THE BENEFITS OF BEING INVOLVED IN A CELL GROUP
Acts 5:42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
I. Christianity was never intended to be a solo ride
A. It finds its most fulfilling and wonderful expression when people live, act and work in community - as friends, as brothers and as sisters
Psalms 133:1 A song of ascents. Of David. How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
My purpose today is to convince you and to challenge you to get involved in a cell group. I know that many of you may have hesitations and I understand that. So I am only asking you to give a Cell Group a try for three weeks, I am so convinced that this is God’s will for you and for the whole church, that if you’re not completely satisfied, then you don’t have to come back!
FOUR COMPELLING REASONS TO JOIN A CELL GROUP TODAY!
1. The Friendship Factor
a) In a Cell Group, you meet people that become lifelong friends
b) You find out that you are not alone
(1) In your struggles
(2) In your life
(3) You have support
(4) The Body of Christ really becomes a family, like it is supposed to be
c) You also expose yourself to a diversity of people that ordinarily you would not have relationship with. You get to experience the wonder of diversity in the Body of Christ - this is a good thing!
2. The Challenge Factor
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
a) In a Cell group with accountable relationships we are challenged by those who love us to move on toward what God has for us
b) If this brings fear into your heart, be at peace
c) It’s hard to be complacent when you have a group of people continually encouraging you
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, (25) not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
3. The Health Factor
a) Being involved in consistent, growing relationships that are based on Christ, generally improve our health in every way
(1) Spirit
(2) Soul
(3) Body
b) We pray for each other every week
James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
James 5:14-15 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. (15) And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
4. The Outreach Factor
a) All of the ministry of the church is done through the Cell Group
(1) New Believers
(2) Discipleship
(3) Ushering
(4) Greeting
(5) When we do outreaches, the cell is our unit of organization
(6) The church can be mobilized very quickly and effectively this way
(7) Since service is such an important part of our Christian experience, people love this
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
OBSTACLES TO JOINING A CELL GROUP
• Fear
b) Be willing to risk coming out of your anonymity
c) God has not given you a spirit of fear
• Procrastination
Why put off something today that is worthwhile? If you do, the odds of you ever actually doing it greatly decrease. Just give a Cell A try for 3 weeks - you won’t be sorry.
• Scheduling
d) We have a Cell Group practically every night of the week (except Mondays)
e) If there were enough interest, we would even have daytime cells
• Childcare
f) We have groups that are “Children Friendly” -meaning they have things planned for the children to do - ask the Cell leader what they do with children.
What are you waiting for? Take the Cell Challenge today. Meet some people ask some questions - and visit a Cell this week.
