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CELL GROUPS ARE FOR LIFE

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 CH 1:  CELL GROUPS ARE FOR PEOPLE

A.       Our Vision

Church is about God and people, people and God.  Frank Houston.

 To reach out to our city, our region, our world, that none may perish.

 1.   Our Five Purposes

1.  We are a worshipping Church: 

Loving God with all our hearts.

2.  We are a healing Church:

Being healed, made whole in Christ, and bringing this healing to others.

3.  We are a cell Church:

Pursuing authentic Christian community. 

4.  We are a mission Church:

Reaching out to unchurched people, both near and far, with the hope of Christ.

5.  We are a discipling Church:

Helping people become more like Jesus.

2.   Our Key Verses

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind ...and... Love your neighbour as yourself.  Matthew 22:37-39

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you...  Matthew 28:19-20

B.       Choose Your Church

Fig. 1:  Three models of church

C.      The Biblical Foundation for Cell Groups

1.               Large Gatherings or Cell Groups?

        Acts 2:46; Acts 5:42; Acts 11:25; Acts 20:20

Two equally biblical structures in the local church are the large group gathering and the cell group.

The church has historically over emphasized large group gatherings. This has often been to the detriment of biblical community, authentic relationships and friendship evangelism. These are naturally found in healthy cell groups.

In our desire to return these essentials to church life, let’s not be tempted to throw out the baby (The large group gathering) with the bath water. 

Dynamic small (cell) and large groups are equally important.  The effective church of the new millennium needs to develop both well.

2.               The Large Group (Public teaching)

       Acts 20:20    Acts 11:25

The public preaching of Gods word and worship in a large crowd has a powerful dynamic rarely reproduced in a cell group.  In the midst of the large group there is often a strong sense of the awe and majesty of our really BIG God.

3.               The Cell Group (House to house)

       Acts 5:42

The sharing of God’s word and worship in a cell group has a relational dynamic rarely reproduced in a large group. A cell group based on biblical community readily experiences the intimate presence and loving care of a personal God.

D.      Jethro's Leadership Suggestions

      Exodus 18:13-26

Moses’ father in law, Jethro, challenges Moses to change the way he cares for the people. The result would be that Moses would be able to stand the strain of his leadership role and all the people’s needs would be met.

Listen to good advice.

Ex. 18:19a

Share the burden.

Ex. 18:17-18, 23

Represent the people before God.

Ex.8:19b

Teach the people.

Ex. 18:20a

Show the people.

Ex. 18:20b

Select capable people

Ex. 18:21

Let them lead

Ex 18:26

E.        The Organization for Care Today

Moses is perhaps the most successful pastor in history.  No one other than Jesus has experienced more of God’s word, anointing, miracles or intimacy with God.  If Moses needed this structure to effectively care for his people then we need it too.

Leaders are responsible to shepherd and coach those in the next level.  Every leader shares in the caring role, no-one is overloaded and no-one is overlooked Exodus 18:23.

Every person has a vital part to play in reaching out to the churched and unchurched.

No-one is over loaded no-one is overlooked

Fig. 2  Jethro's model in the modern church 

Defining a Small Group^[1]

One of the following factors on its own does not create a small group.  All four need to be present together.

 a.      Size

At least three but not more than thirty five people.

A group of 3-7 highest levels of intimacy and accountability.

A group of 8-10 high level of caring.

A group of 18-35 moderate levels of caring, good sense of belonging.

b.      Benefit

When people commit to a cell group they ask themselves - Is my investment of time and energy into this group worth it?  People have different reasons for joining a cell group.  It’s helpful for a leader to understand why an individual has become part their cell group and what benefit they are looking for.

 c.      Relationship

Some gatherings look like cell groups because of their size. The presence of meaningful relationships will help differentiate between a cell group and a class.

d.      Frequency of Meeting

A cell group must at least meet monthly.  Of course the more often you meet, the more likely you are to have close relationships.

I would strongly recommend that cell groups gather weekly.

A Cell Group is a friendly gathering of about 6-12 people.  They meet to help each other grow in faith, have fun and experience the kind of caring environment we all need.   It's a place where you can reach your potential and your friends can meet God.   With a Cell Group we can reach out together and change our city, one life at a time.

Experience for yourself

 Turn to a stranger and begin to

• Bear one another's burdens,

• Forgive one another,

• Confess your sin struggles of the past week,

• Serve one another.

Of course this is ridiculous as these biblical  one anothers are supposed to be based on a relationship that has already been formed.

F.      The Importance of Relationships

The Bible is full of 'one anothers'

Love one another

John 13:34

Honor one another

Romans 12:10

Serve one another

Galatians 5:13

Pray for one another

James 5:16

Be kind and compassionate to one another forgiving each other

Ephesians 4:32

Spur one another on to love and good deeds

Hebrews 10:24

Confess your faults to one another

James 5:16

Encourage one another, etc...

  Fig. 3  Our relationship circles 

Cell Groups Built Around Biblical Community Enjoy...

A family environment.

A safe place to discuss and apply the Bible to real life.

Caring based on relationship rather than program.

Natural opportunities to reach out to unchurched friends.

Many opportunities to discover and develop gifts.

Personal growth for new and older Christians.

A place where leadership potential can be recognized developed and released.^[2]

G.        Important Tips

1.            All groups have a Saturation Point

2.           Small (cell) groups assimilate people more easily than large groups.

3.           New groups assimilate people more easily than older groups.

Home work assignment

 Draw your own Relationship Circles .

This is an important assignment to begin to understand you and your own world.  Please answer as honestly as you can.

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Unless otherwise stated scripture references on this site are taken from the Holy  Bible, New International Version

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© 2002 -2007 Copyright John Banton

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