CELL NOTES 7.4.08

 

ICE BREAKER

 

How did you view PE when at school? Favourite lesson? Avoid it at all costs? Take it or leave it? Something else?

 

THEME

 

Annual meeting – looking back over the past year and looking ahead to the year to come.

 

Reading: 1 Corinthians 12 : 12-20 & 27-30

 

SERMON OUTLINE

 

1) Our focus is on the concept of the church as a body, and the way we express that at All Saints.

 

2) A large number of people are involved in service in a wide variety of ways. The 44 names on the Sunday rota sheet is sizable in itself, but does not include a lot of us who serve in a wide variety of other ways.

 

3) It's good both to try things out, knowing that if it’s not for us that is fine, and to apparently fail – which is probably actually growth-giving experience.

 

4) Just as Jesus welcomed children – who are often noisy, messy, and demanding, so we need to sustain and build on the welcoming ethos we have – so that all people, whatever their background, are genuinely welcomed in our midst.

 

5) Part of our welcome needs to extend to other local churches, with whom we collaborate in a variety of ways.

 

6)  The body does not automatically grow in a healthy way. We need to take steps to build it. Prayer is vital. Shared activity and experience is as well. Activities such as our planned weekend away in April of 2009 are a central part to this.

 

7) The body needs to be a place of good news (the meaning of the word gospel). We need to persist in finding ways of being so. Hope on the Streets, cell outreach, a proposed special weekend in September, Alpha courses and Family Time etc. etc,. are all part of this.

 

8) All this needs a practical basis – and that includes finance. One real area of blessing recently has been with young people, a work very ably led by Ben. This depends on our giving to the independent Youth Worker Trust. At present that is operating at a loss. If you would like to contribute to this, to sustain and build this work, then contact David or Tim Hardie.

 

9) Loving God, each other and a broken world is what we are about. Let’s be grateful for all that we can see of that recently, and persist in developing that in the future.

 

10) Galatians 6 : 9 – 10

 

QUESTIONS OF APPLICATION

 

1) When have you most felt part of a unit, where all the parts worked together for a common goal?

 

2) Describe yourself as part of the body (eye, hand, foot etc.) Why did you select that part?

 

3) How connected are you to the body of the church? What could you do to make the body function better?

 

4) What has been your highlight in the last year? What is your hope for the year to come?

 

5) Take turns at affirming somebody else in the cell, saying what spiritual gifts and Christ-like qualities you see in them.

 

 

 

Don’t forget to talk about Hope on the Streets at Upperthorpe on 3rd May, and Hothorpe Hall – April 09