Cell group notes

w/c 3rd January 2010

Welcome

What was the most memorable part of your Christmas celebrations this year?

Worship (for a new Year!)

Prepare some slips of paper, or even some pieces of thin card (postcard size) and give each
person two. Ask them to label one “thanks”, and the other “hopes”.
Tell everyone what you’re going to do – to take a minute or two to think of three things in the
last year for which you’d like to give thanks to God, and three things which you hope for in the
year ahead. Write these down on the relevant slip of paper.
Ask everyone to put their “thanks” slip in a heap on a coffee table in the middle of the room –
and to say a brief prayer of thanks as they do so.
Then do the same with the “hopes”.
Have someone read out Jeremiah 29:11 –
“I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you a hope and a future”

Sing a couple of worship songs together eg “The Lord’s my shepherd” or “ My Jesus my Saviour”
to give thanks some more.

Word
We’re spending the next two weeks looking at 1 Cor 12. This week’s passage is 1 Cor 12:1-11.
Look it up in your bibles, pray for the Lord to speak to you all through it, and then ask everyone
to listen carefully, and ask someone to read it out.

1. This may be a familiar passage (or it may not!) – but what did you particularly notice as it
was read?
2. What questions arise for you as you hear it again today?
(that might be enough to keep your discussion going, because it’s important to have time for the
ministry below – but if it isn’t, here’s some more:)

3. What does this passage show spiritual gifts to be, - what is common to all of them?
4. Who gives them, and what are they for? What does this say about how they should be
used?
5. What is the test of true spiritual gifts?
6. How would you like to grow in your experience of spiritual gifts?

Take a short while to listen to God together – and pray for one another to receive and develop
your spiritual gifts (do lay hands on each other and minister to one another) – and use the
spiritual gifts which God gives you!

Witness

Last Sunday (in the hall) Bruce encouraged us to pray ‘big’ prayers – to ask God for things which
we can’t even imagine. (see Ephesians 3:20&21). In terms of the kingdom of God, and of people
coming to know eternal life in Jesus, what are the things would you love to see, but which you
can’t imagine at the moment?
Which of those things might God be challenging you to pray into reality? Do some big thinking-
and then some big praying together!

Chris