I've been excited lately about applying the Sunday morning message in the cell group (we call them LIFE groups--Living in Fellowship to Evangelize). Two months ago we started weekly Sunday celebration services for our church plant here in Moreno Valley. Each week, the Sunday morning lesson is sent out to the LIFE group leaders.

The goal in the LIFE group is to apply the Word of God to the life group members. Last Tuesday in our LIFE group, we dug into Mark chapter one. We practically applied what we heard on Sunday to our to daily lives. The questions flowed from observation to application (click here to download a copy of last Tuesday's LIFE group lesson).

On Sunday, people sit in rows and listen to someone speaking. There's nothing wrong with this. Scripture tells us that God has raised up apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors/teachers to prepare the lay people to do the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12). But so often sermons are forgotten and not applied--especially in our information driven society. Yet, when those who hear the message can wrestle with the concepts in a group of 3-15 people the following week,  there's a far greater chance that God's inerrant Word will make a lasting, transforming impact. 

Some people might be in the cell who are unchurched (or weren't there on Sunday), so the lesson should focus on God's Word--not what the pastor said. However, the benefit of applying the message is obvious. First, the cell leader has had a chance to listen to the message and then spend   time ruminating on the biblical concepts before the cell group meeting. Second, the cell members will also have a head start on the biblical content and will more fully participate in the cell because of the concepts heard on Sunday.
 
At Wellspring, each LIFE group leader receives the lesson on Monday morning. We do give liberty for LIFE group leaders to follow the Spirit--even to the point of doing a different lesson. Yet the benefit of following the Sunday sermon is to go deeper on the God-given topic for that week (of course when unbelievers are present, it's a good idea for the leader to add additional questions to minister to non-Christians). Giving the leader a lesson can also promote the concept that anyone can facilitate a cell meeting (i.e., the leson will be provided). Today's crying need is for the church to apply God's Word to daily life. Sermon based lessons help make that possible.  
 
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