[Notes in square brackets for the session leader only – not to be read out]
Choose some appropriate songs to sing, and bring song sheets/ music/ CD etc. as necessary. Also, the following additional handouts should be supplied for each trainee:
What do you find least enjoyable about your work or school or daily life?
[Sing 2 or 3 worship songs together, and then spend a few minutes in open prayer. Whoever wishes may pray. Remember to focus on worshipping and giving thanks to God during this part of the meeting.]
[Ask one person to read 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and another to read Hebrews 13:20-21.]
God has given us his Word to teach and equip us for living out the life he's planned for us. Often, when a new person joins a church or makes a commitment to follow Jesus, their spiritual development is random and haphazard, left more to chance than to any kind of organised process. Since the ultimate goal of every Christian and of every church is to make disciples (this is our mission given by the Lord Jesus), it seems better to use a systematic process to help newcomers to grow.
The Equipping Track is a system of simple studies that lays a foundation for effective Christian living. Like a train track, it leads the student on a journey of purpose. An individual completes these studies at their own pace with the help of a Mentor. Each study has a few blanks to fill in – questions, quotations, or other responses – to help the student get a better grasp of the topic (a person remembers 6 times more of what they've heard when they write it down!). Each section builds on the previous one, and topics include: The gospel message, Christian basics, Christian values, reaching out, Christian beliefs, and leading a cell group. The handouts we've been receiving as part of this Cell Leader training are part of this Equipping Track. If you look at the reference at the bottom of each handout, the "E" stands for "Equipping Track", and the "8" is the section number. The number after the decimal point is the number of that individual module (i.e. training sheet). The handout entitled, "E1.6 Equipping Track – Whole Structure" shows the whole of the Equipping Track with all its sections.
Equipping modules up to "Leading a Cell Group" should be completed with the help of a Mentor. A mentor is a more mature believer in your group whom you, as Cell Leader, link with a new member or young Christian in your group. Males should be paired with males, and females with females! Becoming a mentor for the first time is a great spiritual development opportunity for the cell member concerned. Remember, we aren't looking for spiritual "super-heroes", just someone who's a little further on in their spiritual journey. Equipping Track appendix, "E5.x1 Becoming a Mentor", gives full details, and you can give this sheet to each person you ask to become a mentor. It's also a good idea for you as leader to mentor someone through the Equipping Track at least once.
An established Christian joining your group may wish to join the Equipping Track part way through, say Section "E5 Following Christ – Key Principles for Christian Living". The appendix "E8.x2 Equipping Track Matrix" is a sheet designed to help you decide where a new person should start. The practical administration of the Equipping Track is described in detail in the training handout, "E8.10 Equipping Cell Members".
Ultimately, equipping cell members for life and ministry should help us to intentionally multiply disciples, leaders and groups!
Question 1 What do you think might be some advantages and disadvantages of using a systematic process to equip cell members?
Question 2 Have you ever undertaken a systematic course of Bible training? If so, what benefits would you say came from it?
Question 3 The Equipping Track presented here is based on reading and writing, but not everyone may feel comfortable with such a system. Can you imagine creative alternatives that might help people become disciples without involving reading and writing?
Break into pairs, share your needs and pray for one another.
Continue to discuss arrangements for your special outreach event. Where? When? Who will you invite? Who will invite them? Ask members to briefly explain their relationship with their named contact on the Outreach List. Finish by praying together as a group for those we are trying to reach.
Cell Leader Training 8 - Version 2 Sep 2015