by Joel Comiskey
The larger gathering helps in the discipleship process through teaching God’s Word, providing a celebratory worship experience, gathering the extended family, vision casting, and harvest evangelism. Since the goal of the cell church is to make disciples who make disciples, the larger gathering contributes to that process.
A few years ago, I spoke to the president of a small seminary in Mexico. He criticized the cell church philosophy because of the lack of in-depth teaching in the cell group and doubted that cell churches were deep, biblical churches. I agreed with him that the cell group was not the place to get into theological discussions because the focus was on the application of God’s Word and transformation rather than information. Yet, I also challenged his thinking that cell churches weren’t “deep, biblical churches.” I told him that many cell churches preach verse by verse, chapter by chapter, and book by book exposition of the Bible during the larger gatherings. “This is my preference,” I told him, “because God’s people need to be grounded in God’s inerrant Word.” This seminary president had a misconceived idea that cell churches didn’t preach through the Bible in the larger gatherings and were less biblical than other churches.
Discipleship in the cell church is a two-winged experience. Bible teaching in the celebration wing concentrates on expository teaching and preaching through the Bible. The pastor can clarify those hard passages and utilize the theological training to better equip the saints. The cell wing emphasizes applying God’s Word and life transformation. And most cell churches connect the Sunday sermon with the cell lesson. As believers receive theological depth in the larger gatherings and practical application in the smaller cell, the church will make more and better disciples.
Comments?
Joel
Spanish blog:
Predica la Palabra
Por Joel Comiskey
La celebración ayuda en el proceso de discipulado a través de la enseñanza de la Palabra de Dios, proveyendo de una experiencia de adoración, reunidos con la extensa familia, la visión, y la evangelización de la cosecha. Dado que el objetivo de la iglesia celular es hacer discpulos que hacen discpulos, la celebración contribuye a este proceso.
Hace unos años, hablé con el presidente de un pequeño seminario en México. El criticó la filosofa de la iglesia celular, debido a la falta de enseñanza en profundidad en el grupo celular y dudaba que las iglesias celulares eran profundas iglesias bblicas. Estuve de acuerdo con él en que el grupo celular no era el lugar para entrar en discusiones teológicas, porque la atención se centró en la aplicación de la Palabra y la transformación en lugar de información. Sin embargo, también desafié a su forma de pensar, que las iglesias celulares no eran “profundas, iglesias bblicas.” Le dije que muchas iglesias celulares predican verso por verso, captulo por captulo, y libro por libro la exposición de la Biblia durante la celebración. “Este es mi preferencia”, le dije, “porque el pueblo de Dios necesita estar infalible en la Palabra de Dios.” El presidente del seminario tuvo una idea errónea de que las iglesias celulares no predican la Biblia y que las celebraciones eran menos bblica que otras iglesias.
El discipulado en la iglesia celular es una experiencia de dos alas. La enseñanza de la Biblia en el ala celebración se concentra en la enseñanza y la predicación expositiva a través de la Biblia. El pastor puede aclarar los pasajes difciles y utilizar la formación teológica para equipar mejor a los santos. El ala celular enfatiza la aplicación de la Palabra de Dios y la transformación de la vida. Y la mayora de las iglesias celulares se conectan a la reunión del domingo con la lección celular. Como creyentes recibimos la profundidad teológica de las celebraciones y la aplicación práctica en la célula, más y mejores discpulos serán los resultados.
¿Comentarios?
Joel
Bro Joel,
You wrote (in part), “the goal of the cell church is to make disciples who make disciples.” Amen brother!
As a pastor, I am passionate about baptizing and teaching people. However, God has recently dealt with me about the issue of baptizing people as soon as they make a profession of faith.
In His Great Commission, Jesus says (in part), “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Go and make what? Baptizing and teaching who? Jesus says, Go and make, baptize and teach “DISCIPLES”; not supposed converts!
I vowed long ago, I would not officiate marriages for people who are not actively involved in a church nor will I officiate a burial for someone who wasn’t actively involved in a church. My most recent vow includes the following prayer…
“Dear God, please forgive me for baptizing and attempting to teach people who have no desire to become one of your DISCIPLES. In Jesus’ name I pray… Amen”
Sharing the Journey,
Rick Diefenderfer
“yes, Lord, help us to make disciples and not just converts!”