Cell Church versus Cell-Based Church

Friends, striking a balance between Celebration and Cell Groups is pivotal to building up the body of Christ as mentioned in the previous article, “The Two-winged Church”.

In a bid to run the cells model, many ministers, especially in our continent - Africa, must understand the clear difference between a Cell Church and a Cell-based Church.

A Cell Church is a church setting that accepts cells as one of the many activities their members should participate in, though this is optional. Here, growth is measured solely on Sunday service (Celebrations) attendance. As long as attendance is steadily on the increase at Sunday meetings, that is sufficient, implying that church growth is successful. Church leaders are not concerning themselves with what is happening with life in the house fellowships. Church growth is measured by quantity, instead of quantity and quality. Moreover, because Cells is an optional program, church members don’t usually experience life flowing from the small groups into the main stream, i.e. the church’s life. Subsequently, there will never be a budget line to administer its operations. Supervision and accountability of small groups is scarcely and seldom demanded by the leadership whereas this is a different ball game for the ‘celebration’ services.

However, things are much different and better with a Cell-based Church. Cells/Small Group is not just a passion but a ‘tool’ to run out God-given vision and assignment. All things are done through small groups activities while the Celebration activities run unhindered. The time allotted to Celebration is the same as Cell Groups - one is not prioritized above the other.

Furthermore, leadership in a cell-based church measures the strength and growth of the church by the health of their small groups’ life and ministry. And they can easily measure the attendance in their Celebration service as a function of the attendance in the Cells/small groups. The number of cells, multiplied by numbers of member in the cells, should be the sum total of those in the Sunday Celebration service. So, small groups define the church because they give the church celebration services the stability and form needed for build-up and for flight.

Lastly, Cell-based Churches appreciate the need to finance the cells’ out-reaches and in-reach activities on a regular basis. So, their annual financial budget reflects this to enable the groups to perform and achieve encouraging results. Moreover, supervision and accountability is highly expected.

  

Pastor Sam. Elijah

(For more information on small group development in your church and possible trainings of your leadership team please contact us at-pastorsam120@gmail.com or call +2348054537890).

The Two Winged Church

As birds of the air or airplanes cannot fly with one wing, so is the body of Christ. The Church of Jesus Christ here on earth is principally designed to function and operate as a two winged organization. The wings that enable its flight are – ‘Celebration’ (full congregational gatherings) and ‘Cell Groups’ (house fellowships). The church, soaring with wings of an eagle, is not possible outside this duo; it will be dysfunctional in nature and function.

What amazes me is the continual imbalance between the two, making flights difficult for the body of Christ – especially in Africa. Too many ministers of African churches concentrate more of their time, energy and resources on the ‘Celebration’ component, only paying lip-service to ‘Cell Group’ development in their churches.

In fact, many churches operate without a small group structure in place: budgets are set to finance all operations regarding Celebration activities and strategies are devised to raise funds for such events over the year – yet the Cell Group wing of the church is completely neglected with no such funds put in place. Please, kindly reflect on that, whether or not it describes your leadership. What an imbalance! Just as Celebration activities need financial support, so do Cells activities. Please, striking a balance here, with two wings in operation, will surprise you with encouraging results.

Except for the fewer number of attendees within a Cell group, there is nothing God does in a Celebration service that cannot be repeated within in the smaller, house fellowship context. Christ promised that where two or three shall gather in His name, He will be there present. Thus, all the healings, deliverance, spiritual gifts and power demonstrations we anticipate to happen in our Celebrations can equally happen in our small groups. In fact, Cell groups often achieve greater results as they operate as the very foundation of the church body.

Small groups can be likened to the tap root system of a fruit tree. Provided that small groups are entrenched into the main stream of church life then everything can flow through the Cell. This is how a fruit tree grows: life flows from the underground root system to the upper foliage, and life from the upper foliage flows downwards (Celebration and Cell Groups are complementary).

A pastor friend once told me that he was too spiritually overloaded to concentrate all his time on small group development. I think there is a misunderstanding here because the Lord is more burdened with things to do than we ever will be. The Lord was anointed with the Holy Spirit without measure, yet operated through the two-winged church approach (small group and large group). My sense is that many ministers in Africa hold the same opinion as my friend about themselves and their ministry, putting all their energy into the Celebration aspect where they enjoy greater number of attendees to bless, causing their fame to travel wide like a forest consumed with fire.

Beloved, there is nothing wrong with this kind of passion, but we must strike a balance in how we ‘do church’ and how we follow Jesus – our great pattern and model for ministry.

Celebrations are good but cannot get the job done alone. Crusades, in-door and out-door, are wonderful experiences (and costly) but will not get the job done. Having a Bible Institute in your ministry is wonderful, but not everyone can be in your Bible Institute. Specialized worker seminars in the church are also a great tool of equipping but I tell you, you cannot get all the members equipped and model ministry life to them ‘one on one’ as the small group can.

“Mass crusades to which I have committed my life will never finish

  the job but one to one will” – Billy Graham.

So what was Jesus’ model for ministry? Think about it. Jesus operated a two-winged church during the time of His ministry on earth: He was a great and mighty crusader - preaching, teaching and healing many in crusades grounds while He was here on earth. Meanwhile, He spent as much time in small group fellowship with the disciples whom He called to be with Him so that they could learn from Him. He later sent them out to do what they had seen Him do. It was in a small group setting that Jesus’ life was modeled to His disciples. What a mentor He was, and still is!

The religious leaders, after Jesus’ ascension, testified of the apostles that though they were unlearned men, they had been with Jesus and knew Him intimately, thus attributing to Jesus their divine power and wisdom. Shouldn’t we learn from this model? Acts 2 tells us how the early Church met daily in the synagogues (Celebration) and went from house to house (Cell Groups), breaking bread.

Friends, are you truly sincere in winning the lost for Christ? Then I urge you to embrace the Cell group method for growing your church. Do you really want to see your members equipped and prepared to do ministry as recommended in Ephesians 4:11-12? Then complement your Celebration activities with Cells. And if you are truly honest and seek to build up the body of Christ you will need this two-winged approach: you will do more effective and efficient ministry with Celebrations and Cell groups in place; you will reach more for Christ while modeling ministry ‘one on one’. Remember the words of Billy Graham as stated earlier as more of your equipped members will now be involved in the work of ministry.

And now a closing statement from the Apostle Paul:

 “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up”(Ephesians 4:11-12 NIV).

(For more information on small group development in your church and possible trainings of your leadership team please contact us at-pastorsam120@gmail.com or call +2348054537890).

A call to Supernatural Rest (Part 2)

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”. Matt 11:29-30 (KJV)

Take my yoke? I thought He just invited us in the previous verse (v.28) to come and receive His Rest. So, why this yoke again? Is the yoke of stress, pains, disappointments, poverty, lack, sickness and toiling we brought to Him not sufficient enough that we need extra or additional yoke to carry? 

Honestly speaking, the word ‘yoke’ could turn anybody off. But a proper understanding will help us to appreciate what Jesus is offering us here. A yoke is any device used in coupling two things together. It could be in form of a wooden or iron rod. Like the rod inserted into the necks of two oxen to plow the fields. And even chains used during the era of slave trading to couple several slaves together. In essence, Jesus wants us to get ourselves coupled/attached to Him. In other words, we identify with Him. We become His and He becomes ours.

Any where we go to the yoke of Jesus we wear, identifies us with Him and separate and put us apart. As we wear on daily basis, this yoke on our neck; even though it is invisible to the natural world it is known and recognize by the invisible world that controls and influences almost everything happening in our visible world. 

Been yoked with Christ is therefore, another way of receiving His protection. How can you be yoked with Him and still been oppressed by the devil. Don’t throw away the yoke of Christ or else you are throwing away your peace, your rest, your security and your prosperity. The yoke will maintain for you your rest. Hence, Apostle Paul said: “From henceforth let no man trouble (stress/yoke) me: for I bear in my body the marks (yoke) of the Lord Jesus. Gal 6:17 (KJV)

The yoke of Jesus is that which will ensure and maintain the Rest which He gave to as many that responded to His call, as discussed in our last write up. It is not enough to heed the call you must put on His yoke. The real evidence that you will stay or remain or abide in Him is His yoke that you willingly take and put on i.e. wear everyday of life after heeding His call. This will ensure you enjoy His kind of Rest all the days of your life.

Yoke is not always used in the negatives as we will see later on. But here it connotes submission to authority. Putting on His yoke is invariably saying, I’m willing to submit to your kind of authority and leadership. The statement: “…for I am meek and lowly in heart…” is a brief summary of Jesus personality and of cause the kind of leadership we should expect from Him. And He further described His yoke as- “For my yoke is easy…” from the Greek translation of the word easy, it implies something fit for use, good, befitting, pleasant, not hard, not harsh or bitter. Jesus yoke therefore will be fit you’re calling and destiny in life. It’s not the kind of yoke evil men of this world will forcefully put on you in order to oppress your life and destiny. 

Beloved, Jesus knows and understands that our necks- a place of strength and pride cannot be completely free of some sort of yoke. Then asked us to take up and wear His own kind of yoke that will guaranty and sustain the supernatural Rest He promised. Please, note therefore, that your neck cannot be absolutely free of yoke. It’s either your are wearing on your neck Jesus yoke or the yoke(s) from evil men that have come to stress your life through their oppressive activities.

You must carry this yoke-

·         Submission to Christ’s authority;

·         Living in absolute obedience to His will and plans for your life;

·         Continuous fellowship & communion with Him;

·         Being a faithful & consistent witness for Him;

·         Life of faith and genuine love for God & man are part of the yoke to mention few.

You must consciously wear this yoke. Only the fool and ignorant will laugh at your wearing the yoke of Christ. This yoke will truly identify you as a child of God and a follower of Christ Jesus. The yoke is not killing; it’s not bitter or harsh. It is befitting and it makes you look like God. It makes you attractive, acceptable, shining and enviable.

You cannot face the demons and wicked ones of this world without wearing the yoke of Christ. In business and in your trade you must put on the yoke to guarantee your success and prosperity. The yoke is a must wear for every minister of God in order to succeed in ministry. You cannot be yoked with Christ and remain poor, you cannot be yoked with Christ and remain small. You cannot be yoked with Christ and be afflicted. It is impossible to be yoked with Christ and remain in bondage of Satan! Because Christ’s yoke has come to destroy and replace the yoke of Satan. Therefore, no man will trouble (stress/yoke) you: because you now bear in your body the marks (yoke) of the Lord Jesus.

 Beloved, God’s kind of rest comes as we honor Christ invitation; the given rest is sustained and secured as we accept willingly His yoke. The earlier we understand and do this the better we enjoy our Christian journey i.e the race set before us. Because “It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth” Lam 3:27 (NKJV). The yoke that you carry therefore, determines whom you are subject to. Every yoke that has brought you stress and pain so far will go for you in Jesus name. Amen.

A call to Supernatural Rest

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest”.

 Matt 11:28 (KJV)

Beloved, God worked for six days and on the seventh day He Rested. God knew the importance of Rest and so ordained it. It’s however unfortunate to know that not all have entered into this God kind of Rest. So many people are busy working; laboring and overloaded with workloads without the benefit of Rest attached. Enjoying the word REST is far from such people and this contrary to God’s plan. This is because Rest must be given.

Rest is not a commodity you can buy or pick up from a shopping mall. Politician can promise Rest but cannot give it. Your boss in the office could promise it but cannot give it because he too needs it. And worst still, your money cannot buy you Rest. This is because Rest is not a function of whether someone is rich or poor. You could have all the money in this world and still lack this Rest. It is only God that can and will give Rest to as many that will come to him.

This Rest is not just limited to Resting your physical body after a long day of hard work. It’s beyond the one you derive from your usual annual summer holiday. It transcends the physical into your spirit and soul. It’s the type that brings peace and harmony to your whole being. This is what Jesus our Lord promised them who respond positively to the invitation in our opening text.

When Jesus said come! He was invariably saying to us: “stop running here and there in search for Rest, I have what you are looking for. And I will give it as you come to me”. Beloved, this is true reflection of what you are going through now. We do not have a high priest who is not touched with the feelings of our infirmities. He knows and sees what you are going through, even right now. All your moves and restiveness He sees. Your restlessness won’t provide you with the much needed solution. It’s time to respond to His calling- His invitation. If Jesus did not have Rest to give, He wouldn't offer it. Because a man can only give what he has.

Some ran out of their village into the city in ultimate search for Rest. And rather than getting Rest they end up with Stress- physical & spiritual. For “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows...” say the Psalmist. Beloved, there is no Rest in this city. This city you are in doesn't promise Rest to its inhabitants. If you like leave and go to another city. Or even elope to Europe or Western nations, it doesn't make a difference. Only God does. The cities of nations only yield its fullness only to those who have responded to God’s calling. And thanks to God, you are face to face with the man Christ Jesus who has what you are looking for. He now invites you to come and get it. Nothing attached, not even at a price. This Rest is free. A free Rest He promised. What are you waiting for!

This is all-round Rest for as many that will respond to this call in affirmation. This is Rest for your spirit, soul and body. Rest in your family life, financial life; Rest in your business, work and ministry. This automatically means the end to struggles, toiling. Things begin to work for you and not against you. And not that challenge(s) will not come but your God-given Rest will put you on top all the time. You become unmovable, unshakable because you have put your trust in the living God. You have set Him always before you and He is always at your right hand, hence you become unshakable- a state of Rest.

Friend, this call from our Lord Jesus is for your benefits. You benefit more when you respond to follow Him. When the Lord calls you, may your answer be yes. His calling will fix the problems of your life. His calling will provide you with the much needed solution for living. I assure you, His Rest will free you from all of your sorrow, fears and hard bondage/services which men have made you to serve.

What if the Governor of your state invites you to the State House? How would you respond to that?  Oh! You call it a great honor and privilege, isn't it? And what is that compare to the son of God’s inviting you to reign with Him in His kingdom with the promise of supernatural Rest.

Please, my friend, don’t allow the enemy’s deception. It’s time to yield to God’s call upon your life. This call will end and terminate all your sorrows, fears, and hard services, break the enemies yoke off your neck, lift the burden off your shoulder and make you free eternally. It is very crucial you respond to God’s call today as this will reverse all your wasted years and make you fruitful and reign with Him now and in the world to come.

Beloved, Rest comes with your positive response to His call. And when you receive this Rest, you become envy in your society. This Rest differentiates you from others. Because you are better relaxed in your spirit and soul and which is now reflective in your body. Let all men be cast down, for you there is lifting up. I welcome you into the supernatural living in God’s kind of Rest.

The Great Commission- A Sitting-Church or a Going-Church?

 “Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…" Matt 28:19 (TLB).

Friends, the church of Jesus Christ are commanded to go and make disciples in all nations. Our mandate is making disciple for Christ. We are NOT commanded to raise “members” but make disciples. A disciple has a sense of belonging; buys and runs with the vision of the house and follow wherever the Master goes. But not so with a member.

The first step to making disciple is to “go” where the people are and preach the good news of the Kingdom to them. Refusal to “go” is failure of duty and a lip service to the mandate of making disciple for Christ.

Friends, we have a mission to “go”. We are saddled with a mandate to “go”. Go where? To go into the whole world; starting from the immediate environ to the uttermost preaching the good news of Christ Kingdom to the not yet believers in Christ.

It is rather unfortunate that many of the Churches of today have assumed a sitting position. Instead of the church going to the world as commanded, are now waiting for the world to come into the church. So many churches and the ministers in particular have become so complacent and cold towards the matching order of “go…”

The many churches of today seemed to me so satisfied with the few disciples raised; build their empire around these few disciples as long as they feel very secure with their loyalty and interest towards the church and their calling. They never burred again about the remaining straining sheep outside the fold. It seemed also to me that we have left the work of soul winning entirely to the Lord of harvest- the Holy Spirit. As though the work of soul winning has no human figure involved.

The church is suppose to be the apostolic base where men and women are groomed/ trained and launched out into the field to reap in the ripe harvest. The church in addition to its status of been a going-church is also a sending-church. The Apostle, having understood this were constantly reaching out to their world and sending out trained disciples to fulfill this great commission.

“Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.  And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away”. Acts 13:1-3 (KJV).

The church then, had no difficulty training and releasing men into their callings and ministry, but only few are doing this today.

We are the going-church and the sending-church. Not a sitting-church.

This is what the small group ministry as laid down by Jesus Himself and by the Apostles wants to achieve. Jesus “go” i.e. went out in search of souls in the likes of Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip… Afterwards trained and commissioned them to function as His disciples. The Apostles in like manner followed this pattern from Christ after He left.

Brethren, if only the church of today could return back to the basis, embrace the principles of small group ministry into the main stream of our church activities; we will see greater result in the body of Christ. Many things are calling for our attention BUT one thing is needful- making of disciples. And this process will start and continue with obedience to the matching order- “go”. And will be best carried out through the small group activities.

The Growing Faith…The Growing Love

A healthy church is not only known by its exploits of Faith but also her walking in genuine love for God and His people. The small group ministry in the body of Christ is targeted at achieving both- faith and love among brethren. The church that is actively growing and full of faith must also be full of love. Both faith and love are most needed as we attempt to do effective ministry.

Friends, please kindly listen and pay attention, we cannot talk of growing faith in the church of God in absence of genuine love for God and the people. Love is the soil upon which our faith grows and works. You may make a boast and share your testimonies of how your faith in God worked and delivered to you timely results and answers to your prayers BUT if there is no love, all that is nothing.

“… and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing”. 1Cor 13:2 (NKJV)

To measure your faith in God without measuring your corresponding love for God & His people is merely living in a world of fantasy. There is no such thing as faith without love. Don’t be excited only at people’s work of faith be interested also in their walk of love. For faith will always need love to produce the desired result.

Apostle Paul didn’t lose sight of this very thing when he acknowledged both the faith and love of the believers in Thessalonica. He saw their growing faith as well as the abounding love towards one another as they live in fellowship. Hear what the Apostle Paul said: “…because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds towards each other…” 2Thes 1: 3-4 (NKJV)

As an evangelist your love to see the people saved and come to the knowledge of God precedes your strong faith to birth the needed miracle of salvation, & healings anticipated in every crusades ground. Because faith always work by love- Gal 5:6

It was love that motivated Jesus to accept the assignment to come and die for us so we might be saved. “For God so loved the world…” This principle cannot be broken. Love must be the reason why God should choose to sacrifice His only son for our redemption. Love is the motivating and the driving force here. And we ministers of the gospel must be love driven in everything we do in His vineyard.

As a shepherd of a local church assembly, the people want to see your love first before they see your faith. Your exploits of faith will be more real and well understood and even replicated by your congregation when they perceive love from you. In addition, it is your love for God and the people that motivates and compel them to stay and become emotionally & spiritually attached to you. Faith that works by love!

Church growth is very possible when love is in place. And a better working of our faith to do exploit is equally enhanced by love. What a perfect combination- faith & love!

So, as an Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher and even Prophets and Apostles of God, all workers in the vineyard of God, I plead with us all to ensure the workings of this duo in our lives and ministry. There is no need sharing our exploits of faith without a genuine love for God and for people at work in us. That will be another display of hypocrisy in the body of Christ.

And conversely, where there is genuine love for God; there MUST also be faith at work. God’s power and anointing MUST be released by faith for the salvation, healing and deliverance of God’s people. It is also NOT enough to love the people and still see them under the bondage of the enemy- devil. Compassion and love should stir your faith to work and release the people from bondage. Beloved, our faith in God must of a necessity be at work to save and heal the people. And not watching them to suffer as there is no need for the pains. However, as mentioned before, this faith must work by love.

Beloved, we do not have a God who is full of compassion and love BUT cannot save, heal or deliver those who come to Him. That is not the God we serve! Our God is not only the God of love but equally the Power God! At whatever condition/situation Christ should meet a man; compelled by love would never leave that man to go home the same way He meets him. And every minister of the gospel must strive to maintain the balance- faith and love.

Love, love, love is our true motive of doing ministry. And faith is the vehicle upon which God’s blessing could reach His people. We sincerely need the duo for effective working of ministry. Because:

“But without faith it is impossible to please him…” Heb 11:6 (KJV). And of cause- “…faith which (must) works by love”. Gal 5:6 (KJV).