21st Feb Sermon Discussion - “Victory before the Battle”

Introduction:
This year is the year of breakthroughs. FCBC will see miracles happening, healing taking place, families restored and cell multiplication. Yes we will. However, we need to do a very simple yet powerful thing – PRAY. When we pray, it will move God’s hands. There will be victory even before the battle starts. Isn’t that amazing? So are you ready to enter into the 40 days of prayer?

Bible verses: Joshua 5:1-12

2 Key Strategies to Have Victory before the Battle:

1. Circumcision – Establish your faithfulness
In Joshua 4, Joshua led the Israelites to cross the Jordan River on dry ground. This caused the Amorite Kings and all the Canaanite kings to lose their courage in facing the Israelites. This is seen in Joshua 5:1. Since the kings had lost their courage in facing the Israelites, Joshua could had brought his people to tear down Jericho immediately. However, he didn’t. He obeyed what God had commanded him to do. God asked him to circumcise his people.

In the Old Testament circumcision was an act by an Israelite family to remove the foreskin from the penis, the male sexual organ, shortly after a baby boy is born. It is believed that circumcision also brings health and hygiene benefits. Today, circumcision is still being practiced by both the Jews and Muslims.

The significance of circumcision is to cleanse by removing that which is unclean. In today’s context, there isn’t a need to undergo physical circumcision as the blood of Christ has already cleansed our sins i.e. our hearts are circumcised by His blood.

Activity 1: Sharing
i. The reason why the Israelites won the battle was because they had undergone circumcision. This shows that outer victory can only be won when there is inner victory. Examine your life. Go round and share what is one area of unfaithfulness the Lord convicted your heart about and you need his cleansing? (E.g. devotion life, late for church etc).

ii. Do you believe in the power of prayer ? When we pray, we move the hand of God. The breakthroughs that you have been waiting for, be it in your personal life or for your cell group, can be experienced only if we start to pray. On top of that, as we rise up to be a Joshua generation, the devil will attack us even more. In Ephesians 6: 12 ‘ For our struggle is not against the flesh and blood(man), but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.’ Thus, it’s important to pray to fight against the devil.

iii. Today, are you willing to rise up to be a prayer warrior and be part of the 40 days of prayer and fasting? Are you willing to pray for Pastor Khong and his family too? He and his family need your prayer. Take out the 40 days prayer schedule. Go round and decide as a cell the slots you will come and pray e.g. 6am before going to school etc.

2. Celebrate God’s Victory – Empower your faith
Even before Joshua and the Israelites took over Jericho, they celebrated the Passover. The Passover is the Old Testament version of the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper we partake every month reminds us of what Jesus has done for us on the cross. The wafer represents His body, the grape juice, His blood. Jesus won for us the victory on the cross through His sacrifice. We can visualize our victory through the cross. The gate of faith is visualization – Seeing clearly and specifically by faith the results and outcome we want.

Activity 2: Pray
i. The 40 days of prayer and fasting will end just before Good Friday. This year, our cell believes that we can organize three Good Friday events to win our friends. Let’s now pray together for this to happen.

ii. Also in the 40 days of faith, everyone will lead a cell group. I want you to close your eyes and visualize yourself leading a cell group. How many members do you have? Can you see your members’ faces? It can be your friends, your family members. Put the Cross in the middle of your cell. Start praying for your new cell group.

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14th Feb Sermon Discussion - “What A Blessing... The Family”

Bible verses: Ephesians 5:31- 6:4

How Can We Celebrate The Family?

#1 - BY RETURNING TO GOD’S COMMAND FOR THE FAMILY – HONOUR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Take a moment to share about a special family time that you enjoyed with your family and what made it so meaningful?

2. Take a moment to share about how your parents care for and look out for you? It could be simple things like making the bed, cooking or spending time with you!

3. What does it mean to honour someone? Have you been showing your love for your parents?

4. Is there something that the Holy Spirit is prompting you to do today to honour your parents? It could be a simple “Thanks mum/dad”, a hug or even giving them a gift!

Application:
As a cell group, let’s commit ourselves to honour our parents in everything we do. Let’s always show them our love for them as well as give them due respect. Get into groups of 2 or 3 and take some time to pray and thank God for our fathers and mothers.

#2 - BY RECEIVING GOD’S MANDATE FOR THE FAMILY – RAISING A GENERATION FOR GOD.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. God’s command for the family is to raise a Generation for God. Do you think you are part of this generation? Do you want to be part of this generation?

2. Do you believe that your generation can do great things for God? Not when you grow up, not in ten years time but right now!

3. God doesn’t just give us a physical family but a spiritual one as well. Are you part of one? Are you working with your spiritual family to rise up as a Generation for God?

Application:
1 Timothy 4:12 tells us “Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Have you been scared to do things for God because you are young? Well don’t be! You can be part of a Generation for God doing great things for God! As a cell group, link hands and pray, committing to God that the entire group will grow together and rise up as a Generation for God.

Cell leaders, claim the word in 1 Timothy 4:12 that each and every one of your members will be an example in speech, life, love, faith and purity.

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7th Feb Sermon Discussion - “Offensive Offering and Worthless Worship”

Bible verses: Malachi 1:6-2:9

2 key areas that cause the Israelites’ worship to be unacceptable to the Lord:
1. They were worshipping without a fear and reverence for the Lord (Malachi 1: 6-9)

Activity: You are given a scenario. There is a list of questions for you to answer relating to the scenario. Please choose one answer only.

Imagine your Principal has asked to see you at 9am at the school canteen.

Question 1: What time will you come? (Give a reason to your answer)
A. 9.00am
B. 8.45am
C. 9.15am

Question 2: Will you make sure your uniform is in place?(Give a reason to your answer)
A. Yes
B. No

Question 3: When the Principal is talking to you, will you be using your phone or daydream?
A. Of course
B. No, I better listen

Many of us will definitely come earlier or on time, will definitely make sure our uniform is ok and will definitely pay full attention to what the Principal says as we are afraid that we might get punished or even get expelled. Let me ask you another set of questions.

1. How many of you come on time or earlier for service?
2. How many of you sms your friend, talk to your friend or sleep during service?
3. How many of you actually listen and apply what Pastor teaches on Sunday?
4. How about our dressing? Is there a need for change ?

Do you agree that some of our attitudes show a lack of fear and respect for the Lord ?
What are some actions we can take to correct our behaviour ?

Application: As a cell group, let’s commit ourselves to give God our best every week when we come to worship. Let’s hold each other accountable for positive change. Choose one teen to lead a prayer of commitment for the cell group.

2. They worship in a wearisome and tiresome manner (Malachi 1:12-13)

1. We grow tired of God and merely go through the motions when we have lost the fire in our hearts for Him.

2. Someone once said that worry and worship cannot exist together. Our worries can also become “gods” that is bigger than God that robs our joy in worshipping Him. Are there burdens in our hearts that hinder our worship?

Application: Minister to the teens in the areas of their worries and cares. All read Psalms 23 together and be refreshed in his presence.

**Cell leaders, please emphasize the two points below to wrap up:

How to Remove “Offensive Offering & Worthless Worship” from Our Lives?

1. We must fall in love with God so that like someone in love, we can’t wait to be in His presence to worship and spend time with Him. We give Him our BEST.

2. We must see how much He loves us and be renewed in our love and honor for Him. We are His BELOVED.

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31st Jan Sermon Discussion - “Triumph over temptation”

Pastor shared with us 3 key areas on how to have triumph over temptation

Bible verses: Luke 4:1-13, Matthew 4:1-11

1. Dump self-significance – REALISE OUR WORTH

In the 3rd temptation of Jesus, we saw the devil tempting Jesus to jump from the highest point of the temple to prove that He is protected... But Jesus answered “Do not put the Lord your God to test.” We need to never doubt our position in Christ as children of God and realise that we are precious to Him. There is no need to prove ourselves and fall into the Performance Trap of the World. We are the princes & princesses of God because we are His children & not because of what we can do or did not do...

2. Dethrone self-service – REVIEW OUR WORSHIP

In Luke 4:5-7, we see how the devil tempted Jesus by offering to Jesus all the authority & splendour that belong to the kingdoms of the world. This time, Jesus overcame by quoting the scripture, “ Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” One of human’s weaknesses that the devil can use to attack us is our hunger for power & fame. The only way for us not to fall into such temptations is to constantly check our hearts to ensure that we worship God & God alone.

Activity 2: Reflection & Sharing

i. Let’s take some time to reflect if there are areas in our lives where we too are struggling with the hunger for “Fame & Power”?

a. For example, in our CCAs, are we upset when we are not appointed for certain roles that we want very much?

b. For those who are in uniform groups, we struggle that we are promoted slower than others...

c. Or jealous of someone doing better than us in schools... etc...

ii. Let’s share with one another our struggles in this area so that as a family, we can help to guard one another. As one body, let’s help one another to overcome such temptations... of being too caught up with fame & power...

3. Drive out self-satisfaction – RELY ON GOD’S WORD

One area that satan will tempt us it’s our needs. In Luke 4: 3, ‘ The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.’ In this verse, we can see that the devil started by attacking the needs of Jesus as he knew Jesus was hungry. Jesus overcame the attack by quoting God’s Word, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” That is why it is so important for us to know God’s Word through reading the bible in our daily devotion. Only when we know the Word of God, can we overcome the devil’s attack like what Jesus did.

Activity 3: Sharing & Praying for One Another

i. What are some needs in your life? Let’s share with one another and..

ii. Let’s close the word discussion by praying for one another that the Lord will satisfy the needs in our lives. Allow the Lord to speak through you as you pray for one another. If the Lord give you a verse or two to share with the person you are praying for, be bold to use that verse(s) to pray for your friend.

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