April 2013 Cell Material

april 2013

celloutlines | overview DEEP WATER – A chance to dive deeper into our theology and be sure we understand the basis of our faith and doctrines.

Delving into Doctrine This month we are continuing on the theme of Delving into Doctrine.

Week One will focus on Doctrine 6 – The Rescue – considering how the cross of Jesus is at the very heart of the Christian faith.

Week Two will combine Doctrines 7 and 8 – New Life – and will look at God’s free gift of salvation and how we are changed when we accept it.

In Week Three we will skip to Doctrine 11 and discover what the Bible has to say about the end of the world and the hope that we have for the future.

And finally, Week Four is the opportunity for you to do something completely different! Some space for you to reflect on and celebrate all you have considered over the last few weeks and to allow the signs of new life from nature inspire you to worship our amazing God and thank him for his presence in our lives… even if we don’t always understand all the theology!

Leader’s notes Recap It may be a good idea to quickly recap on last month’s discussions, and maybe re-read the introduction to the March cell notes again with your group.

Week 4 As you will see from the notes, the suggestion for Week Four is to do something completely different, by way of celebration and reflection on the theological journey that you will have been on over the previous seven weeks. This may take some forward planning, such as obtaining parental permission or risk assessments where necessary. You could involve your group in the planning of this session – or have it as a complete surprise!

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Easter As you start this month you will probably just have celebrated Easter. As mentioned last month, Doctrine 5 (at the end of last month) and Doctrine 6 (at the start of this month) wrap perfectly around the Easter weekend, and if you want to include any Easter content in Week One there are some fun Easter games suggested below and an Easter quiz.

Recommended Resources The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine R.T. Kendall, Understanding Theology. Volume 1 and Volume 2

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celloutlines | overview (continued...)

Easter Games Choose from any of the games below! Use hard-boiled, raw or chocolate eggs, depending on how much mess you want!

Egg Tower Split the group into two teams. Each team is issued with some newspapers, a roll of Sellotape and an egg. Ask each team to build as tall a tower as possible that will support the egg within a given amount of time.

Egg Race For this game you need two eggs and two spoons. Divide the group into teams and have them race round an obstacle course carrying the egg on the spoon. For a variation let them try carrying the spoon in the mouth!

Egg Throw Couples stand one pace apart and toss an egg to each other. They step back one pace and toss again. The winning couple is the one which is the furthest apart with their egg still intact. (Perhaps best done outdoors!)

Easter Egg Nose Rally Eggs must be rolled around a course, only using the nose.

Hidden Eggs Put ten mini chocolate eggs in a bowl of cream or flour. The players must fish the eggs out as quickly as possible, using only their mouths. They may eat what they find!

The Egg Case Each group receives an egg and some newspaper sheets. The task is to pack the egg in newspaper so that the egg survives being thrown out of the first or second floor of a building.

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Guess the Eggs Fill a jar or an assortment of jars with a number of chocolate or sweet eggs. Ask each person to guess the correct number of the eggs in the jar. The person with the closest number will get the jar as the prize. (They should be encouraged to share it.)

Chocolate Egg Bowling Roll a ball across the room until it stops. Each person then tries to roll their eggs to get closest to the ball.

Easter Egg Blow Use real hollow eggshells. Each person has a straw and an egg. Use the straw to blow the eggs across the room.

First person across is the winner.

Easter Charades Split the group into two teams. Team members act out an Easter word for their team-mates to guess using the normal charade rules.

Easter Pictionary As above, only group members draw an Easter word for their team to guess using normal Pictionary rules.

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celloutlines | overview (continued...)

Easter Quiz (Answers in bold) 1. As Jesus rode into Jerusalem (on Palm Sunday), what did he say would cry out if his disciples didn’t?

A. the stones B. the angels C. the earth D. the animals 2. What was the man carrying whom Peter and John followed to prepare the upper room for Passover?

A. a bushel of wheat B. a young lamb C. a pitcher of water D. a loaf of bread 3. What did Jesus give to Judas as a sign that he was to betray him?

A. Glass of wine B. Bread C. Jar of honey D. Bag of coins 4. Which of these things did NOT happen at the Last Supper?

A. The disciples sang a hymn B. Jesus washed the disciples’ feet C. Judas left to betray Jesus D. Jesus wept bitterly

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5. What was the sign that Jesus gave Peter in stating that he would deny him?

A. the sun would rise B. a rooster would crow twice C. someone would build a fire D. darkness would cover the land 6. What did Judas get for betraying Jesus?

A. 30 pieces of silver B. 30 pieces of gold C. A villa on Lake Galilee D. Nothing 7. Where was Jesus when he was arrested?

A. The Temple B. A garden C. The upper room D. A courtyard

8. At Jesus’ arrest, who cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant?

A. John B. James C. Peter D. The Bible doesn’t say 9. Who was the chief priest who had Jesus arrested?

A. Caiaphas B. Ananias C. Pilate D. Zechariah 10. Which of these people did NOT question Jesus after he was arrested?

A. Caiaphas B. Pontius Pilate C. Herod D. Caesar 11. On what charge did the Jewish court sentence Jesus to death?

A. Murder B. Blasphemy C. False witness D. Theft 12. What was the name of the prisoner the people wanted released instead of Jesus?

A. Barnabas B. Haman C. Barabbas D. Shalmaneser 13. Who was told to carry Jesus’ cross for him?

A. Joseph of Arimathea B. John C. Simon the Cyrenian D. Peter 14. Where was Jesus crucified?

A. The Mount of Olives B. Golgotha C. Jerusalem D. The Hinnom Valley 15. On what day of the week was Jesus crucified?

A. Monday B. Thursday C. Friday D. Saturday continued over u

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16. Which of these things did NOT happen when Jesus died?

22. What were the soldiers told to say regarding the missing body of Jesus?

A. The veil of the Temple was torn in two B. An earthquake C. Many saints were raised from the dead D. The moon turned blood red

A. His body fell into a crevice created by the earthquake B. His mother moved the body to a different tomb C. His disciples stole the body at night D. He wasn’t really dead – just unconscious

17. When Jesus was on the cross, the sky turned black. When did this happen?

A. 10am B. About midday C. 6pm D. Midnight 18. What happened when a soldier pierced Jesus’ crucified body?

A. Blood flowed out B. Water flowed out C. Blood and water flowed out D. Nothing flowed out 19. What did Jesus ask his Father to do about those who crucified him?

A. Take revenge B. Rescue them C. Forgive them D. Kill them 20. What did the soldier in charge of Jesus’ execution say just after he died?

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A.‘He died quickly’ B. ‘I’ve got a bad feeling about this?’

C. ‘He was the son of God’ D. Let’s all go for a coffee’ 21. Who owned the tomb where Jesus was buried?

A. Joseph of Arimathea B. Simon the Cyrenian C. Nicodemus D. Mary Magdalene

23. On what day of the week was Jesus first seen after his resurrection?

A. Friday B. Saturday C. Sunday D. Monday 24. To whom did Jesus first appear after his resurrection?

A. Mary Magdalene B. His mother Mary C. Peter D. Matthew 25. Which disciple said he would not believe Jesus had risen unless he could see the nail marks in his hands?

A. Andrew B. James C. Peter D. Thomas 26. How many people saw Jesus after his death?

A. Mary, Peter and Thomas B. The 12 disciples C. Over 500 D. No one

Taken from www.BibleStudyMen.com and Insight: reflections and resources on Christian youth ministry and leadership. http://insight.typepad.co.uk/insight/

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april 2013

celloutlines | week one These Cell Outlines are written by ALOVE UK. They are available each week from our web site. For more information and other cell resources, visit www.salvationarmy.org.uk/alove/resources

Doctrine 6 – The Rescue Welcome As it has just been Easter weekend, use any of the Easter games or the Easter Quiz as detailed in the introduction to start your time together.

Word 1. Read Doctrine 6 together and have a go at rewriting it in your own words.

Doctrine Six: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by his suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.

Doctrine in simplified form: On the cross Jesus suffered and died for the sins of everyone, so that whoever wants may be saved.

Doctrine in your own words

2. Watch a video clip to illustrate the theme of the atonement. Perhaps from The Passion of the Christ (NB 18 certificate); The Miracle Maker; or The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

How about: The Miracle Maker – Jesus’ Crucifixion, set to ‘Everything I do, I do it for You’

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www.youtube.com/watch?v=JroyjxTx7ls Or perhaps use an example from a film clip or story where someone sacrifices him/herself for someone they love, or of a daring rescue. For example: a clip from the film Vertical Limit; from the end of Robin Hood Prince of Thieves when Robin rescues Marion; or the following news article from Fox News 23 May 2008: The White House announced Friday that a Pennsylvania soldier who jumped on top of a grenade in Iraq and saved the lives of his comrades will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor. The nation’s highest military honor will be given to 19-year-old Army Pfc. Ross McGinnis of Knox, Pa., on June 2. McGinnis ‘distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism,’ said White House deputy press secretary Tony Fratto.

McGinnis was perched in the gunner’s hatch of a Humvee when a grenade sailed past him and into the truck where four other soldiers sat. He shouted a warning to the others, then jumped on the grenade. The grenade, which was lodged near the vehicle’s radio, blew up and killed him. Lt. Col. Anne Edgecomb, an Army spokeswoman, said McGinnis easily could have jumped out of the truck and saved himself. ‘The instinct is, jump out of the vehicle, but his four buddies were in the vehicle with him... and he chose to place himself on top of the grenade and absorb the impact, and it saved their lives.’ He died on Dec. 4, 2006.

3. Unpacking the Doctrine.

Use any of the following thoughts as you find useful to unpack the Doctrine for your group.

At the end of the last month we found ourselves in a tricky situation. We discovered that we need help to deal with the problem of sin. God cannot simply just overlook our sin and say that it doesn’t matter – he is a holy God continued over u

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celloutlines | week one (continued...) after all. In this session, as we look at Doctrine 6, we will discover that God has the answer.

‘For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its saviour’ (John 3:16-17 GNT).

The cross of Jesus is central to the Christian faith and is the greatest expression of God’s love for humanity… and it is at the very heart of God’s rescue plan for his world. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, the whole world can be rescued from lives distorted and dislocated by sin. Through the cross, God overcame the separation caused by sin and people were once again brought back into a right relationship with him. This reconciliation is called the Atonement, which literally means ‘making at one’, or ‘at-one-ment’. God has made us at one with himself.

Exactly how Jesus’ death on the cross took care of sin is a mystery. It is very difficult – probably impossible – ever to really fully explain or understand the full impact of Jesus’ death. The Bible uses different images and illustrations to encourage us to think of Jesus’ death and resurrection in the following ways:

A demonstration of God’s love The cross of Jesus is the ‘ultimate demonstration of God’s transforming and forgiving love’, and through it God is saying, ‘Although you are sinners, I still love you enough to die for you.’

‘But God has shown us how much he loves us—it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!’

(Romans 5:8 GNT).

A victory over evil Colossians 2:13-15 tells us that Jesus’ death was like a battle against sin and death and evil. It was a battle that the Bible claims Jesus won. Jesus faced evil at its worst and it could not stop him loving and forgiving. At the cross, evil was finally defeated, and we can experience that victory in our own lives.

‘And on that cross Christ freed himself from the power of the spiritual rulers and authorities; he made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in his victory procession’ (Colossians 2:15 GNT).

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A sacrifice In the world in which Jesus lived, people would offer up sacrifices to God. Some were for praise and thanksgiving, but others were offered so that God would forgive their sins. In Hebrews we are told that Jesus’ death was like the perfect, ultimate and final sacrifice for everyone’s sins. There would never need to be another one!

‘But Christ offered himself as a sacrifice that is good forever. Now he is sitting at God’s right side, and he will stay there until his enemies are put under his power. By his one sacrifice he has forever set free from sin the people he brings to God’ (Hebrews 10:12-14 CEV).

A ransom The term ‘ransom’ was used in slave markets of the ancient world where a slave was set free through the payment given by another person. We are slaves to sin; we cannot free ourselves by our own efforts. Jesus has paid the ultimate price, made the ultimate exchange, for our freedom by his death on the cross.

‘For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many’ (Mark 10:45 NIV).

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celloutlines | week one (continued...)

A substitute Romans 3 uses this kind of legal picture to show that even though we deserve to be found guilty of our sins, Jesus has accepted the punishment we deserve. We can be found ‘not guilty’ if we believe and accept his lordship over our lives.

‘He was wounded and crushed because of our sins; by taking our punishment, he made us completely well’ (Isaiah 53:5 CEV).

Jesus’ death restores and redeems We have seen how sin distorts people’s relationship with God, with each other and with God’s world. Colossians 1:20 tells us that Jesus’ death creates a way so that these relationships can be restored as God originally intended.

‘Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son’s blood on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven’ (Colossians 1:20 GNT).

So Jesus’ death on the cross is all these things and more! It’s so massive, so world-changing, so life-changing, so amazing, that not one theory or explanation of it will do it justice! God has broken sin’s power over our lives once and for all and has made a way for salvation for us all! When we put our faith in Jesus, come to him with repentance in our hearts, we can experience the power of the cross deep within our lives right now. Exactly how we go about this will be the subject of the next session where we will focus on Doctrines 7 and 8.

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4. Draw out the following diagram on a large piece of flipchart/wallpaper (or give each person their own printed copy).

Discuss each one of these biblical illustrations of the great effect of Jesus’ death on the cross in turn and ask for any examples of how people may have experienced each one in their own lives. For example: one person may feel that they have been able to ‘overcome evil’ in their life by way of gaining victory over a bad habit or addiction; one person may acutely feel the forgiveness of Jesus and freedom from guilt for something wrong or bad that they did; another person may have felt keenly the idea of Jesus as a substitute, taking the punishment that they know they should have received; another person may have been overwhelmed by the love of God when they first realised and understood about the cross.

If your group members struggle to think of practical examples, then discuss how each one of those things could be experienced in real ways in your lives.

Jot down notes on the diagram (see next page) as you discuss.

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Action Encourage the group to ponder on Jesus’ work on the cross throughout the week and look for experiences where it becomes real in their lives. Ask them to share their experiences next week, eg, asking for and receiving forgiveness.

Prayer Use either of the following songs (or one of your own choosing) in a time of reflective worship, encouraging each person to think on all that Jesus has done for each one of us through his death on the cross. Encourage people to pray out loud their prayers of thanks. (You may find other songs from the album The Power of the Cross by Integrity Music 2010 featuring various artists)

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Delirious: ‘Majesty’ Here I am humbled by your majesty Covered by your grace so free Here I am, knowing I’m a sinful man Covered by the blood of the Lamb Now I’ve found the greatest love of all is mine Since you laid down your life The greatest sacrifice Majesty, Majesty, Your grace has found me just as I am Empty handed, but alive in your hands Majesty, Majesty Forever I am changed by your love In the presence of your Majesty Here I am humbled by the love that you give Forgiven so that I can forgive Here I stand, knowing that I’m your desire Sanctified by glory and fire Now I’ve found the greatest love of all is mine Since you laid down your life The greatest sacrifice Written by Stu Garrard/Martin Smith ©2003 Curious? Music UK

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(NB. On YouTube you can find this track playing with images from The Passion of the Christ – but bear in mind the film carries an 18 certificate.)

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Delirious: Message of the Cross This is the message of the cross, that we can be free, To live in the victory, and turn from our sin, My precious Lord Jesus, with sinners you died, For there you revealed your love and you laid down your life.

This is the message of the cross, that we can be free, To lay all our burdens here, at the foot of the tree, The cross was the shame of the world, but the glory of God, For, Jesus, you conquered sin and you gave us new life!

You set me free when I came to the cross, Poured out your blood for I was broken and lost, There I was healed and you covered my sin, It’s there you saved me, this is the message of the cross.

This is the message of the cross, that we can be free, To hunger for Heaven, to hunger for thee, ‘The cross is such foolishness to the perishing, But to us who are being saved, it is the power of God!’ You set us free when we come to the cross, You pour out your blood for we are broken and lost.

Here we are healed and you cover our sin, It’s here you save us, You set me free when I come to the cross, Pour out your blood for I am broken and lost Here I am healed and you cover my sin, It’s here you save me, this is the message of the cross.

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Let us rejoice at the foot of the cross, We can be free, glory to God. (repeat) Thank you Lord, thank you Lord, You’ve set us free, glory to God. (repeat) Written by Martin Smith ©1994 Curious? Music UK NB. Next week you may be asking group members to share their ‘testimony’ of how they became a Christian. It may be a good idea to prepare them so they have chance to think about it before the next session!

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celloutlines | week two These Cell Outlines are written by ALOVE UK. They are available each week from our web site. For more information and other cell resources, visit www.salvationarmy.org.uk/alove/resources

Doctrines 7 and 8 – New Life Welcome Give out the baby animal quiz sheet, attached below, and see who can get the most right answers; it’s harder than it looks! (Tenuous link to the theme of New Life!?)

Feedback from last week What ‘experiences of the cross’ have group members had this week?

Word 1. Read Doctrines 7 and 8 together and having a go at rewriting them in your own words.

Doctrine Seven We believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, are necessary to salvation.

Doctrine Eight We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.

Doctrines in simplified form To be saved we must be truly sorry for doing wrong and trust in Jesus; then the Holy Spirit will make us new people. Salvation is a free gift from God. It is received when we believe in Jesus; and when we are saved we know it and show it.

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Doctrines in your own words

2. To illustrate Doctrines 7 and 8 use the classic example of food colouring and bleach. Start with a jar of clean water, which illustrates mankind as we were made in the image of God as we discussed last month. Then add some food colouring as you remind the group how we discussed the problem of sin in the world and in us. Then pour some bleach into the jar and watch it disperse the colour until it is clear again. Explain that this is what Jesus did on the cross, as we discussed in the last session, and is what brings us right back into the place with God where we were always meant to be! (Practise this beforehand, and be careful with the bleach!)

3. Unpacking the Doctrines.

Try asking the group if they know what any of the following words/phrases mean in the context of these Doctrines: repentance, faith, regeneration, justification, ‘hath the witness in himself’.

Use any of the following thoughts as you find useful to unpack the Doctrines for your group, in particular to explain what some of the long words within Doctrines 7 and 8 mean! You may want to jot down notes on some flipchart paper as you unpack some of these themes.

Doctrines 7 and 8 tell us that we can become part of the amazing thing that Jesus has done by ‘being truly sorry continued over u

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celloutlines | week two (continued...) for doing wrong’ and by trusting in him, receiving God’s free gift of salvation And at the heart of Salvationist theology is the belief that anyone can be saved if they put their faith in God (1 Peter 2:8-9).

The Bible tells us that when we commit ourselves to Jesus in this way by putting our faith in him and turning away from all the things that distort us, the Holy Spirit starts to produce something new within us. We are changed from the inside out, allowing the world around to see the tangible life-transforming power of God’s salvation at work in our lives. We know deep down inside us that we belong to Jesus and that nothing can change that; we become part of God’s family, we can live with more joy, peace and love than we ever did before.

And anyone can be part of it!

‘God makes people right with himself through their faith in Jesus Christ. This is true for all who believe in Christ, because all people are the same: Everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s glorious standard, and all need to be made right with God by his grace, which is a free gift. They need to be made free from sin through Jesus Christ. God sent him to die in our place to take away our sins. We receive forgiveness through faith in the blood of Jesus’ death’ (Romans 3: 22-25 NCV).

Doctrines 7 and 8 use four big words to describe how we accept Jesus’ death and resurrection in our own life and are forgiven from our sin.

Repentance Faith Justification Regeneration Let’s unpack what these words mean as we discuss our response to Jesus and the changes that take place within us when we accept his offer of new life.

Responding to and accepting Jesus

Repentance

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‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’

Mark 1:14-15 (NIV) We often assume that the word repentance means being sorry, but in fact it has a deeper meaning that this.

One of the New Testament words that are used to mean ‘repentance’ is the Greek word ‘metanoia’. This means ‘to change one’s mind’. Repentance means that we recognise that sin is wrong and we turn away from our sins towards God. It is not simply feeling regret without bothering to change. It’s more like a 180 degree turn around – away from sin and towards God. And it involves a determination, with God’s help, not to commit those sins again.

Faith ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.’

Acts 16:31 (NIV) Real faith means a personal trust – believing in Jesus, believing that he can and does forgive our sins. This is more than simply believing various statements or facts about Jesus. Faith is the amazing gift of a relationship with Jesus, involving trust and commitment, believing that he has set us free to live for him.

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Free gift, not by our own good works It’s important to say that what is NOT required to save us is good works. No matter how good we are, we can never earn our salvation or replace what Jesus has done for us. If being a good person is enough to save us, then Jesus’ death wasn’t needed and was pointless. Repentance and trust are the responses that each of us makes to the unconditional love of God, which continues to be offered whether we turn to God or not.

The Changes that take place in us

Justification ‘…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.’

Romans 3:23-24 (NIV) Doctrine 8 states that we are ‘justified by grace through faith’. To be justified means to be ‘made right’. It means to be pronounced not guilty, to be acquitted or vindicated. The word ‘justification’ describes the act of God which changes the relationship between us and him. It is his gift to us, by his extravagant grace, that when we repent and believe, he forgives and forgets… and then he looks on us as holy people. We are accepted by God as we are, because we have trusted in the one who saves us – Jesus!

Regeneration ‘I tell you for certain that before you can get into God’s kingdom, you must be born not only by water, but by the Spirit. Humans give life to their children. Yet only God’s Spirit can change you into a child of God.’ John 3:5-6 (NCV) Just as we have been born naturally, so a person is born spiritually when they become a Christian. This is what the phrase ‘born again’ means and is what Doctrine 7 calls ‘regeneration’. At every point on our discipleship journey it is our relationship with God by his Holy Spirit that makes the process of transformation possible. The Holy Spirit works within us to lead us on the path of holiness, making us more like Jesus.

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‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!’

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Adopted into God’s family ‘The Spirit we received does not make us slaves again to fear; it makes us children of God. With that Spirit we cry out, “Father.”

And the Spirit himself joins with our spirits to say we are God’s children.

If we are God’s children, we will receive blessings from God together with Christ.’

Romans 8:15-17 (NCV) In being born spiritually through the Holy Spirit, we become members of a new, spiritual family. We are sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ. We are part of God’s worldwide family and members of the local and global church.

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celloutlines | week two (continued...)

Inward assurance ‘God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are.

We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children.’

Romans 8:15 (The Message) William Booth used to say that there were ‘think-so’ Christians and there were ‘hope-so’ Christians, but Salvationists must be ‘know-so’ Christians! When we trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit gives us an inward assurance that we are forgiven and made members of God’s family. This is what Doctrine 8 means by the phrase ‘witness in himself’. The Holy Spirit gives us confidence to receive all the blessing that God has to give us.

4. Ask each person to briefly share their own testimony of how they became a Christian. Can they use any of the phrases or long words above as they describe their experience?

OR 5. Try a little role play: Ask the group to get into pairs, and have one person be someone who has recently become a Christian telling a non-Christian friend all about it. Let them try this using as much Christian ‘jargon’ as they possibly can, using the words such as repentance, justification and atonement in the correct manner. And then they can try it without using these words, but instead with more everyday language. You could allow the ‘non-Christian’ person to ask some difficult questions about repentance or justification!

Prayer ‘God makes people right with himself through their faith in Jesus Christ. This is true for all who believe in Christ, because all people are the same: Everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s glorious standard, and all need to be made right with God by his grace, which is a free gift. They need to be made free from sin through Jesus Christ. God sent him to die in our place to take away our sins. We receive forgiveness through faith in the blood of Jesus’ death.’

Romans 3: 22-25 (NCV)

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Ask the group to have a go at rewriting the above Scripture passage in their own words. Then turn this into a prayer and use in a time of prayer together.

If you want to worship together in response to the theme of this session, try ‘Oh Happy Day’ by Tim Hughes!

(You may find other appropriate tracks from the album The Power of the Cross by Integrity Music 2010 featuring various artists.)

Action Memorise the verse above.

Tell someone this week that you are a Christian and what that means!

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celloutlines | week two (continued...)

Baby Animal Quiz Write down the correct term for the ‘young’ (babies) of the following animals.

Badger

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Giraffe

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Deer

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Goat

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Seal

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Zebra

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Tiger

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Elephant

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Pig

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Kangaroo _______________________________________ Sheep

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Bear

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Hare

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Beaver

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Rabbit

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Hedgehog

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Penguin

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Eagle

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Goose

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Horse

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Jellyfish

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Llama

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Peacock

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Shark

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Dolphin

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Swan

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celloutlines | week two (continued...)

Baby Animal Quiz Answers Write down the correct term for the ‘young’ (babies) of the following animals.

Badger Answer: Cub Giraffe

Answer: Calf

Deer

Answer: Fawn

Goat Answer: Kid Seal

Answer: Calf

Zebra

Answer: Foal

Tiger Answer: Cub Elephant Answer: Calf Pig Answer: Piglet Kangaroo Answer: Joey Sheep

Answer: Lamb

Bear Answer: Cub Hare Answer: Leveret Beaver Answer: Kitten Rabbit Answer: Kit Hedgehog Answer: Hoglet Penguin Answer: Chick Eagle Answer: Eaglet Goose Answer: Gosling

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Horse Jellyfish

Answer: Foal

Answer :Ephyna

Llama Answer: Cria Peacock Answer: Peachick Shark

Answer: Pup

Dolphin Answer: Calf Swan

Answer: Cygnet

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april 2013

celloutlines | week three These Cell Outlines are written by ALOVE UK. They are available each week from our web site. For more information and other cell resources, visit www.salvationarmy.org.uk/alove/resources

Doctrine 11 – The Future Welcome Have a selection of travel brochures from a variety of different destinations (eg, beaches, mountains, snow, theme parks). Ask the group to flick through the brochures and to find and cut out a picture of a destination of somewhere that would represent their ‘dream destination’; somewhere similar to a place they have always dreamt of going, or similar to a place where they have been that was fantastic! Share with the group what each person has chosen and why.

Feedback from last week Did any group members manage to memorise Romans 3:22-25?

Were any group members able to tell someone that they are a Christian?

Word 1. Read Doctrine 11 together and having a go at rewriting it in your own words.

Doctrine Eleven We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked.

Doctrine in simplified form When our present bodies die we ourselves go on living in a new and different way. At the end of the world Jesus will judge all people. Those who have chosen him to be their saviour will be happy to live with him as their king, for ever. Those who have not done so will always be unhappy because they chose what separates them from all that is good and lovely.

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Doctrine in your own words

2. Tom and Jerry (Heaven and Hell) Watch the following fun video clip on YouTube (around three minutes long). www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tlkf6zUcpg (If your group really want to watch the whole clip you can find it here – around eight minutes long!)

CHQ Tom and Jerry 042 Heavenly Puss www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVhUcmE4l50 3. Refer back to the holiday brochures and the pictures your group members have cut out.

Explain that holiday brochures usually tell us enough about a place to whet our appetites and want to go there.

In the Bible we are given glimpses of what Heaven is like but no one really knows the whole picture. We won’t fully understand everything about the themes of this session, or about Heaven, until we finally get there.

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4. Unpacking the Doctrine.

The Salvation Army Doctrine 11 presents us with three great biblical truths about what will happen at the end of the world, the ‘end times’: Death will not be the end of our lives – we have been made to spend eternity with God. God will raise us up to a brand new kind of life with ‘resurrection’ bodies.

Jesus will return some day to judge the earth.

Write these three statements out on separate pieces of flipchart paper and then discuss with the group what they know about each one, or what questions they have. Use the following notes during your discussion as you find useful to unpack each statement and the Doctrine with your group. Jot down your discussions on the paper.

God has made us for eternity – death is not the end For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.

John 3:16 (NIV) We believe that we are made in the image of God and that God has made us for eternity. Although we will all die at some point, death is not the end. When we die, the bodies we currently live in are finished, but our spirit isn’t.

We will be with God forever, in brand new bodies, living in his perfect love!

God will raise us to a brand new kind of life, hope of Heaven ‘Everyone who has faith in the Son has eternal life’ John 3:36 (CEV).

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Although no one really knows exactly what Heaven and eternity will look like, it probably won’t be full of people dressed in white robes perching on clouds! But neither will it be full of disembodied spirits! We do know that Heaven will be a place made up of real people made completely new by the power of Jesus Christ.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians about two bodies: one that gets old and tired and eventually wears out, and the other body that is ‘imperishable’ and will be immune to sickness and will not grow old (1 Corinthians 15).

Although physically our bodies are growing old and will one day die, God will raise us up after death with brand new bodies.

‘We will all be changed, so that we will never die again. Our dead and decaying bodies will be changed into bodies that won’t die or decay. The bodies we now have are weak and can die. But they will be changed into bodies that are eternal.’

1 Corinthians 15:52-54 (CEV) This is essentially what Doctrine 11 means by the first two phrases: the ‘immortality of the soul’ and the ‘resurrection of the body’. They are different ways of talking about our belief in a resurrected life after death.

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The immortality of the soul

The resurrection of the body

This is the amazing promise that death is not the end, which is essential to the gospel message.

The phrase means that the physical body dies, but we are still whole persons, and our whole personality and identity will live on into eternity.

‘Body’ here means the whole person – we will not become ghosts or disembodied spirits, but fully alive, whole persons.

We all die, but death is not the end for either the believer or non-believer. All will be raised to stand before God.

God will judge the world, his final purpose to restore all of creation ‘He has set a day when he will judge the world’s people with fairness. And he has chosen the man Jesus to do the judging for him. God has given proof of this to all of us by raising Jesus from death’

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Acts 17:31 (CEV).

We believe that the world is moving towards a time which biblical writers sometimes describe as ‘the Day of the Lord’. This is how God intends to finally wrap up the story of the world with an awesome final act of rescue and restoration. One day Jesus will return to judge the world. All people will be judged by their reaction to him.

We will also all be held accountable to God for the way we have lived, for our choices, attitudes, actions and stewardship of what was trusted to us. God will judge us, and we can entrust to his absolute justice and mercy those whose lives are very different from ours, eg, people of other faiths.

People who trust in Jesus have the chance to live again with him in Heaven. People who don’t trust Jesus give up that chance of being with him for ever, and will discover the reality of eternity outside of God’s love. This is one way of explaining what Doctrine 11 means by ‘the eternal happiness of the righteous’ and ‘the endless punishment of the wicked’. Because of our faith in Jesus ‘we can be without fear on the day God judges us, because in this world we are like him’ (1 John 4:17 NCV).

To believe in judgment is to accept the idea of hell and Heaven. There are a handful of places in the Bible which paint horrifying pictures of hell and remind us that people who reject Jesus face separation from him for ever. (It is worth noting, though, that in the New Testament the word ‘hell’ is only used approximately 12 times, whereas words such as restoration, reconciliation, healing, redemption and love are used in far greater numbers).

Heaven, on the other hand, is described in the Bible as a wedding feast, a celebration, a beautiful city – all these pictures attempt to describe what is beyond our limited imagination: the entire creation in harmony and at peace with its creator… God in the midst of the celebration!

Of course we all have questions about Heaven, hell and eternal life and there is a lot that we may never completely understand about the end times. But the New Testament writers tell us enough to encourage each

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celloutlines | week three (continued...) of us of our future hope. The Christian life is full of hope – hope that reaches beyond today to life with God for ever. It is a life of joy in the presence of Christ, anticipating the life to come. It is a life of trust, full of confidence in the ultimate purposes of God in Christ. We have this hope because of our belief in the resurrection of Jesus, which assures us that death does not have the final say over human destiny; God does!

These truths were very real for the early Salvationists and drove their whole way of life. They prioritised the things of God to prepare for Heaven, and the reality of hell also generated urgency in sharing the gospel. They also wanted to live lives pleasing and honouring to God, as a response to his great love revealed in Jesus.

5. ‘The day I died was the best day of my life’.

A musician / pop singer / songwriter called Just Jack released a single in 2009 called ‘The Day I Died’. The lyrics of the chorus are as follows: The day I died was the best day of my life (2x) Tell my friends and my kids and my wife everything will be alright The day I died was the best day of my life.

Allow an open time of discussion with your group as to whether they agree with these lyrics. Is the day that we die, as Christians, the best day of our life? Is it something to look forward to? Why, or why not? What have they learnt through this session to inform their thoughts?

Action Read the following Scriptures together.

‘Jesus said to his disciples, “Don’t be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together”’ John 14:1-3 (CEV).

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‘Don’t store treasures for yourselves here on earth where moths and rust will destroy them and thieves can break in and steal them. But store your treasures in heaven where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them.’

Matthew 6:19-20 (NCV).

Discuss together, and jot down on some flipchart paper in the centre of the group, how our knowledge of the future life that awaits us should impact and change the way we live on earth now.

Then ask each person individually to think about any ways that they feel they should personally change.

Allow people to share this together if appropriate.

Prayer Put on some reflective music and ask the group to take some time to meditate on the following verses. Then write a psalm of thanks and praise to God for the assurance of eternal life and hope of Heaven, and use these psalms in a time of corporate prayer and worship.

‘One of the elders asked me, “Do you know who these people are that are dressed in white robes? Do you know where they come from?”

“Sir,” I answered, “you must know.”

Then he told me: “These are the ones who have gone through the great suffering. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and have made them white.

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Revelation 7:13–17 (CEV) ‘God gave us eternal life; the life is in his Son. So, whoever has the Son has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life…. My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God’s Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion.’

1 John 5:11-15 (The Message)

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And so they stand before the throne of God and worship him in his temple day and night.

The one who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.

They will never hunger or thirst again, and they won’t be troubled by the sun or any scorching heat.

The Lamb in the centre of the throne will be their shepherd.

He will lead them to streams of life-giving water, and God will wipe all tears from their eyes.”’

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april 2013

celloutlines | week four These Cell Outlines are written by ALOVE UK. They are available each week from our web site. For more information and other cell resources, visit www.salvationarmy.org.uk/alove/resources

Week Four: Celebration of Life!

Well done on making it through the last seven cell groups delving into the Doctrines of The Salvation Army!

We have looked at many different theological topics, and hopefully your cell group members have a deeper understanding of their own faith. The theme that resonates throughout has been that of New Life: we are accepted, transformed and filled with hope through our relationship with God made possible through Jesus!

Also throughout this month we have seen some signs of change in the world around us. The evenings are getting lighter; the sun has begun to shine dispersing the endless grey of the long, miserable winter; spring has sprung; and the signs of new life are all around. The promises of a new season are in the air!

The idea for this week’s cell group is to take a break from studying theology and go out and celebrate it. Go out and enjoy the changing season and explore the new life beginning all around us! Use what you see to inspire you to pray together in creative new ways.

You can, of course, conduct this cell group however you wish. There are a few ideas below which you may choose to use or adapt if relevant to your group.

Setting: Get outside in the fresh spring air… anywhere will do as long as you can get close to nature. A local park, beach, woods, river bank, field, canal, wildlife sanctuary, cliff top…

Time: Late afternoon, before it gets dark; but you could include those magical hours of dusk as the sun is setting!

New Life Scavenger Hunt:

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Organise a scavenger hunt to encourage your group to look for signs of spring and new life in your location.

Encourage your group to think ‘out of the box’ and to look for items that represent some of the deep biblical truths which you have been discussing over the last couple of months.

It may be easier to do this as a photo scavenger hunt, with group members noting down what they have found on a sheet of paper and then taking a digital photo on their phone or camera. This will discourage people from picking flowers or disturbing wildlife, and can also be used for larger items or for taking pictures of the view etc.

Send your group out in pairs with a time limit, and with clear boundaries of how far they can wander. At the agreed finishing time have everyone gather back together and share your findings/photos with each other (by passing around the cameras/phones or downloading to a computer, as you obviously won’t have any printed photos).

Some ideas for your scavenger hunt could include: 1. Three signs of new life 2. Something colourful 3. Spring flowers 4. Something that smells good 5. Something that feels soft 6. A sound that relaxes you 7. Water continued over u

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8. A bug that amazes you 9. Something that represents the old, decaying life 10. Something that gives you hope 11. Something beautiful 12. Something ugly 13. Something that inspires you to worship 14. Something that speaks of the Trinity 15. Something that reminds you of the cross 16. Something that points you to Heaven

Fire: If the location permits, as it grows dusk you could build and light a fire (use a fire pit to protect the environment).

Gather round the fire and cook sausages or toast marshmallows. Watch the sunset if possible. Perhaps even watch the moon and stars as they appear in the darkening sky. Allow this to fuel prayers of thanks at the ‘bigness’ of God, way beyond our limited understanding, but real in our lives nonetheless!

If you can’t light a fire, try getting some sparklers or glow sticks instead!

Readings: Choose some of the significant Bible passages or stories that you have considered over the last couple of months and bring them with you on slips of paper (some ideas are attached below). As you gather round the fire distribute the slips of paper and ask people to take turns reading aloud, then allow time for quiet reflection.

Prayers: Pray together. Thank Jesus for your new life and commit yourself afresh to living 100 per cent for him.

Worship: If you have any musicians take some time to sing/play some songs of worship around the fire.

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Ideas for Readings I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of Heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again; he ascended into Heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. continued over u

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‘For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its saviour.’

John 3:16-17 (GNT) ‘God makes people right with himself through their faith in Jesus Christ. This is true for all who believe in Christ, because all people are the same: Everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s glorious standard, and all need to be made right with God by his grace, which is a free gift. They need to be made free from sin through Jesus Christ. God sent him to die in our place to take away our sins. We receive forgiveness through faith in the blood of Jesus’ death.’

Romans 3: 22-25 (NCV) Sin, to many of us, is a distant thing that doesn’t have any impact in the real world around us. The trouble is that sin didn’t just enter the world thousands of years ago but that it enters the world every single day when we choose to pick and eat the apples of greed, lust, anger, pride, jealousy and self-centredness.

Cris Rogers – A Monkey’s Orientation ‘Jesus said to his disciples, “Don’t be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together.”’

John 14:1-3 (CEV) ‘Don’t store treasures for yourselves here on earth where moths and rust will destroy them and thieves can break in and steal them. But store your treasures in heaven where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them.’

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Matthew 6:19-20 (NCV) ‘Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth had disappeared, and there was no sea anymore. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It was prepared like a bride dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Now God’s presence is with people, and he will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them and will be their God.. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, sadness, crying, or pain, because all the old ways are gone.’

Revelation 21:1-4 (NCV).

One of the elders asked me, “Do you know who these people are that are dressed in white robes? Do you know where they come from?”

“Sir,” I answered, “you must know.”

Then he told me: “These are the ones who have gone through the great suffering. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and have made them white.

And so they stand before the throne of God and worship him in his temple day and night.

The one who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.

They will never hunger or thirst again, and they won’t be troubled by the sun or any scorching heat.

The Lamb in the centre of the throne will be their shepherd.

He will lead them to streams of life-giving water, and God will wipe all tears from their eyes.”’

Revelation 7:13-17 (CEV).

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Archbishop Desmond Tutu tells a true story about an incident that took place at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The commission followed a set of very simple rules. If a policeman or army officer voluntarily faced his accusers, confessed to his crime and fully acknowledged his guilt, he would not be punished. Hardliners grumbled that criminals would go free, but Nelson Mandela said that his nation needed healing even more than it needed justice.

At one hearing, a white police officer named Van de Broek told how he and other policemen had abducted and shot an 18-year-old boy and then burned his body like a piece of barbecue meat in order to hide the evidence.

Eight years later, Van de Broek returned to the same house and seized the boys’ father. This time, the mans wife was forced to watch as the policeman bound her husband, threw him on a woodpile, poured gasoline over his body and set him on fire.

The courtroom was hushed in stunned silence as this elderly woman who had lost her son and then her husband was given a chance to confront their murderer. ‘What do you want from Mr Van de Broek?’ the judge asked. Everyone listened intently as the old woman spoke. She said she wanted Van de Broek to go to the place where they buried her son’s body and gather up the dust of his remains so they could give him a decent burial.

Staring down at the table, Van de Broek nodded in agreement.

Then she made a further request. ‘Mr Van de Broek took my family away from me, and I still have a lot of love to give. Twice a month I would like him to come to the township and spend a day with me so I can be a mother to him. And I would like Mr Van de Broek to know that he is forgiven by God and that I forgive him also. Finally I would like to embrace him so that he knows that my love is real.’ It was unimaginable!

At that moment the courtroom spontaneously erupted into a chorus of ‘Amazing Grace’ as this old woman made her way from her chair to the witness stand.

Mr Van de Broek never heard a word of the singing. Overwhelmed with emotion, he had passed out cold on the courtroom floor.

Philip Yancey – Rumours of Another World It Should Have Been Me

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In this meditation I want you to imagine you are a Jew living 2000 years ago when Israel was conquered by Romans.

Close your eyes and use your imagination to see yourself in a dungeon. You are a prisoner and you only have a few hours left to live before the authorities are going to crucify you. All sorts of regrets fill your mind: Why did I fight? Why did I murder that man? You try to put your thoughts aside, but the anticipation of death ahead seems to cloud and darken your mind. Nothing seems to take away the agony and utter devastation you feel.

You joke with others in your cell that today is your big day, but everything within you is screaming for a way out. You wonder how you are going to face your family and friends. You begin to pray for a brave heart but end up screaming inwardly for God to forgive you and get you out of this mess. Heaven seems to be closed to you and you decide if there really is a God then either he is sleeping or he doesn’t hear prayers from a waster liked you. You feel as though your head is going to explode with the heaviness of your thoughts, but at that precise moment the door is opened and your jailer tells you it’s time for you to leave. You get up to walk out of your cell, but your legs give way from under you. You stumble across the room, knowing that this will be the last walk you will ever take.

As you reach the entrance to the cell you are told you are to be taken to see the governor. You don’t understand why, but think this may be one of their ‘procedures’ before your ultimate journey’s end – dying on a rough tree they call a ‘cross’.

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Your heart is beating wildly as you walk into the governor’s room. He takes one look at you and says, ‘You are free to go!’

‘Free to go? What do you mean? How can this be? I am due to be crucified today!’

The governor’s reply seems to echo throughout the prison: ‘You are free because someone else took your place.

He was crucified instead of you.’

You can hardly take the words in! Your heart is thumping in your chest – so many questions fill your mind: Why did someone else die in my place? Why I am being given the right to live? Relief floods through your whole being. You are alive, you are no longer condemned to die, all your guilt has been cancelled out, you are free.

You quickly leave the prison and run into the fresh air. You look at the grass, the trees, the leaves, the sky.

Thankfulness and joy floods your being as you fill your lungs with fresh pure air. On the horizon across the sky you suddenly see three crosses. You run out of the city to the hill called Golgotha and there in the middle of two thieves is the man who took your place. Above his torn and bruised body is the inscription ‘Jesus – the King of the Jews’. You look at his bloodied feet and hands where crude metal has brutally nailed them to the tree. You see his back where it looks as though he’s been whipped dozens of times until his back is like a ploughed field.

You look at his head – pierced with thorns until the blood is constantly running down his face. You look into his eyes, and inwardly you gasp because you are surprised at what you see. Instead of fear and anger you see love and forgiveness. He looks straight at you and seems to know who you are. In the depth of his pain he seems to smile and say, ‘It’s OK. It’s OK.’ You turn away and with tears in your eyes, you shout to the skies, ‘God, it should have been me! It should have been me! This man has done nothing. It should have been me!’ ’But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

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Nancy Goudie, 2002: Journey to the Cross meditation CD: www.nancygoudie.com)

It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.

I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me?

Isn’t that the real question?

The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

Romans 7:17-25 (The Message) Whatever you’ve been told about the end –

the end of your life,

the end of time,

the end of the world – Jesus passionately urges us to live like the end is here, now, today.

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Rob Bell – Love Wins ‘You belong to God, so… try your best to please God and to be like him. Be faithful, loving, dependable, and gentle. Fight a good fight for the faith and claim eternal life. God offered it to you when you clearly told about your faith, while so many people listened. Now I ask you to make a promise. Make it in the presence of God, who gives life to all, and in the presence of Jesus Christ…. Promise to obey completely and fully all that you have been told until our Lord Jesus Christ returns.’

1 Timothy 6:11–14 (CEV) ‘While women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight; while little children go hungry, as they do now, I’ll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight – I’ll fight to the very end!’

General William Booth, reportedly from his last public speech on 9 May 1912 ‘May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.’

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2 Corinthians 13:14

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