Questions should focus on the main meaning of the passage and its application. Here are four questions that can be used repeatedly with some variation:
1. What stands out to you in this passage?
2. What seems to be the main point of this passage?
3. Can you illustrate this truth from an experience in your life?
4. What is God saying to you right now?
For our sample passage of Philippians 3:12-14, you could use the suggestions below in an agenda:
1. Have someone read Philippians 3:12-14.
2. Ask: “What stands out to you in this passage?”
3. Ask: “What is something you gave up to follow Christ?” Note that some people give up obvious and ugly sins to follow Christ, but others like Paul have to give up things like religious legalism and self-righteousness.
4. Discuss: “What are some obstacles that prevent Christians like us from going on with God today?”
5. Move into smaller groups with three or four men or women in each group to share and pray together around this question: “What is God asking you to leave behind, and what is God calling you to reach for in the year ahead?”
Works. This final part of the meeting focuses on outreach. If this is consistently squeezed out of your meetings, move it before the Word time for four weeks straight. It is helpful in the Works time to use a tool like TOUCH’s “Blessing List” to keep cell members focused on praying for and loving their lost friends, co-workers and neighbors. We encourage the cells in our church to pray for the neighborhood of the home they meet in that week. Give practical suggestions like this in the Works portion of the agenda. Frequently suggest they plan parties and cookouts and invite these people to attend. Also, highlight upcoming churchwide harvest events to mobilize the cells to pray for and invite unbelievers. For a January agenda on Philippians 3:12-14, you could use suggestions like these:
1. What obstacles are keeping you from being more effective in evangelism? How can those obstacles be left behind as you reach for all God has for you in the year ahead?
2. Have your cell discuss the following questions in pairs and pray together: Who is one person you want to see come to Christ in the year ahead? What obstacles are keeping that person from Christ? Take time to bring that person to God in prayer. Ask for the obstacles you have named to be removed. Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal to that person their need and the love and power of Jesus.
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I highly recommend you dovetail your cell church agenda to your Sunday sermon themes. If you have begun to do this, the suggestions above may make your agendas even more powerful. By dynamically uniting Sunday messages and application in the cells, your two-winged church can soar.
