Cell Group: New group starting tonight

[phydaux]

Hey all!

Soliciting prayers for a new Cell Group starting tonight.

Our network is launching a new local congregation in my town. This cell group will be the first of hopefully many, and will be made up from most of the local leadership team. The first meeting will be tonight. In preparation for the launch of the new campus we are going through Andy Stanley's book Deep and Wide.

 

[phydaux]

The meeting went very well. It was small, only six people - The host and his wife (God bless them for their hospitality), the pastor and his wife, another older couple, a single mom, and myself.

It was mostly a meet-and-greet - How did you come to the Lord, where have you fellowshiped previously, how have you been involved in ministry up to now. Then a discussion of ministry opportunities for the launch of the new campus, scheduled for the end of March.

I was very surprised that the group was so small, because this is suppose to be a core group for a new church body. The pastor did say he expects to be able launch about six more cell groups in the first six months.

We talked about how, in the last two years, 1300 people in our local area have identified themselves as new Christians and been baptized, but not nearly that many have been added to the Cell Group network. He called that a shame on himself and the other pastors, that they allowed so many to "slip through the cracks." He said that it was a big priority for 2015 to plug people into the Cell Groups for fellowship, discipleship, prayer, bible study, and accountability.

i'm loking forward to the coming weeks. I'm REALLY looking forward to the Andy Stanley study to be OVER so we can get on with some serious bible study.

 

[phydaux]

I'm wondering what to cover once the bible study starts. I'm thinking of offering to teach Galatians (mostly because I'm too gutless to try and teach Romans ). Thereafter we cold just continue through Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians. Or we could do a general epistle like 1 Peter or 1 John.

Since we're launching a new congregation then something like the book of Acts would be appropriate. A major turning point in my spiritual life game during a study in the book of Genisis, so I know that would be both fun and fruitful.

Or we could tackle an oft-misunderstood book, like Revelation. That was one of the first books of the Bible I ever read, and I've always been very comfortable with it. It can also be very controversial, but to me that just adds to the joy.

 

[ezeric]

To me a 'cell group' and a 'house church' are worlds apart.

BUT…

saying that, the pastor is just a guy like the rest of you there.
Its JESUS job to build HIS church not the pastors or the denominations or the 'hosts' even.

(saying that most hosts do a real good job demonstrating the kingdom by serving).

But MORE important than serving, is being led by the SPIRIT i.e. mary at JESUS feet while Martha was trying to 'serve'…Mary chose better.

Also, our house fellowship goes up and down with numbers.
from the teens at times to close to 40 at times.
But we found that it takes time for intimacy and closeness for people to trust one another.
It takes lots of love and nurturing and then you can minister to one another better. So, small groups make that growth happen faster.

So, only GOD makes it grow.

Sometimes its in bigger numbers - so quantity
Other times in smaller groups - quality.
GOD still makes it grow.

-eric

 

[phydaux]

"To me a 'cell group' and a 'house church' are worlds apart."

True, but this sub-forum is clearly for both. And I do make a point in the thread title when one of my threads is about Cell Groups, to hopefully minimize confusion.

 

[phydaux]

"So, only GOD makes it grow."

I totally agree.

Not sure where you are in Canada, but I'm in New England. And for a while I lived in Southern California.

Right now the church in New England has four campuses, each with ~500 people. Now in Southern California, 500 people isn't even a medium-size church. The Calvary Chapels in SoCal routinely had congregations of two thousand, three thousand, four thousand, and even larger. And it was the same in the midwest and the south.

But that same network of churches operating in New England would struggle to get even 30 people. Same for the mainline Denoms. Churches were just empty all over New England.

For a network of churches to spring up in New England and have four campuses each with 500 people, and have that happen in just a few years, that's just God.



And I do appreciate your exhortation. Last night the pastor did had out small statues of himself, for us to affix to the dashboards of our cars, but only a few people took them.

 

[Job8]

I'm wondering what to cover once the bible study starts. I'm thinking of offering to teach Galatians (mostly because I'm too gutless to try and teach Romans).

Just as Paul encouraged Timothy to be strong, God wants you to be strong and get into the book of Romans. It is right there after Acts for a reason. If you want believers to truly undertstand the meaning of the Gospel and its practical application, then Romans is the best book. Preachers should not be gutless, because Christians are starving for the truth and getting baby food.

 

[phydaux]

Just as Paul encouraged Timothy to be strong, God wants you to be strong and get into the book of Romans. It is right there after Acts for a reason. If you want believers to truly undertstand the meaning of the Gospel and its practical application, then Romans is the best book. Preachers should not be gutless, because Christians are starving for the truth and getting baby food.

Thank you for your exhortation, Job.

Genesis is a huge book, and the Gospel is in nearly every chapter if you know where to look. Walking through an OT book like Genesis, turning over a rock and finding Jesus, as it were, is a pure joy. Something I love to share.

Revelation is also long, and many Christians find it confusing. So much so that Revelation is the only book of the Bible that John Calvin DIDN'T write a commentary on. But, foolish man that I am, I have no problems offering to teach Revelation.

You're right, Romans is the clearest expression of the Gospel, its implications and its applications. That's why if gives me fear & trembling. In and of myself, my own fleshly efforts, all I can do is get in the way.

This is a Cell Group thread in a sub-forum for Cell Groups and House Churches. Here's a little something from the Cell Group perspective that will probably make you House Church people laugh.

When a mainstream church looks to adopt the Cell Group model, often times the church leadership has a series of fits.

"Oh no! These Cell Group leaders are untrained (because we never trained them). They don't have any experience ministering to the needs of God's people (because we never let them). We're just gonna have to micromanage everything."

And, inevitably, the Cell Groups turn into utter disasters as church leadership fights the Holy Spirit for control of His church. Where the Cell Groups actually begin to take off and become such a blessing is when the church leadership lets go, and trust's God with His own people. I think maybe that's where I am.

Bible study in Galatians? No sweat. Find a Bible Handbook and copy the book outline. Browse a commentary or two for some bullet points. Sprinkle in a few jokes. Done. Fleshly Effort 1, God's People 0.

But Romans? I'd actually have to die to myself and let God use me. I'd have to trust God that He actually would use me, could use me.

That's walking the High Wire without a net, Job. That's stepping out in faith.

I think I have a study in Romans I need to prepare for.

 

[ezeric]

"To me a 'cell group' and a 'house church' are worlds apart."

True, but this sub-forum is clearly for both. And I do make a point in the thread title when one of my threads is about Cell Groups, to hopefully minimize confusion.

Yes, you did make it clear - I knew

- thank-you.

-eric

 

[ezeric]

"So, only GOD makes it grow."

I totally agree.

Not sure where you are in Canada, but I'm in New England. And for a while I lived in Southern California.

Right now the church in New England has four campuses, each with ~500 people. Now in Southern California, 500 people isn't even a medium-size church. The Calvary Chapels in SoCal routinely had congregations of two thousand, three thousand, four thousand, and even larger. And it was the same in the midwest and the south.

But that same network of churches operating in New England would struggle to get even 30 people. Same for the mainline Denoms. Churches were just empty all over New England.

For a network of churches to spring up in New England and have four campuses each with 500 people, and have that happen in just a few years, that's just God.



And I do appreciate your exhortation. Last night the pastor did had out small statues of himself, for us to affix to the dashboards of our cars, but only a few people took them.

I'm in Ontario…

ha…only small statues?
how humble of him! lol

that is part of the problem with the forums as we can't always
tell what intent is behind every typed word - but I enjoyed that.

-eric

 

[phydaux]

Ontario? Hmmm.

So if I were to say "Toronto Blessing" then you would naturally.... Not sure if I want to even know what you'd do.

 

[Job8]

But Romans? I'd actually have to die to myself and let God use me. I'd have to trust God that He actually would use me, could use me.
That's walking the High Wire without a net, Job. That's stepping out in faith.
I think I have a study in Romans I need to prepare for.

Phydaux,
You've got this right. The Lord is challenging you to trust Him. When Jeremiah was fearful about preaching to the kingdom of Judah, the LORD said (Jer 1:7,8) "Say not, I am a child... Be not afraid of their faces..." because He was with him.

Put aside all the commentaries. Go straight to the Word itself and just use Bible tools. Let God show you how to bring out His truths (not yours). If we cannot trust the Holy Spirit to teach us, we should not be teachers and preachers.

 

[brinny]

God bless you! Praying!!

 

[FoundInGrace]

And I do appreciate your exhortation. Last night the pastor did had out small statues of himself, for us to affix to the dashboards of our cars, but only a few people took them.

lol that's funny! thanks for making me laugh today

 

[ezeric]

Ontario? Hmmm.

So if I were to say "Toronto Blessing" then you would naturally.... Not sure if I want to even know what you'd do.

I would say, I know a fair bit about it…not sure how much of a blessing it really was though

-ezeric

 

[Norah63]

fellowship of the church in a home I am familiar with.
a cell, not so much. Just quite a difference .

 

[ezeric]

fellowship of the church in a home I am familiar with.
a cell, not so much. Just quite a difference .

I've run the gamut from church institution to cell group to home biblestudies to house church (or home fellowship) or whatever name you feel comfortable with.

And there is a HUGE difference.
There is almost more things different than similar.
When I first came into the Kingdom of Grace and then house church, I thought I had to learn a few things…really I had to forget and lose everything and start from scratch - it was that much different.

JESUS became my all in all.
And I could see HIM in everyone...

-eric

 

[Norah63]

One thing that has to be learned in a home church is how to communicate.
After being in a regular church where silence is the rule. Getting everyone to open up and share thoughts is quite a challenge. Insecurity puts the damper on many times.
Building each other up is key. w

 

[ezeric]

One thing that has to be learned in a home church is how to communicate.
After being in a regular church where silence is the rule. Getting everyone to open up and share thoughts is quite a challenge. Insecurity puts the damper on many times.
Building each other up is key. w

Yep and a hearty AMEN….

Do all things for edification.

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Romans 14:19

So True!

-eric

 

[tulipbee]

Is it possible that a cell group and include an enjoyble movie or a sports game? If not, why not?