C. Every member in a cell church, without exception, is expected to be directly involved in the making of new disciples and is fully supported in that task by the church’s organizational structure. Every program of the cell church is subordinated to the goal of making disciples. The goal is generations of disciples making disciples making disciples (2 Timothy 2:2).
D. Ralph Neighbor: “The typical church-goer relates to only five to eight people for at least one full hour per week per person, and half of those Christians cannot name a single unbeliever among their close friends. Many of them have not even made a new acquaintance in the past twelve months. They live in little personal bubbles, having no interest in people who live and work close to them.”[1] Noticing the lost is a key factor in evangelism. Who do you know that does not attend church?
E. Charles Spurgeon: Even if I were utterly selfish, and had no care for anything but my own happiness, I would choose if I might under God to be a soul winner, for never did I know perfect overflowing, unalterable happiness of the purest and most enabling order till I first heard of one who had sought and found the Savior through my means.[2]
HOMEWORK Discussion Questions:
2.30 How is your church going out into the world? How will that lead to making disciples? Directly or indirectly?
2.31 When you go out into the world, what is your goal? How will that lead to making disciples? Directly or indirectly?
2.32 What part of going into the world is done with groups, and what by other means?
2.32 Identify
QUOTE [1]
NOTE
DISCERNMENT QUESTIONS
RESOURCES
[1] The quote is a selection from David O. Kueker’s Fuller Seminary Doctor of Ministry project submitted in September, 2007, entitled Diagnosis, Dialogue, and Decision: A Threefold Process of Revitalization For the Illinois Great Rivers Conference.
It is shared here in recognition of its 12th Anniversary along with comments to update and provide perspective on the material. The original project was a Training Manual/Study Guide of three Seminars supported by three chapters of research and an Introduction. The material is available for download at www.disciplewalk.com/Resources.html. In 2009 it was provided for purchase as a softcover book entitled Designing Discipleship Systems: Christian Disciple Making For Any Size Church, Any Theology through CreateSpace.com.
[2][3] [4][5] [6][7] [8]
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.
[1]Neighbor, Where Do We Go, 101. Emphasis in original. Schwarz, Natural Church Development, 35, indicates the average Christian has 8.5 weekly contacts with unbelievers.
[2]Charles Spurgeon, Soul-Winning Explained, http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/sw12.htm (accessed June 15, 2007).