Cells And The New Testament
I love the fact that Cell Church is not a recent invention, but has always been at the heart of the way God’s people have discipled one another.
The Great Commission that Christ gave the church was to “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Evangelism is an important part of the process, but it is only the start, in the same way that child birth is just the start of parenting. Maturity is the goal in both cases.
Just as Jesus ministered to both “the crowds” and the Twelve, the church has often recognised that effective ministry has to operate as both celebration and cell.
In the New Testament we are given many commands that end in “one another.” These are the practical daily keys to growing in maturity as followers of Christ.
The most well known of these commands is Jesus’ command: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34). Love is a personal thing. You cannot love a thousand people in a large group. It is possible to love one another in a much smaller group where there is space to get to know one another and to share deeply.
In Romans 12:16, Paul tells us to “Live in harmony with one another.” I live in a town of 7000 people. We don’t need instruction to live in harmony with one another. As long as we show consideration for one another, remember to drive on the correct side of the road and don’t make too much noise at night, everyone is happy. When you need instruction to live in harmony with one another, that suggest that people are close up and personal and needing to make adjustments to their words and actions. We call that love in action.
Paul tells the church at Colossae (and us also), “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. (Colossians 3:16). There is a measure of openness here that cannot be seen in a big group. Admonishing is counselling or exhorting someone to a course of action. That is very uncomfortable in a medium or large sized group. But it is what groups of 6 to 12 people do very well.
As you search through the Scriptures and find so many “one another” commands, you realise just how intimate and caring relationships in the church are meant to be.
We are called to live together in an open community where deep and loving relationships develop, but which encourages new members to feel included.