New Life is categorised as a cell church which means that we place as much emphasis on cell groups as on Sunday mornings.
Joel Comiskey gives some theological reasons as to why cell church is the "natural" form of church
Why Cell Church?
by Joel Comiskey
Whycell church? Why do we believe in it? Is it because David Cho’s church,
the largest church in the history of Christianity, is a cell church? Is
it because someone said the number 12 will bring blessings and growth?
Is it because cell church is the strategy that many “great” churches
are using?
The problem with the above reasons is that they don’t
give long-term foundational strength. God has been showing me lately
that theology must guide our strategies–and not the other way around.
So what are the core theological reasons for doing cell church? Allow
me to share three important ones:
1. The Trinity
Our God is a social God! He lives in relationship with the other members of the
Trinity. God is not an independent, lone ranger. Individualism might be
the cultural norm in the western world, but God loves community and
unity (think of all the one-anothers in the Bible). One of the key
values of cell church is that people need to live in community rather
than hide in anonymity. The intimacy of a cell group encourages people
to know and be known.
The Trinity is also an outreaching God.
Evangelism flows from His very heart. God’s will is to reach lost
people through His Son, Jesus, and the church is His instrument to make
it happen. The cell church teaches each member must reach out through
relational evangelism. Cells expect all members to develop
relationships with non-Christians because such activity reflects the
heart of God.
2. Priesthood of all believers
It’s quite
easy for people to sit in church. Some churches grow large through
filling pews. Yet, Scripture teaches that all believers are priests.
Cells value the participation of every believer.
Part of the
priesthood of all believers is the use of spiritual gifts. My books,
The Spirit-filled Small Group and Discover, talk about how cells are
the best atmosphere for spiritual gift use. In fact, all of the New
Testament gift passages were written to house churches. Cell churches
are rediscovering this important truth.
3. Making disciples
Christ’s
last command to His disciples was to make disciples of all nations. I
believe the essence of cell ministry is making disciples who make
disciples. Cells are leader breeders and the best place to prepare
disciple-makers. Multiplication is at the heart of cell ministry
because new cells provide the environment for making new disciples.
On
this blog, I often highlight large, growing cell churches or church
planting movements. But such examples shouldn’t be our principal reason
for doing cell church. The best reason is because cell church promotes
key theological concepts and brings glory to the living God.
Why do you do cell church? Or, perhaps you’d like to add a theological concept not listed here. . . .
Joel
by Joel Comiskey
Whycell church? Why do we believe in it? Is it because David Cho’s church,
the largest church in the history of Christianity, is a cell church? Is
it because someone said the number 12 will bring blessings and growth?
Is it because cell church is the strategy that many “great” churches
are using?
The problem with the above reasons is that they don’t
give long-term foundational strength. God has been showing me lately
that theology must guide our strategies–and not the other way around.
So what are the core theological reasons for doing cell church? Allow
me to share three important ones:
1. The Trinity
Our God is a social God! He lives in relationship with the other members of the
Trinity. God is not an independent, lone ranger. Individualism might be
the cultural norm in the western world, but God loves community and
unity (think of all the one-anothers in the Bible). One of the key
values of cell church is that people need to live in community rather
than hide in anonymity. The intimacy of a cell group encourages people
to know and be known.
The Trinity is also an outreaching God.
Evangelism flows from His very heart. God’s will is to reach lost
people through His Son, Jesus, and the church is His instrument to make
it happen. The cell church teaches each member must reach out through
relational evangelism. Cells expect all members to develop
relationships with non-Christians because such activity reflects the
heart of God.
2. Priesthood of all believers
It’s quite
easy for people to sit in church. Some churches grow large through
filling pews. Yet, Scripture teaches that all believers are priests.
Cells value the participation of every believer.
Part of the
priesthood of all believers is the use of spiritual gifts. My books,
The Spirit-filled Small Group and Discover, talk about how cells are
the best atmosphere for spiritual gift use. In fact, all of the New
Testament gift passages were written to house churches. Cell churches
are rediscovering this important truth.
3. Making disciples
Christ’s
last command to His disciples was to make disciples of all nations. I
believe the essence of cell ministry is making disciples who make
disciples. Cells are leader breeders and the best place to prepare
disciple-makers. Multiplication is at the heart of cell ministry
because new cells provide the environment for making new disciples.
On
this blog, I often highlight large, growing cell churches or church
planting movements. But such examples shouldn’t be our principal reason
for doing cell church. The best reason is because cell church promotes
key theological concepts and brings glory to the living God.
Why do you do cell church? Or, perhaps you’d like to add a theological concept not listed here. . . .
Joel
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