WHAT IS CELL GROUP
According to Life Community Church, a cell group is a small group of 5-15 people that meets weekly in an informal setting to explore how the Bible speaks to real life, and to talk about what’s happening in their own lives. Honest, authentic people gather to apply the Bible practically, laugh together, pray together, cry together, challenge each other, and minister to each other with the spiritual gifts God has given each one. It is not a church with small groups but a church of small groups with three major objectives: Care for one another, spiritual growth and outreach.
- It is a place where every member serves. We use our talents and gifts to serve one another and those around us.
- It is a place where every member grows and a place where new members are discipled. Math. 28:20.
- It is a place where care for one another and exercise our sacrificial love. (“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind … Love your neighbour as you love yourself”).
- It is a place where evangelism and multiplication takes place. Research shows that more than 70% of all Christians came to Christ through a friend (Friendship Evangelical Church, 2016). Because cells meet at home, we can invite our unbelieving friends to our homes and let them hear the word of God.
WHY SMALL CELL GROUPS?
- Disciples are made through small groups Acts 2:42 – 47
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
- Fellowship occurs in small groups
- Care takes place in small groups
- Mission is carried out in small groups
- Leaders are trained in small groups
Our vision as a cell ministry
To become a church of family and friends, where no one stands alone. To grow smaller as the church grows bigger.
Purpose: To form vibrant and exciting communities of faith and love where people experience God, serve each other and reach to transform their neighborhood
Core values
- Leadership Development – we believe that leadership is key in any group: so, we shall continually identify and develop leaders for the group with the intention to regularly multiply.
- Outreach – We shall be mission oriented. Fulfilling the great commandment and commission (Mathew 22:37-39; 28:19,20)
- Service to one another – We want to see authentic relationships cemented, a commitment to one another. It is in these relationships that pastoral care happens (Acts 2:46).
Experiencing God – We want to grow in the knowledge of and love for God as we are transformed into the likeness of Christ (Romans 12:1, 2).
Leadership Development
The most strategic person in the life-change process of the church is the small group leader
The church leadership seeks to ensure the leaders of small groups succeed through training and support. We will do this through regular meetings in which we train, pray together, envision and share about our challenges, needs and pastoral concerns.
Small group leaders will spot, encourage and develop emerging leaders in preparation for the growth and multiplication of groups. Leadership development should be the commitment of each and every small group leader.
The heart of a healthy church life is in small groups of people sharing together, growing together and serving together. DPC can become a mega church if we encourage people to belong and serve in small groups.
The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 mandates that every follower of Christ is on mission to “go and make disciples of all nations.” Jesus gave this instruction to all his followers, both as individuals and as the body of Christ. We, as small groups and as a church, bear collective witness to the good news of Jesus Christ.
One of Jesus’ final instructions to his disciples is found in John 13:34-35: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Note that Jesus did not say people will know we are Christians by how many churches we build, how many Bible studies we complete, how many prayers we say, or how many people come to our church. The litmus test is clear: people will know we are Christ-followers when we love each other the way Jesus does and we can do it better in our small groups.
