Month: April 2010

by Steve Cordle

Taking time for group members to pray together during a cell meeting is indispensable. Yet, I’d like to consider another less-visible form of prayer that also brings power to the cell: the leader in listening prayer during the meeting.

During our last group meeting members waded into some deep conversation about how they were going to apply that night’s text to some tender and difficult situations in their lives. Some differences of opinion were expressed, though in a healthy way. I found myself wanting to step in and control the direction of the meeting back toward safer ground. Instead, I quieted my heart and asked the Lord, “What do you want to do right now? Accomplish your purposes in this meeting… have your way…” I sensed the need to let the direction continue.

Honestly, there was a little too much difference of opinion and raw emotion for my taste. But at the end of the meeting, I saw people embracing and encouraging each other. God led where I wouldn’t have chosen to go, and accomplished what I couldn’t.

Our members may not be aware of our inner posture of listening prayer, but they will benefit from it!

Comments?

Steve

by Michael Sove

This week we’ve been talking about how we can integrate prayer in the cell.   Brother Lawrence coined the phrase, “Practicing the Presence of God.”  If a cell recognizes “Christ in the midst” prayer will be spontaneous and can happen at any point in the cell gathering, rather than being relegated to a specific time and place, or just a closing exercise.

Cell members who are in tune with God and listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit will be ready to pray at any point in the gathering.  Right in the middle of a discussion, we’ve stopped and had a person who was welling up with tears sit in a chair so others could gather around and pray for and with them.

This week I wanted to draw your attention to two things we do in our cells that really allow us to get specific in prayer beyond just being ready to pray as led by the Spirit at any point in the gathering.

First:  During our weekly breakout time for discipleship. We break into two’s or three’s, men with men and women with women.  We use the following questions to share transparently and hold each other accountable.

Life Transformation Questions (For use in groups of three/two)

#1  How have you done this week in meeting the Lord through prayer and reading His Word?

#2  What do you hope to do differently as a result of this week’s passage/message?

#3  Do you have a need to confess any sin?

#4  Who are you praying for to receive Christ?  What is the next step you need to take in this relationship?

#5   How can we pray for you? (Burdens, Hopes…)

As you can see any honest sharing on any of these questions can lead to specific prayer.  We try to give at least one half hour to this breakout time.

Second:  During our mission focus at the end of cell. All our cells have adopted international pastors for prayer and ministry.  We want each of our cells to have a heart for the nations.  So at the end of each cell gathering we come back together after the discipleship time and we pray specifically for one of the needs of our international pastor that we have adopted as a cell.

God has provided many blessings to these pastors as people’s hearts have softened through prayer and God has directed them to meet the needs they were praying for.  God loves to answer prayer specifically, so make sure there are opportunities to share specific requests as you gather the next time.

Comments?

Michael

by Mario Vega

The cell should experience a life of prayer. The cell members gather to pray for specific requests.

In the planning meeting, held just days before the cell meeting, the core gathers to prepare for the Saturday night cell meeting. An important part of the planning meeting is to agree in prayer for each of the persons to be invited. Their names have been previously written down by the leader and intercession is made for their conversion.

Another important moment of prayer in the cell takes place on the very same day of the cell meeting. At the end of the teaching, a prayer is made for the expressed needs of those attending. It’s common for prayers to be offered for the sick and needy. .All of cell members agree on the prayers, as Jesus tells us to do when we gather in His name.

The practice of prayer in the cell becomes a unifying element for its members, especially the core members. Unified prayer produces a spiritual bond that strengthens the fellowship. Because there are always unexpected situations and special needs, our people are predisposed to prayer. In addition, topics such as growth, multiplication, conversion and training of new leaders are included in these times of mutual prayer.

Comments?

Mario

Translation in Spanish

Orando por los invitados y sus necesidades.

La célula experimenta, como tal, una vida de oración. Ésta es de tipo convenida, es decir, los miembros de la célula se unen por peticiones especficas.

En la reunión de planificación, que se realiza unos das antes de la reunión de célula, el núcleo se reúne para preparar el trabajo para la siguiente reunión de célula. Una parte importante de dicha planificación es la oración unida a favor de cada una de las personas que serán invitadas. Sus nombres han sido escritos previamente por el lder y se intercede por su conversión.

Otro momento importante de oración en la célula es el que se produce el da de la reunión de célula propiamente dicha. Al final de la enseñanza de la palabra, se realiza una oración convenida por las necesidades que los asistentes expresan. Se ora por los enfermos y por otro tipo de situaciones. Es una oración que también se hace de manera unida.

La práctica de la oración en la célula se convierte en un elemento unificador para sus miembros, principalmente para el núcleo de la célula. Produce un vnculo espiritual que fortalece la comunión. Cada vez que se producen situaciones inesperadas o necesidades especiales, las personas están ya predispuestas para la oración. Además, incluyen en su oración unida temas como los del crecimiento, la multiplicación, las conversiones y la formación de nuevos lderes.

by Jeff Tunnell

At the conclusion of our Celebration this weekend a new believer came to talk with me. He wanted to share how he had listed out 3 specific prayers on paper the previous week and how God answered each one specifically within the following 24 hours!  His delight was radiant and contagious, his thankfulness was overflowing to God.  I asked if he was in one of our cells yet, as he has only been in our Celebrations for less than 2 months.  He responded enthusiastically and affirmatively sharing that the exercise of writing down prayers had come during the cell meeting just last week.

Jesus is listening to the prayers offered in Cells!  Praise His name! Of course we do not have to write out every prayer, but this new believer is being discipled in the cell and learning how to know for certain that God hears his requests by journaling.

Most of the answers to prayer that come to my attention are from within the cell groups.  This indicates that a premium is being placed on time spent in prayer with one another.  Our cell broke into 2s and 3s last week for prayer at the end of the cell meeting.  I found two great benefits: the prayer of agreement was easily attained as it was so easy to communicate the need with just a couple of others and secondly, a phrase I have used many times, “prayer produces intimacy”.  This means to me that close fellowship occurs among those praying together that likely would not be obtained in any other way.  Friendship in Christ is formed when praying for one another.  I like the results!

by Joel Comiskey

People often ask me how prayer relates to the cell. They’ve heard me talk about prayer in the corporate/celebration wing of the cell church, but they wonder how prayer fits into the actual cell meeting. I tell them that prayer should permeate the cell.

Cells  begin with an opening  prayer before enaging people through the ice-breaker. Then there’s the worship time, which is a form of prayer. Notice how prayer and worship are linked in Revelation 5:8-9, “Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”

Before starting the lesson time, it’s best to open in prayer. During the lesson time, God speaks to us through the Word. Invariably there are prayer needs, so it’s important to allow a time for prayer requests. In the cell group I lead on Tuesday night, we spend quality time sharing requests and needs (see Steve Cordle’s blog on prayer in the cell). Last week, Celyce and I shared our need for wisdom in raising two adolescent daughters! We also prayed for a cell member who needed a specific family miracle. Two days later, we rejoiced that this request had been fully answered!

During the last part (Witness time), we pray for unsaved “oikos” to know Jesus Christ and come to the cell group.

The sensitive leader utilizes the style of prayer that best fits the context of the cell group. When non-Christians are present, for example, an “all-out fiery” prayer meeting is probably not the best. Silent prayer might be in order, or praying in pairs. Cell leaders must remain sensitive to the situation and utilize the type of prayer that best fits with the circumstances.

The key is to remember that prayer guides effective groups.

Comments?

Joel