QUOTE
Joel Comiskey identifies sixteen principles “fundamental to developing a strong cell system” (RH 46-56). Chapters in Reap The Harvest expand on each principle. These principles provide a good summary of the second wave of cell innovation.
13. Leadership Promotion Based on Success. Only proven success produces the confident respect needed for leaders to follow directions consistently. The mission to reach the lost is so important that leaders who do not perform are ultimately removed if they do not perform.
14. Cell Groups Meet in Homes. Homes are the primary meeting places for cell groups; the temple, however, is fully utilized in leadership training. (The first modification that any traditional church wishes to make is to move small group meetings from homes to churches; cells need to be visible in the neighborhoods where the lost people are located.)
15. Cells Follow-up with Visitors, New Converts. While visitors to worship are consistently there due to some relationship with someone in the church, these churches fill cells with worship visitors as well as through direct evangelism. Cell members follow up so that the resulting relationships draw the worship visitor into cell life. At Bethany, new converts are brought to one of seven district offices based on their zip code to meet their district pastor and view a short video on cell life. A staff pastor and cell leader call on them within 24 hours.
16. Cell Lessons Based on Pastor=s Sermon. To ensure continuity and consistency, and to strengthen the link between cell and celebration, cell lessons are always based on the senior pastor=s preaching. Cells are not allowed to choose other curriculum. Their purpose is to obediently serve to reach the lost and multiply, not to pursue their own individual needs.
NOTE (my response)
DISCERNMENT QUESTIONS
RESOURCES
RH: Joel Comiskey, Reap the Harvest: How A Small Group System Can Grow Your Church (Houston, TX: Touch Publications, 1999)
CC: Larry Stockstill, The Cell Church: Preparing Your Church for the Coming Harvest (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1998)
Footnotes:
The quote is from Major League Disciple Making: An Overview of the Best Research on the Cell Church, an online course developed for the Institute for Discipleship at www.BeADisciple.com in 2009. Course materials, including these lectures, can be downloaded here: http://www.disciplewalk.com/IFD_MLD_Class_Links.html
All Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Please review the page How and Why We Use Quotes.