What is Cell Church?
International Gospel Church is a cell church. Cell churches are organised slightly differently compared to the traditional church structure. In the traditional framework, the Sunday meeting was the cornerstone of the church’s activities with all other events revolving around it. However in the cell church structure, the cell meeting is the focal point for activity. This more closely mimics the way the early church met in each other’s houses, as it says in Acts:
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,
Acts 2:46
Within the cell group there is time for worship, teaching and prayer. Whereas before, all other church activities were in addition to the Sunday meeting, through cell they are incorporated into church life. Cell therefore becomes the most important meeting to attend, as it is here that as a small group of God’s people we share our lives. The Sunday meetings are when the cells come together as an expression of their unity in Christ and worship Him.
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Cell Values
Jesus said when two or three are gathered together, He is there with them (Matthew 18:20). Our Father in Heaven wants us to be more like Jesus. When we meet in Cell our goal is to meet Jesus so that we may experience His life changing power. We do that as we pray, worship, learn and share honestly and openly with each other.
Cell is a place where caring relationships can be built. A place where we can be open and honest without fear of rejection. It is a place where we can belong. Within this environment of care and focusing on Jesus, cell is where we can grow in our relationship with God. A place where we can be experimental or be challenged. Cell gives a framework of accountability in which each person can grow.
Cell is not a place that is dominated by one person. Cell is a place where everyone can take part, each person bringing their gifts to benefit the other members of the group. Cell is not an exclusive place for a few Christians, it is place to reach out from and serve those who don’t know Jesus yet. It is a place that is welcoming and accepting, not judgemental.
The Cell Meeting
Cell meetings are split up into four sections; Welcome, Worship, Word & Witness. Each section is lead by a different member of the cell. Members take it in turns to lead the varying sections.
- Welcome (20 minutes)
The use of an ‘icebreaker’ is excellent for getting to know each other. It normally takes the form of a question “What would you do if…?” or “When was your first…?” - Worship (20 minutes)
This enables people to centre on God. It is not a time of teaching but a time of focusing on God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Sometimes this may take off and the programme goes out of the window, don’t worry! - Word (30 minutes)
The discussion is usually centred on the previous Sunday’s sermon. It is a time for personally applying scripture to our lives. What is God saying to me? It is not a time for one person to repeat the whole sermon. - Witness (20 minutes)
Cell isn’t just about looking at ourselves but looking out into our local community and reaching our friends and neighbours for Jesus. Praying for them and organising events to befriend them and introduce them to Jesus.
The four sections of the evening can occur in any order but it’s generally a good idea to have the welcome at the beginning!
