CELL NOTES  3/5/10  

ICE BREAKER  

What is your earliest memory of church?

THEME 

I believe in the holy, catholic church

Reading;  Mat 16 : 13 - 20

SERMON OUTLINE 

1) What do you associate with “Church”?

2) Catholic = “universal” “Church” is the translation for “Ecclesia” in the NT – means “Association of people.”

3) Church has a mixed history – but has become the worldwide family it is today, despite huge persecution in different places and times, from the very unpromising beginning of a small group in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

4) Was persecuted and marginalised until conversion of Constantine in AD 312. Since then very mixed history, but always the thread of renewal and those called by God to call the church back to real fellowship with him.

5) Many metaphors in the Bible for the church e.g. Bride of Christ (Rev 21 : 1 – 2), Family of God ( John 1 ; 12), Army of God ( Eph 6 : 10- 12)

6) Have always needed the three dynamics of Celebration ( Large group), congregation (Medium-sized group) and cell (Small group).

7) Huge price many Christians in many countries today pay for being part of the church.

8) The church (i.e. the people) is God’s only plan for growing the church. The Holy Spirit is God’s only, but entirely sufficient, resource for doing that.

QUESTIONS OF APPLICATION 

1) Read the passage. What hits you most? What did God say to you on Sunday? What will you do about it?

2)  What has been your experience of the different sizes of gathering? (See point 3). What impact do they have in your life?

3) What priority in your life do you give Sunday morning and cell? How do you prepare for these occasions? Why do you think so many folk arrive after 10.00 on a Sunday?

4) Which of the Bible metaphors for church do relate to best? Why do you think that is?