Whether we realize it or not we live in a very individualistic and often selfish nation. The "American Dream" is becoming more and more self-centered and our society exalts the individual that is "self-made." Unfortunately, this preoccupation with 'self' has bleeded over into the church. Much of what we do as believers centers around us and our famililes; with very little attention towards a world that is devoid of meaning, purpose, and a Savior.
As believers we are called to be like Christ. That is the meaning of true discipleship - to be like Christ. How then did Jesus define his goal or purpose of "doing" ministry? In response to the Pharisees question "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" in Matthew 9:11-13 - Jesus said "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." And in the temple when Jesus proclaimed that his ministry has begun he read Isaiah 61:1-2 which says "The Spirit of the Lord is on men, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of the sight to the blind, to release the oppresed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." What does all this mean and what does it have to do with cell groups? Well, in cell groups our goal is to live in biblical community. To achieve this goal we are striving to give up our own selfish desires. We seek to minister to each other, to love each other, to keep each other accountable, and to heal hurts - through the power of Christ. The end result being, we are to give ourselves away to others - be they saved or lost (Matt 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are many lost, hurt, dying, poor, and lonely people in our lives, at our workplace, or even next door to us. In the context of cell groups we try to fulfill that command to minister to each other - to both saved and lost friends in our lives. This is one of the reasons that cell groups meet in the homes of members; to reach those lost friends, neighbors, and co-workers that might not come to a church building. Cell groups are designed to "go" to the lost people that permeate our lives, to minister to them as Jesus did, and to share the gift of salvation with them.
Jesus desires that all men be saved, and he has committed to believers his "message of reconciliation" (1 Tim 2:4; 2 Cor 5:18-19). Whether you live out Christ's command to reach the lost through a cell group, through a F.A.I.T.H. team, or in some other way - the imperative remains the same - Jesus expects his followers to be obedient (Luke 9:62).
Whether we realize it or not we live in a very individualistic and often selfish nation. The "American Dream" is becoming more and more self-centered and our society exalts the individual that is "self-made." Unfortunately, this preoccupation with 'self' has bleeded over into the church. Much of what we do as believers centers around us and our famililes; with very little attention towards a world that is devoid of meaning, purpose, and a Savior.
Well, in cell groups our goal is to live in biblical community. To achieve this goal we are striving to give up our own selfish desires. We seek to minister to each other, to love each other, to keep each other accountable, and to heal hurts - through the power of Christ. The end result being, we are to give ourselves away to others - be they saved or lost (Matt 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are many lost, hurt, dying, poor, and lonely people in our lives, at our workplace, or even next door to us. In the context of cell groups we try to fulfill that command to minister to each other - to both saved and lost friends in our lives. This is one of the reasons that cell groups meet in the homes of members; to reach those lost friends, neighbors, and co-workers that might not come to a church building. Cell groups are designed to "go" to the lost people that permeate our lives, to minister to them as Jesus did, and to share the gift of salvation with them.
