1. To Fulfill the Vision of Christ for the Church
Jesus has given us the Great Commission. We are to go and make disciples of all nations, mature them in faith, and mobilize them to win the world for Jesus (Matthew 18:18-20). This can only be achieved when all believers become disciples themselves.
The small group setting of cell is the only practical means to see this disciple making happen.
2. To Reach Out To The Lost
The real work of evangelism belongs to every believer. The only proven method to evangelize is the one to one communication of the gospel by all.
We are called and commanded by God to share the good news with our friends, neighbors, and relatives. Most people commit to Christ because of the witness of someone they know. Cells have the capacity to penetrate every part of the city: schools, offices, businesses, universities, and homes. A cell church is not limited by buildings, and so the whole city can be impacted by the gospel.
3. To Nurture New Believers
New believers must be make firm in their faith, so that they will not slide back into unbelief, but become disciples of Christ. This connection is best achieved through cells. In cells new believers receive the level of care and nurture their needs. They will be surrounded by people who are committed to pray for them and to help in a practical way. Without cells the fruit of evangelism is easily lost.
4. To Become A Disciple
Every Believer is called to become a "true" disciple of Jesus Christ. Jesus puts it this way: "if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Matthew 16:24)
The cost is everything, but you don't have to go through this alone. You are discipled in cell groups by people who are being discipled themselves. There can be no loose cannons. Watch out for anyone trying to "disciple" you without being accountable to the church. Cell leaders are accountable to their leaders. They are also subject to the training and discipline of the church, as well as having the resources of advice, wisdom and counsel of their leaders.
5. The Call To Make Disciples
The Great Commission is more than a call to evangelize and get new people to make a decision for Christ.
New believers must be connected and formed into disciples of Christ. This implies close personal contact that is only possible in cells. To disciple someone, you must spend time with them, be their friend, and teach them by word and by example. The cell group is an ideal basis for the discipling relationship.
6. The Call To Be The Church
The church is more than a building and more than church meetings. Sunday services are only a small part of church life. We don't merely go to church, but we are the church. Church is our daily relationship with Jesus and other believers.
We have to be a church in the world, a church without walls. We are the body of Christ every day, not just on Sundays. Mid-week cell meetings help us to be the body of Christ twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week.
7. To Fulfill "One Another" Commands
There are forty-five passages in the New Testament that speak specifically about the responsibility we have for each other. We are called to "love one another," " care for," "teach," encourage one another," "exhort," "admonish and "restore one another." The only practical context to achieve this is cells. Large Sunday gatherings are impersonal and the individual can be lost in a crowd. In a cell everyone counts and is important.
Cells enable us to break a big task of "winning the world" for Christ into smaller, manageable and realistic units.
8. To Find and Fulfill Your Ministry
Every believer is called to life in the Spirit, and God has given him special abilities. We are to use our gifting to serve Christ and to build and strengthen each other. Most Christians never get to discover their ministry.
There are so many gifts and ministries that the Spirit has given us. We must discover them and learn to develop them so that we can use them for the benefit of others. The cell group is an ideal place for this. You can be trained how to exercise the gifts of the Spirit and be released into your ministry.
9. To Target Your Efforts
Cell groups help to focus in reaching our goals. We are working together; we can't be doing it alone. To be a Christian means to be part of the body of Christ. You benefit from the strength, wisdom, encouragement, and the support of the group. Again, cells enable us to break a big task of winning the world for Christ into smaller, manageable and realistic units.
10. To Become Fruitful
We have been called to be fruitful. Every covenant God made with man comes with a promise of fruitfulness. The cells are the place of blessing. It is where you experience multiplication and where you begin to enter into the joy of fruitfulness. As you fulfill God's call upon your life the blessing begins to flow. God says He will bless you and cause you to prosper in life. That is the thrill of walking in agreement with God. Where there is agreement there is power.
John 15:5,16: "I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit..... go and bear fruit, fruit that will last (remain)."
Jesus has given us the Great Commission. We are to go and make disciples of all nations, mature them in faith, and mobilize them to win the world for Jesus (Matthew 18:18-20). This can only be achieved when all believers become disciples themselves.
The small group setting of cell is the only practical means to see this disciple making happen.
2. To Reach Out To The Lost
The real work of evangelism belongs to every believer. The only proven method to evangelize is the one to one communication of the gospel by all.
We are called and commanded by God to share the good news with our friends, neighbors, and relatives. Most people commit to Christ because of the witness of someone they know. Cells have the capacity to penetrate every part of the city: schools, offices, businesses, universities, and homes. A cell church is not limited by buildings, and so the whole city can be impacted by the gospel.
3. To Nurture New Believers
New believers must be make firm in their faith, so that they will not slide back into unbelief, but become disciples of Christ. This connection is best achieved through cells. In cells new believers receive the level of care and nurture their needs. They will be surrounded by people who are committed to pray for them and to help in a practical way. Without cells the fruit of evangelism is easily lost.
4. To Become A Disciple
Every Believer is called to become a "true" disciple of Jesus Christ. Jesus puts it this way: "if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Matthew 16:24)
The cost is everything, but you don't have to go through this alone. You are discipled in cell groups by people who are being discipled themselves. There can be no loose cannons. Watch out for anyone trying to "disciple" you without being accountable to the church. Cell leaders are accountable to their leaders. They are also subject to the training and discipline of the church, as well as having the resources of advice, wisdom and counsel of their leaders.
5. The Call To Make Disciples
The Great Commission is more than a call to evangelize and get new people to make a decision for Christ.
New believers must be connected and formed into disciples of Christ. This implies close personal contact that is only possible in cells. To disciple someone, you must spend time with them, be their friend, and teach them by word and by example. The cell group is an ideal basis for the discipling relationship.
6. The Call To Be The Church
The church is more than a building and more than church meetings. Sunday services are only a small part of church life. We don't merely go to church, but we are the church. Church is our daily relationship with Jesus and other believers.
We have to be a church in the world, a church without walls. We are the body of Christ every day, not just on Sundays. Mid-week cell meetings help us to be the body of Christ twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week.
7. To Fulfill "One Another" Commands
There are forty-five passages in the New Testament that speak specifically about the responsibility we have for each other. We are called to "love one another," " care for," "teach," encourage one another," "exhort," "admonish and "restore one another." The only practical context to achieve this is cells. Large Sunday gatherings are impersonal and the individual can be lost in a crowd. In a cell everyone counts and is important.
Cells enable us to break a big task of "winning the world" for Christ into smaller, manageable and realistic units.
8. To Find and Fulfill Your Ministry
Every believer is called to life in the Spirit, and God has given him special abilities. We are to use our gifting to serve Christ and to build and strengthen each other. Most Christians never get to discover their ministry.
There are so many gifts and ministries that the Spirit has given us. We must discover them and learn to develop them so that we can use them for the benefit of others. The cell group is an ideal place for this. You can be trained how to exercise the gifts of the Spirit and be released into your ministry.
9. To Target Your Efforts
Cell groups help to focus in reaching our goals. We are working together; we can't be doing it alone. To be a Christian means to be part of the body of Christ. You benefit from the strength, wisdom, encouragement, and the support of the group. Again, cells enable us to break a big task of winning the world for Christ into smaller, manageable and realistic units.
10. To Become Fruitful
We have been called to be fruitful. Every covenant God made with man comes with a promise of fruitfulness. The cells are the place of blessing. It is where you experience multiplication and where you begin to enter into the joy of fruitfulness. As you fulfill God's call upon your life the blessing begins to flow. God says He will bless you and cause you to prosper in life. That is the thrill of walking in agreement with God. Where there is agreement there is power.
John 15:5,16: "I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit..... go and bear fruit, fruit that will last (remain)."
