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The 1 centre
The 2 winged church (Cell &
Celebration)
The 3 E's (Purpose of a cell group)
The 4 W's (The cell group meeting)
There can only be one centre!
Consciously or unconsciously, we always choose one option over another by some standard of measure. If we push this process to the end, there is – and can be – only one centre.
The Great Commandments and the Great Commission
Two passages of Scripture record such important instructions from Jesus that they have come to be known as the Great Commandments (Matt 22:37-40) and the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20). These two passages provide a summary of what Jesus says ought to be the centre described above. And what should that centre be? Love! Love for God and Love for People. Love Relationships are the centre of our faith. It can be summarized like this:
Relationship with God
Relationship with Each Other
Relationship with the World
The ‘One Anothers’
There are somewhere between 20 and 30 ‘One Another’ passages in the New Testament – passages that describe how Christians are to be related to one another. ‘Accept one another’, ‘bear with one another’, ‘encourage one another’, and so on. These commands imply a level of closeness and involvement that is difficult to achieve in large group meetings at a Church.
Summary: Cell Life and Relationships
The Cell Vision is a conscious effort to structure our life as a Church to enable and enhance relationships.
Cell and Celebration
It Takes Two Wings to Fly
It takes two wings for a bird or an air plane to fly. In the same way Churches need large group gatherings for teaching and corporate worship – a time of celebration. And they also need small group gatherings for fellowship and more intimate relationships. The Cell Groups are the smaller groups.
Main Building Block of the ChurchJust as the cell is the main building block for the body, the Cell Group is the main building block for the Cell Church.
Groups Part of a Larger Network
Just as the cell is not a body all by itself, the cell group is not a little church on its own, but is a part of a larger group made up of many cells. This provides strength and protection for the individual cells.
General Purpose Groups
The Bible is studied in a Cell Group, but it is not a Bible Study Group. People pray in a Cell Group, but it is not a Prayer Group. People experience fellowship in a Cell Group, but it is not a Fellowship Group. People learn and grow in a Cell Group, but it is not a Discipleship or a Training Group. As the main building block of the Church the Cell Group is a general purpose group.
Ongoing Groups and Relationships
Cell Groups do not meet for a certain length of time and then stop. They continue. And they are not just a weekly meeting, but a network of relationships.
Open, Multiplying Groups
Cell Groups are always open for new members to join. As the Cell Group grows beyond about 15 people it multiplies into two groups, like the cells in our bodies. In this way the whole body grows.
Edification, Equipping, Evangelism
Edification – The Body Building Itself Up in Love
As the children of God we are not left on our own. We experience close relationship with God, and we are placed in a spiritual family with some of God’s other children. Whose job is it to build up and encourage believers in Jesus Christ? God’s! How does He do this? In many ways. Through His Word, the Bible; through the Holy Spirit. And also through His people. He builds us up through each other. One of the best places for this to happen is in the close network of relationships that the Cell Group provides.
Equipped to Serve
Every believer has been called and gifted by God to serve Him and to serve the people around them. This life long service calls for life long training. The close network of relationships in the Cell Group is an excellent place for spiritual gifts to be recognized, practised, and developed. It is a place where we ‘spur one another on’ to find new ways to serve God and people. It is a supportive environment to seek God’s guidance in avenues of ministry. It is a haven of personal and prayer support for fellow workers.
Evangelism is for Everyone!
Every believer is called to take part in getting the message of who Jesus is and what He has done out to those who have not yet heard or not yet responded. The Cell Group is an excellent ‘base of operations’ for relationship oriented evangelism. Here we can pray for those we have contact with. We can plan activities that get Christian friends together with those who are not yet Christians. The Cell Group meeting can be an excellent place for someone who is new to the Christian faith, or who is interested in finding out about the Christian faith, to meet some Christians in a friendly setting and discover first hand what Christian living looks like.
Welcome, Worship, Word, Works
The Cell Group is more than a meeting – it is a network of relationships. But when the Cell Group does gather together there are four main elements to a typical meeting.
Welcome – Connecting with Each Other
An Ice Breaker is used to give everyone a chance to reconnect with each other.
Worship – Connecting with God
A Worship time follows. This is generally a more intimate worship time than what would be common at a celebration meeting. The aim is to connect with God.
Word – God Addressing Us
A time of edification follows. The Bible is used, but the focus is on the application of the Bible’s truths to our lives. The larger group celebration meeting is a more appropriate setting for a teaching time. Prayer and personal sharing are a common part of this time. This is the main, and therefore the longest, part of the Cell Group meeting. The aim is to receive from God through each other.
If there are young children involved in the Cell Group they usually head off during this time for an activity with similar aims, but more directed at their age group. Members of the Cell Group generally take turns leading this time.
Work – Reaching Beyond
The Cell Group meeting closes with an opportunity to share about, pray for, and make plans related to reaching out to our friends who do not yet know Christ. This keeps the outward mission of the group in clear focus.
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