Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church

Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church PDF Author: Joel Comiskey
Publisher: Joel Comiskey
ISBN: 0984311033
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 207

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Book Description
Why cell church? 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 twelve will bring blessings and growth? Is it because cell church is the strategy that many "great" churches are using? Ralph Neighbour repeatedly says, "Theology must breed methodology." This book sets forth the biblical theology for cell based ministry. Without biblical truth, we don't have a firm under-pinning upon which we can hang our ministry and philosophy. On the other hand, we can plod through most anything when we know that God is stirring us to behave biblically. Cell church is not the latest, greatest church growth strategy. If it were, it would simply be a passing fad until the next hotter, more relevant strategy comes along. In fact, in many places around the world, cell church transforms the church through a purification process. Church growth is slow but cell church helps Christ's church go deeper. Joel Comiskey has been studying the cell church movement since 1991 and has discovered that the cell church strategy doesn't produce rapid growth in itself. God reserves growth for himself. He wants to receive the glory for all church growth. The first section of this book covers the Trinity, the model for all small group community. The good news is that the Trinity works within believers to mold and shape them into his image. This section explores God's emphasis on the family, starting from Genesis, Christ's formation of a new family, and then the early church's focus on family. Comiskey believes that family is the principal image of the church in Scripture. The last chapter in this section explains Jesus and his kingdom and more specifically how Jesus trained his disciples to evangelism through home-based outreach. Section two reveals how the early church met in homes. It explores what they did in those home meetings, the size of the house churches, and how home evangelism took place through ancient oikos relationships. Comiskey looks at how New Testament leadership developed naturally through the house church structure and how the early church connected the house churches into celebration gatherings (large group meetings). The last section applies all eight chapters to the church today. This last section draws out the New Testament insights that are applicable to the 21st century church.

Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church

Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church PDF Author: Joel Comiskey
Publisher: Joel Comiskey
ISBN: 0984311033
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 207

Get Book

Book Description
Why cell church? 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 twelve will bring blessings and growth? Is it because cell church is the strategy that many "great" churches are using? Ralph Neighbour repeatedly says, "Theology must breed methodology." This book sets forth the biblical theology for cell based ministry. Without biblical truth, we don't have a firm under-pinning upon which we can hang our ministry and philosophy. On the other hand, we can plod through most anything when we know that God is stirring us to behave biblically. Cell church is not the latest, greatest church growth strategy. If it were, it would simply be a passing fad until the next hotter, more relevant strategy comes along. In fact, in many places around the world, cell church transforms the church through a purification process. Church growth is slow but cell church helps Christ's church go deeper. Joel Comiskey has been studying the cell church movement since 1991 and has discovered that the cell church strategy doesn't produce rapid growth in itself. God reserves growth for himself. He wants to receive the glory for all church growth. The first section of this book covers the Trinity, the model for all small group community. The good news is that the Trinity works within believers to mold and shape them into his image. This section explores God's emphasis on the family, starting from Genesis, Christ's formation of a new family, and then the early church's focus on family. Comiskey believes that family is the principal image of the church in Scripture. The last chapter in this section explains Jesus and his kingdom and more specifically how Jesus trained his disciples to evangelism through home-based outreach. Section two reveals how the early church met in homes. It explores what they did in those home meetings, the size of the house churches, and how home evangelism took place through ancient oikos relationships. Comiskey looks at how New Testament leadership developed naturally through the house church structure and how the early church connected the house churches into celebration gatherings (large group meetings). The last section applies all eight chapters to the church today. This last section draws out the New Testament insights that are applicable to the 21st century church.

2000 Years of Small Groups

2000 Years of Small Groups PDF Author: Joel Comiskey
Publisher: CCS Publishing
ISBN: 193578966X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 295

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Book Description
This book explores how God has used small groups throughout church history, specifically focusing on the early church to the present time. God not only established the early church as a house to house movement, but he also has used small groups throughout church history. This book chronicles the small group or cell movement from Jesus all the way to the modern day cell explosion. Themes include: -Small Groups In Biblical History -Small Groups In Early Christian History -Small Groups and Monasticism -Small Groups During the Pre-Reformation Period -Luther and Small Groups -Martin Bucer and Small Groups -The Anabaptist Movement -Puritan Conventicles -Pietism -The Moravians -The Methodists -Modern House Churches -Small Groups in North America -The Modern Day Cell Church This book will both critique the strengths and weaknesses of these historical movements and apply principles to today's church. You will grow in appreciation and understanding of key small group principles from those pioneers who have paved the way. You will also learn to value those movers and shakers who faced far greater odds to implement small groups than the difficulties confronted today. Many have struggled with the same things you're wrestling with now. And just like they found solutions in the face of persecution and trial, God will help you to persevere, find solutions, and ultimately bear abundant fruit for his kingdom and glory.

Myths and Truths of the Cell Church

Myths and Truths of the Cell Church PDF Author: Joel Comiskey
Publisher: CCS Publishing
ISBN: 1935789406
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 204

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Book Description
Most of the modern day cell church movement is biblical, dynamic, and positive. Sadly, errors and false assumptions have also crept in to confuse and lead astray an otherwise healthy movement. Joel Comiskey, in this ground-breaking book, exposes the myths of the cell church movement and then offers positive principles and insights to guide churches and leaders on the right path. Each chapter begins with a unique insight from a worldwide cell church leader who will share decades of wisdom in working with cell groups. These leaders include: Ben Wong, Robert Lay, Mario Vega, Bill Beckham, Abe Huber, Jimmy Seibert, Scott Boren, Werner Kniesel, Randall Neighbour, Jim Egli, Steve Cordle, and Les Brickman. You will enjoy the insights of these leaders in the cell movement. This book will help you avoid pitfalls and apply biblical, time-tested principles that will guide you into fruitful cell ministry. Whether you’re starting out for the first time in cell ministry or a seasoned veteran, this book will give you the tools to help your ministry stay fresh and fruitful.

Biblical Foundations for Small Group Ministry

Biblical Foundations for Small Group Ministry PDF Author: Gareth Weldon Icenogle
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
ISBN: 9780830817719
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 404

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Book Description
Drawing on biblical teaching and the ministry of the early church, Gareth Weldon Icenogle offers guidance for setting up and running a biblically based small-group ministry program.

Home Cell Group Explosion

Home Cell Group Explosion PDF Author: Joel Comiskey
Publisher: CCS Publishing
ISBN: 1950069370
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 136

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Book Description
Home Cell Group Explosion (2023 version) is the most researched and practical book ever written on cell group evangelism! Joel Comiskey traversed the globe to find out why certain churches and small groups are successful in reaching the lost. He found the answers and freely shares them within this volume. If you are a pastor or small group leader, you should devour this book! It will encourage you and give you simple, practical steps for dynamic small group life and growth. My friend Joel Comiskey is a combination of a local church practitioner and a painstaking scholar. Joel spent hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars visiting eight of the highest-visibility cell group churches to interview their leaders and record his findings. I love this book because it focuses on the multiplication of cells for the greatest evangelistic results. (C.Peter Wagner, Author, Scholar, and Church Growth Expert) Comiskey does not just describe what is happening in cell churches. He takes the next step and identifies in a step-by-step fashion how we can apply these principles in our churches. It is all here-everything we need to know to start and grow a cell group ministry. I am grateful to Dr. Comiskey, for the time, effort, and research that has gone into producing this long-needed book. (Richard Peace, Ph.D., Professor of Evangelism and Spiritual Formation, Fuller Theological Seminary) Joel and I shared many days in Bogota as this book was written. His grasp of cell church models is superior to any other person I have worked with: this book is a treasure of information for church planters and pastors wishing to transition to the cell model. (Ralph W. Neighbour, Jr., Author, and Pioneer Church Planter)

The Church In Many Houses

The Church In Many Houses PDF Author: Steve Cordle
Publisher: CCS Publishing
ISBN: 1935789546
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 136

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Book Description
Although the largest churches in the world are cell-based, many have questioned whether the model will work in North America. The Church In Many Houses: Reaching Your Community Through Cell-Based Ministry makes the case that the cell model will work— if key assumptions about spiritual growth and the nature of the church are reexamined and renewed. By drawing on scripture, research, and insights gained through personal experience as the pastor of a growing cell church, Steve Cordle identifies the four pivotal philosophical shifts necessary for the cell approach to work. These are mindset shifts that move from: programs to relationships—the purposes of the church are best fulfilled in the cell group instead of in programs member to disciple-maker—every member can and should become a group leader educating to equipping—spiritual growth is not knowing more but applying more “come and see” to “go and show”—the power of penetration evangelism. Impose a cell structure upon a congregation that has not yet made these philosophical shifts we are likely to fail. But when people adopt these biblical mindset changes, the cell approach will seem natural, and will result in great unity and effectiveness. The Church In Many Houses will help congregations make the changes that are necessary for success.

Where Do We Go from Here?

Where Do We Go from Here? PDF Author: Ralph W. Neighbour
Publisher: Touch Outreach Ministries
ISBN: 9781880828175
Category : Church development, New
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
With updated data on new cell church models, new information on equipping and harvest events and practical teaching on how to begin a transition, this book will continue to stir hearts to dream about what the church can be. You will find hope for the church in North America and discover the new things that Dr. Neighbour has learned over the last 10 years.

The Church That Multiplies

The Church That Multiplies PDF Author: Joel Comiskey
Publisher: Joel Comiskey
ISBN: 0979067936
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 24

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Book Description
Does the cell church strategy work in North America? We hear about exciting cell churches in Colombia and Korea, but where are the dynamic North American cell churches? This book not only declares that the cell church concept does work in North America but dedicates an entire chapter to examining North American churches that are successfully using the cell strategy to grow in quality and quantity. This book provides the latest statistical research about the North American church and explains why the cell church approach restores health and growth to the church today. More than anything else, this book will provide practical solutions for pastors and lay leaders to use in implementing cell-based ministry. NOTE: THIS BOOK WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED "CELL CHURCH SOLUTIONS: TRANSFORMING THE CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA." IT NOW HAS A NEW TITLE, NEW SECTION, AND HAS BEEN COMPLETELY RE-EDITED.

Community

Community PDF Author: Brad House
Publisher: Crossway
ISBN: 1433523175
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 258

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Book Description
Community within the church today is hemorrhaging. Attention spans are dwindling, noise levels are increasing, and we can't seem to find time for real relationships. The answer to such social fragmentation can be found in small groups, and yet the majority of small groups—at least in the traditional sense—are often not the intentional, transformational community we really want and need. Somehow we need to get our groups off life support and into authentic community. Pastor Brad House helps us to re-imagine what gospel-centered community looks like and shares from his experience leading and reproducing healthy small groups. With wisdom and candor, House challenges us to think carefully about our own groups and to take steps toward cultivating communities that are able to glorify Jesus, bless one another, and participate in the mission of God.

Life in His Body

Life in His Body PDF Author: David L. Finnell
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781880828878
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 164

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Book Description
Here is your new field-tested guide to the cell-based church! Practical, simple and comprehensive, it synthesizes the inner-workings of a cell chuch. It clearly communicates the keys to developing a vital cell-based church.