Home Groups and Cell Groups: A Beginners Guide
It is important for us in seeking to be a healthy church that we have a place where we can get to know a group of people really well. A place where we can learn together (with much laughter and some tears). A place to worship quietly and intimately. A place where we are supported and encouraged by others, sometimes through being listened to and always through being prayed for. A place to exercise our gifts.
We therefore have a number of house groups and Cell groups throughout the Benefice and to give you a flavour of what we do the leaders have written something about their group.
The Rough Guide to Cell & Home
Groups
Why do we have cell and home groups?
because we are commanded to love others
Mark 12:30
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'
31:The second is this: `Love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
because people matter to God
John 3:16 John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son
because people are spiritually lost
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10
But your iniquities have separated you from your God. Isaiah 59:2
remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:12
because people need Christ
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. 1 Peter 3:18
because people need answers
People need community/relationship
People need cultural relevance – an appropriate microculture
People need time
because we have been commissioned
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19:Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20:and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18
Firstly, Jesus commands that his followers make disciples: that they do not just teach people about him, but they make them committed to Jesus.
Secondly, Jesus commands that they mark disciples: they set them aside and identify them through baptism as part of the family of God.
Thirdly, Jesus commands that they mature disciples: they teach them to follow Jesus by applying his words to their lives.
How do Cell and Home groups differ from each other?
Briefly !
Cell group leaders and members make a commitment to grow in their faith, to grow closer to each other, to grow in serving others and to grow numerically. The latter emphasis means that the group is ready to nucleate a new group after a few years.
The implication of wanting to grow numerically and potentially divide in some way is as follows.
► The group is very open to newcomers.
► Everybody takes part in some aspect of the evening.
► Potential leaders are actively developed.
► People are encouraged to use their gifts.
► The group runs activities to which friends and family are invited.
► People expect change
► Teaching material based on the Sunday talks is provided, so that it can be applied and most members of the group can lead the discussion
More -> Examples of Cell Group material - click on the links below for Cell and Home Group material