What NOT to do: myths and truths

CELL PASTORAL LEADERSHIP

Myth: All a pastor has to do is believe in the cell vision and start the model

Truth: A pastor needs to concentrate to make cell ministry work

Myth: Any pastor can lead a cell church

Truth: Cell church leadership does demand attention to detail.

 

What NOT to do: myths and truths

CELL CHURCH AND WESTERN CULTURE

Myth: cells don’t work in North America and western culture

Truth: not much works in North America and western culture and cells work better than any other strategy for long term health and growth

 

What NOT to do: myths and truths

CHURCH PLANTING AND MEGA CHURCHES

Myth: Cell churches are megachurches

Truth: Relatively few cell churches will reach mega church status

Myth: It’s desireable to grow to mega church status

Truth: It’s better to plant cell churches at a smaller size

What NOT to do: myths and truths

MODELS

Myth: Models bring life and growth

Truth: Models have no life; they only contain growth. The key is coaching, not the structure you place upon it

Myth: Once you have a model, stick by it

Truth: Change rapidly lest you’re left behind; always be innovating

What NOT to do: myths and truths

CELL CHURCH BRINGS GROWTH

Myth: If I choose to go cell church, my church will grow

Truth: Only Jesus can grow the church.

What NOT to do: myths and truths

G12 MYTH

Myth: the number twelve brings life

Truth: there are many great numbers in the Bible

What NOT to do: myths and truths

VISION

Myth: tell the church how wrong it is and how great the ideal cell church is

Truth: just do it. People need to see it worked out. Don’t oversell the cell concept. Just do it and then let them see it

What NOT to do: myths and truths

TRANSITION

Myth: you must start with one prototype

Truth: there are various ways to transition

What NOT to do: myths and truths

COACHING

Myth: Coaching means only listening and is therapeutic

Truth: Coaching contains a wide variety of disciplines

What NOT to do: myths and truths

CELL LEADERSHIP

Myth: Everyone must be a cell leader

Truth: everyone should be a disciple-maker

Myth: All pastors must lead cell groups

Truth: I think it’s best they do, but there are occasions when they need to take a break. Again, avoid cell church legalism

What NOT to do: myths and truths

FAILURE

Myth: if you fail once, don’t try again

Truth: you need to be willing to fail several times to get it right.

What NOT to do: myths and truths

CELL DEFINITION

Myth: Cells should be whatever you want them to be—small and a group

Truth: Define your cells with a quality definition in mind

Myth: Cells are an extension of the program of the Sunday service

Truth: the cell is the church

 

What NOT to do: myths and truths

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Myth: The cell church is all about the cell

Truth: The cell church is all about leadership development; it’s about raising up an army of leaders; cells are leader breeders

What NOT to do: myths and truths

COMMUNITY AND EVANGELISM

Myth: Evangelism in the cell church is only relational

Truth: Try every conceivable method and remember spoudé

Myth: Cells equal community

Truth: Community orientation will kill a cell unless it’s mixed with evangelism

What NOT to do: myths and truths

HEALTH AND COMMUNITY

Myth: Healthy small groups focus primarily on community.

Truth: Healthy small groups practice community in the process of reaching out and preparing for multiplication.

What NOT to do: myths and truths

EVANGELISM LEGALISM

Myth: You have to lead 4 people to Christ before you can be a cell leader

Truth: You want future leaders to be practicing evangelism but avoid cell legalism at all costs

What NOT to do: myths and truths

THE LEADER DOING ALL THE EVANGELISM WORK

Myth: the cell leader does the evangelism

Truth: Use each member of the cell; give yourself credit for trying to reach out; find those with the gift of evangelism

What NOT to do: myths and truths

MULTIPLICATION AND EVANGELISM

Myth: if our group emphasizes evangelism and multiplication, we won’t build community.

Truth: Evangelism that leads to multiplication happens far less and should be emphasized more.

What NOT to do: myths and truths

MULTIPLICATION DESTROYS RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEW CELL

Myth: evangelism that leads to multiplication permanently destroys the relationship between the mother and daughter groups.

Truth: the best type of multiplication maintains strong ties between mother and daughter small groups.

What NOT to do: myths and truths

NO MULTIPLICATION DATE FOR THE CELL

Myth: when God wants the cell to multiply it will naturally do so

Truth: it’s best to plan a date for multiplication and pray accordingly

 

What NOT to do: myths and truths

THE CELL WILL MEET ALL THE NEEDS

Myth: the small group meeting should meet all the needs of the members.

Truth: the small group meeting is only one aspect of community life.

What NOT to do: myths and truths

HOSPITALITY

Myth: one person should be the permanent host

Truth: it’s best if the host house is shared; try to find someone with the gift of hospitality; ask others to provide refreshments; close on time.

What NOT to do: myths and truths

THE LEADER DEVELOPING ALL THE REALATIONSHIPS IN THE GROUP

Myth: the cell leader should develop all the relationships in the group

Truth: individuals within the group should share the relational commitment

What NOT to do: myths and truths

LACK OF A CORE TEAM IN THE CELL

Myth: the cell should primarily have non-christians

Truth: the core of the cell is essential

What NOT to do: myths and truths

What NOT to do: myths and truths

What NOT to do: myths and truths