What is a cell group?

What is a cell group? Not every home group, circle of friends or small group in a church is a cell group. Even though there are many similarities, a cell group is distinct in that it pursues all the purposes of the church  (worship, building one another up, fellowship, and evangelism). A cell group is in actuality the church in miniature. 

 

Values

The Friendship Evangelical Cell Church holds to the following values for her cell groups. Every cell group attempts to express these elements.

The most important value, the source of all the others, is that in a cell group, Jesus is central. The focus is on Jesus and what He wants to do. Instead of letting our own problems and personal bagage determine the agenda, we give Jesus the room to work. We leave our bagage at the door and leave it to Jesus to do, or not, anything with it during the gathering.  He, through His Spirit, is present in the gathering. He gives power to our worship, gives gifts and builds us up. He makes us one and brings others into the group. 

There are five other values that flow out of the most important value of placing Jesus in the center of the cell.

1) Every member serves. We are the body of Christ. We have all received gifts and talents that the Lord Jesus wants to develop in us for the benefit of the whole church.  No one has been created to be an spectator.  At the same time, no one has a monopoly on a certain ministry. Cell groups become the place where we can all grow in faith and can use our gifts. The cell comes to life when everyone is involved.

2) Every member grows. To be a Christian is a lifelong growing relationship with Jesus. The Great Commission that He has given us is to "make disciples of all people" (Mathew 28:19-20). This commandment challenges all of us in cell life. The cell group is the place where new members can be discipled and where all members can grow to maturity and in Jesus' plan for their lives.

3) Sacrificial love. Jesus sumed up the Old Testament law in 'love God and love your fellow man' (Mark 12:28-34). The sacrificial love that Jesus demonstrated  (1 John 3:16), which is also at our disposal through the Holy Spirit Who lives in us, is an important element of cell life. Self-sacrifice binds the cell together. It is not about what you can get out of cell life, but what you can contribute.

4) Fellowship. A cell group is more than a gathering! It is a small group of people who look to each other and care for one another. It is a place to love others and where others love you. A cell group is like a family.  We learn to trust one another, to be open and honest, to help others and to receive help, and to build each other up and develop good friendships.

5) Evangelism and multiplication. Research shows that more than 70% of all Christians came to Christ through a friend. An important part of fulfilling the Great Commission is to develop good friendships with the people around us.  Because cells meet in the homes of the members, they form an important means for our unbelieving friends to see how Christians interact with each other and what it means to be a Christian.

A cell group needs to ensure that it remains open to new people and never becomes inward focussed. The challenge for every cell group is to reach out to the people around us and show the love of Jesus. The key goal of a cell group is then to grow, to develop and ultimately to multiply into two new cell groups.