? Or what’s something that you wanted to do and finally got a chance to do - tell us about it?
Worship
Read Revelation 21 ( using ‘The Message’ translation if you have it ), explaining it can be hard to understand bits of it, but it’s a glimpse of heaven - where Jesus will take us. Read it, think about it, then talk about what we can see heaven will be like from this bit of the bible. Then stop and think - you’ll be there! Thank God.
Word
Read Jeremiah 29:11-13
All spend some time quietly thinking about Jesus being involved in your future.
Now read Matthew 18:19-20.
Jesus is here. Spend a minute, quietly recognising that. Spend some time listening - He’s in charge - does He want to say anything? Feedback - and respond if necessary.
Read verse 19 again. Is there any dreams that God has put in your heart that we can say ‘Yes God, do it’ to? Share dreams, visions, hopes, even fears and pray.
Witness
Break into threes and pray for your friends. Ask that God will show them what life and death is really all about. Pray against those things that would stop them seeing that.
Outline: Caring Community - Watch Your Tongue! (^ back to the top ^)
Welcome
Each person: What ís one of the nicest things someone has ever said to you?
Tell of a time when you put your foot in it, by what you said.
Worship
Go around the group, each person saying something about God that they really appreciate. Turn that into prayer.
Word
Someone read James 3:1-12.
What issues are brought out in this passage?
Tongues are powerful things! For good or bad.
Why is it so difficult to only say positive things with our tongues?
Who can remember a time when someone helped you or hurt you by what they said?
Are we prepared in this group to say positive things and to challenge each other when we say negative things?
Break into groups of three and pray for each other. The person being prayed for starting off by confessing if they have hurt people by what theyíve said and commiting themselves to say good stuff.
Witness
Think, what good things do our friends need to hear from you? What bad things do they not need to hear from you? Is there anything that you need to say sorry to them for saying? Pray for opportunities to say positive things.
Outline: Caring community - Don't envy one another
(^ back to the top ^)
Welcome
Who was your hero or heroine when you were twelve?
Each person: Can you remember a time when you tried to show off and it went horribly wrong? Or can you remember a time when you took the credit for something you didn't do?
Worship
Put some atmospheric music on in the background. Get three people to read, everyone else focus on Jesus as they do.
First person: Matthew 27:27-44
Second person: Matthew 27: 45-54
Third person: Matthew 28:1-10
Ask people to pray out short prayers of thanks.
Word
Read Ephesians 4:25-5:1
What can we learn about Godís ideas for relating to each other?
Make a list of the positive things that build relationships and the negative things that destroy relationships.
Can anyone tell us about a difficult realtionship which got sorted out? What did you stop doing? What did you start to do?
Is anyone in a difficult relationship now? Pray for them.
Get into twos, share which aspects that you struggle with and pray for each other.
Witness
In twos, discuss what you have to offer your not-yet-Christian friends when they tell you about problems they are having in relationships? Are you able to pray for them if they do? Ask God for opportunities to be a help to your friend in their relationships.
Outline: Caring community - Accept one another (^ back to the top ^)
Welcome
Ask each person: What did you have to have that everyone else had when you were 13?
What "over the top" things have you done just to be "in" with the right crowd? OR what things did you do to be like everyone else, but you couldn't stand doing it really?
Worship
Jesus forgives us and accepts us so we can admit to things we are ashamed of or know to be wrong. Everyone write down on a piece of paper stuff that you have done that is wrong. Fold or screw those pieces of paper up and put them on a baking tray. Set light to them (be careful!) at the same time someone read Romans 5:8. Each thank Jesus that he forgave you and accepted you.
Word
Read Romans 15:5-7
Why, according to this passage, should we accept one another?
How can we do that? What is it that we can do that doesnít show acceptance? What does it feel like when you feel accepted, how do you behave? What about when you donít?
Go around each person, getting others to say things they appreciate about that person.
Feeling on the outside is a common feeling.
In threes talk about situations in this group or elsewhere where you have not felt accepted. Pray for healing for each other about this.
Witness
How are you showing acceptance and appreciation to the friends you are praying for?
How will we as a group make them feel accepted when they come to our socials / the group?
Get into threes and pray that your friends will feel accepted by you, the group and God.
Outline: Caring community - Encourage One another (^ back to the top ^)
Welcome
Each person: Tell of a time when you did something because someone else encouraged you. Something that you may not have done without that help.
Worship
Look at Psalm 23. Each person rewrite it in their own words - updating it to what happens in your life. When everyone has done that, read them out to each other. At the end, all thank God that He is our rescuer.
Word
Read Hebrews 10:24-25
According to the passage, why should we meet together?
What good things should we spur each other on to do?
How can we do that?
What areas are you struggling in where you need encouragement. Turn that into prayer, ministry and encouragement.
Witness
Think of one thing that one of your friends fears. Go around, each praying for their friend that God would set them free.
Paul Hopkins, March 1998
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