How are cell group different to other small groups?

They maximise Discipleship and Accountability:

Discipleship and accountability are important and easily forgotten aspects of the Christian faith. Cell church seeks to take them seriously by applying both Jesus' command to make disciples + the Biblical principle of accountability. Accountability is simply the practice of being humble, teachable and open to correction. Discipleship and accountability work hand in hand within the safety of growing relationships of deepening trust. Accountable discipling relationships operate at various levels. For example, there is the coach or sponsor discipling relationship, the peer group discipling relationship, and for those who don't feel ready for the commitment of discipleship, there is the caring relationship.

As friendships grow within the cell, the cell leader makes sure that the needs of each cell member are catered for. Because accountability and discipleship are fostered within a lifestyle of deepening cell relationships, where people are known for who they are, not what they pretend to be, accountability and discipleship become a matter of mutual safety, rather than fearful authoritarian heavy handedness. This occurs by using well worked out discipling materials and cell leader training materials. As the cell group grows, members are helped into a deeper relationship with God + one another, and are equipped into fruitful service ready to use the gifts God has given.

They promote Evangelism:

One of the most important parts of the cell meeting is the time variously called “world”, “works”, or “witness”. During this part of the meeting members may pray for non believing friends, decide on some social or 'Servanthood' activity, or simply encourage one another with news of the new friendships that are forming. Evangelism in the cell is a team responsibility. Throughout the life of the cell, members are empowered through prayer and accountability to make friends among the unchurched, constructively reaching out to them and sharing with them the good news. Their Christian service is seen both as bringing and being good news to their friends rather than supporting church meetings. Cell Church wants to be genuinely good news, and to develop sincere friendships just as Jesus did, with the hope that people will, in the due course of time, decide to follow Jesus themselves. The friendships that are formed may not be 'best friend' relationships, but they will be sincere, and will therefore continue even if the person in question chooses not to follow Christ for themselves.

They grow by Multiplication:

The cell grows as the gospel is gossiped, and in this way at the end of a year or two, the cell can multiply or reproduce itself, as any healthy cell in a living body will do. Cell groups can multiply throughout a city without limit, bringing community where there is none and sharing the love of God. They are free from the congregation-based church's catch 22 - that as they grow, pastoral care goes down, or the focus of reaching people is lost.

Cell Church is a way of doing church that is driven by “values”.

A value is simply an underlying principle that matters to us.

Whilst these vary (rightly so) from church to church at Arnoldarmy we have settled on these 6 values.

If the Church has Body and Cell—ie Big and Little—then it is true to say that the Values are the heart of the church. They “pump” round every area of the Church’s work and ministry, both big wing and little wing.

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