 you're looking at how a cell is the smallest unit in a body and just like that you know a cell group if you would say it's a small unit in the in the church in the body of Christ and and it is very effective as a as a model as a as a discipleship model right because we're talking about discipleship we're talking about how one can follow the Lord effectively and how we also looked at the path of a believer from being a disciple to coming to a place of being from from from a believer to coming to a place of a disciple to a place of being a minister and to come to the place of being leaders by raising up leaders themselves raising up ministers themselves so we we saw that path now that path can be effectively done in a small group ministry so so that is what that is why that is a whole objective of this course right to find out okay to study more about this model of small group ministry and how can we do it right so today let's look at you know some of these churches which have in the past which has started what is called you know what you can call as a cell church right so their entire ministry the was was focused like you know sometimes we this is how we can look at it no sometimes we say okay we are a church this is the innovation of the church and cell group is part of it you know it's something that we do on the site you know to help believers fellowship to build the sense of community etc. it's something that it's one of the program one of the many programs of the church whereas you know these churches that we know a couple of churches that we're gonna look at they they started and they followed you know cell group model for ministry in the sense that everything that they did whether it's whether it was outreach whether it was discipleship and everything that they did study they did through the cell groups it's not like they did not meet you know as a church because these are big churches they did meet on you know on Sundays they had their times of worship and you know time of time in the world and all that they did meet but a lot of things happened some of the you know fundamental things happened through the cell group to the small groups so that is what we're going to look at let me just share the screen okay so that's what you see so so these are some examples of cell churches okay the first one is the yoido full gospel church in Seoul Korea now you know I think most of us know about this church we've heard so much about it you know one of the largest churches in the world started by Paul young you know David young you show so he started it in 1958 now so he was actually you know ministering he had a big vision and he was you know doing a lot of hard work in terms of meeting people praying for them sharing the gospel and and he was doing this you know all by himself and and a few others helping so he was doing this but he was literally was you know he became so exhausted in ministry tired and and that is when you know he was inspired and God led him to start start what is what we call now a cell groups so this scripture 18 so Exodus 18 and verse 21 you shall select from all the people able men such as fear God men of truth hating cowardice this and place such over them to be rulers of thousands rulers of hundreds rulers of fifties and rulers of tens so so this is something that he started you know initially with the women and then it did spread so so these were small groups and they were meeting regularly for prayer so he was training the leaders and who would again you know who would minister to the people in the cells so rather than him visiting Paul Young Joe himself visiting let's say 10 families or six other families now in the cell group today let's say for example there are six families that are meeting you know like say 12 people or maybe 15 people now instead of him being the pastor meeting each one of these families and you know trying to disciple them trying to build them up he would train one person who will be the cell group leader and that leader would in turn lead others in turn disciple others right in the cell group so so this is what he did and he started and and the cell groups grew the church grew to around you know at that time it was on 750 thousand and definitely today it's it's definitely more than that they have around 65,000 cell groups so just imagine the size of that right 65,000 cell groups so a cell group in which there would be prayer a cell group in which there would be study of God's word there would be fellowship there would be worship there would be outreach you know everything would be happening there in the cell group which will be meeting there right and all the cell groups are connected back to the church that's the most important thing you know it's not a individual in you know a Bible study it's or it's not a group that is meeting to do something else which is apart from what the church is church's vision is right they are in line with the vision of the church because the cell group leader is is again trained and there's an impartation and and leading that's coming from the pastor to the cell group leader and the cell group leader is in turn accountable you know back to the church church's leadership and they continue to minister to the others right so so that even though the church grew to such huge numbers because of the cell model of a ministry you know people still would feel connected to the church right people would feel that they would belong to the church it's no more you know I'm not just a spectator who's coming on a Sunday just coming and visiting and watching something and going back but I'm an integral part of the church because I'm an integral part of the cell group right so this is something that we read about your full gospel church the other church is in the international charismatic mission in in Columbia pastor sees a Caesar castellanos right so similarly groups of 12 like the cell group would have 12 and 12 people and and these cell groups would would be involved in evangelism these cell groups would be involved in discipleship and everything right so so we see that they were quite successful models of discipleship like we saw a lot of good things happen when the church gathers together as a whole as a congregation the Lord you know pose out a spirit and when we worship together the the the manifest presence of God the release of the gives everything that we that we enjoy and receive you know a lot of answers and everything well it it has its purpose and a lot of good things happen but also we see that there are certain things that cannot happen in the sense suppose I have a question and which I need to be answered now I cannot do it in that church service I have to do it you know on my own I may not be able to discuss certain things I may not be able to share certain things I may not be able to you know of course prayer we we know that that can happen right they could be prayer leaders and you could go and get prayed for or pray for others now that could happen but this kind of you know detailed study this kind of training in the gifts all that will happen effectively in a smaller group right so so this is the cell model or the cell group model with these churches seem to have pioneered of course we see in the book of acts and that was what they brought in you know to they have ministry and they said okay this is something that we're going to be serious about this is something that is going to be at the forefront of our ministry it's not like one of the programs of the church but this it is the program or the main thing in the church right we're going to you know encourage people to be part of cell groups because you know cell group is an important part so so this is something as these are some of the other churches that have also you know put in put in place what we call as a G 12 of group of 12 model which is exactly what is followed by the international Christian mission of pastor sees a castle on us castle in us in Columbia right charismatic mission sorry so now we need to understand that while these are very effective models that is the G 12 principle of cell group ministry these are quite effective model now there is no perfect church okay it's not church which is every church is a work in progress every church is a work in progress and so so we we cannot say that you know it is it is perfect now it has its challenges every church has a challenge and the other thing is that sorry that you know people are different you know wherever the church is like even in in our own like in India if you see the church in the city will be different from the church in maybe a village or a rural setting simply because of the kind of people the kind of habits or the kind of you know schedules that they might have you know like in a city like let's say Bangalore where travel is is going to take time you know the distance might be let's say 10 kilometers 15 kilometers but it's going to take a lot of time to reach from point a to point b because of the traffic right so for the church to get together very often as a big congregation it's difficult so these are some of the challenges and of course you know that well people might be people are busy people are you know they have different you know time schedules maybe people are working at nights all these challenges are there and all all these let's say characteristics are there which are different from maybe in a rural setting you know which could be different where you know the weather the pace of life is different well they do have certain other you know challenges and so on but you know so these are these are these are things which are different and also if you take other nations you know sir like you know that in India people work okay let's say five days sometimes six days or you know like six and a half days a week right so that's the kind of schedule people might have and maybe in other certain other countries people could be working maybe it's very strictly nine to five and then you finish on a Friday and Saturday completely free etc so so for that church and for the cell groups in that particular church in that country you know things are a little different so so the thing is you know we cannot say that every like cell church is perfect and it's perfectly executing you know that model of ministry because simply because there are variables there are different things different factors in each of these churches each of these places okay so we need to understand that okay so the question is okay will this cell church concept of the small group ministry will it work in in you know we might have that question okay it might work there but will it work here okay can I you know knowing how the people are in my town in my village in my city can it work right that is the question especially if you're thinking of a city and will people meet will people get together you know people are busy etc right so the thing is that here are some things to some points to think about right will it work okay the answer is yes because regardless of you know whatever culture whatever place we are from we have been wired we have been designed for relationship for fellowship for community now we might you know some of us might be more open for that or we might enjoy it more but then some of us would say okay I do need fellowship but then I want it in small doses right I can't spend more time but then the fact is that each one of us as human beings we are designed to have fellowship with God first and foremost and to have fellowship with other people right second thing is well people are hospitable and people do visit others in homes and you know it it also helps the unsaved people suppose you a person is curious about the faith is you know is not yet has not yet made a commitment to follow it is a safe place right it is a safe place for them to come and explore no suppose you have you know a time for people who are not yet made a decision to come and explore the faith and ask questions about that right about the faith about Jesus so this is would be a safe this would be a safe place a home where they can come visit ask questions maybe they're meeting as friends maybe they're meeting as colleagues but just to find out just to have a discussion about the faith and to ask questions right so these are some some things some reasons why well it would work okay now some reality or some challenges real challenges are these right people work long hours people work long hours sometimes you know 11 hours 12 hours in a city so would would people still be willing right and sometimes you can you know the reasoning is that people work odd hour I mean odd times you know like some I know some some people in my family who work you know from 2 a.m. onwards 2 a.m. till about 1 p.m. it's or sometimes a night shift you know typically call centers BPO's they work on a different shift so will this work you know will sell groups work well the answer is yes it's just that as a church we need to we need to be a little flexible and see how you know maybe have a cell group which has people who are working on shifts right you have a cell group where the cell group leader and everyone is is is working on a night shift maybe and so they would they would meet in a different time they would meet at maybe 3 in the afternoon or 4 in the afternoon where somebody who's on a day shift or a regular 9 to 6 9 to 7 kind of a timing they would not be able to you know actually be part of that life group but a but a person who's working on a in a call center well it's a time that they are free so yeah we can overcome these challenges by by actually having a cell group which will take care of that take care of the timing take care of the long hours etc right and the and the fact is that we would have definitely have the congregation meeting on Sundays you know we're not when a cell group does not mean that only cell group meetings and no you know coming together as a large body so well people yes people do enjoy being part of the Sunday celebration or maybe other meetings so we are not saying that you know those are discontinued we will continue a cell group a cell model church will continue to have that but additionally you know this would be the main thing cell group cell church cell groups would be a lot of emphasis a lot of importance would be given to what happens in cell groups another quest thing that people could say is that okay there would be people have their own ministries maybe people have their own schedules and they don't want to get involved right and they don't want to get involved in maybe ministry they don't want to get involved in church they just want to do the bare minimum well it yes there will be many like that okay or there will be some there will be many like that but they just need to be taught they need to know from God's word that serving in the body of Christ it could be different ways is actually God's plan for the believer this is God's design the local church is God's design to be serving as a member in the body of Christ is God's it's God's plan is God's design so the thing is to to teach people that like over a period of time just to teach the congregation so once they know okay this is something that God wants from my life from me and this is something which is good for me where I can receive from others ministering to me and where I can also grow and use whatever gifts of grace that God has put in my life I can use it to strengthen others to minister to others to serve others right so I need to come to that place of understanding like I remember meeting so many so many people you know over a period of many years who who you know I'm just meeting that person and then I'm saying asking them you know so where do you worship you know are you new to church and then they say no no we been coming for years then I'm like oh really so sorry and I didn't know that you were coming for many years and then they say no it's just that when pastor prayers at last prayer I'm I just get up and go you know I don't stay back I don't fellowship I I don't do any of that I just I just leave immediately so that's why you don't see me I'm also not involved in anything right so there are many who who are like that in in in a church so so they just need to be taught that the importance of the local church and what God can do through them in them when they are connected to the local church right and which also means that being part of a cell group and so on right okay fine so let's look at this the you know what we're just calling it the APC 12 cell model because it's it's something that we're doing in at APC so so it is for it is it is formed around that G12 model it's adapted from that G12 model of it's national charismatic mission of fast to see the castle and us and so it just it's adapted it's not the same thing it's changed a little bit it's it's flexible so just calling it that okay so let's look at the cell group model okay so first of all you know it's not we just need to understand that you know the cell group is not what we call as a you know home home group meeting or even commonly used term you know like a care cell like where it could be like a mini church service you know if you look at a care cell or if you look at you know house prayer meeting it can be like mini church service you know there'll be worship at the beginning it'll be somebody preaching everybody listening and then prayer and so on so this is not that okay so when we say cell groups something different happens we would you know there would be worship there would be prayer and so on but there is a difference so we look at that so this is what we need to understand so one cell group leader is responsible for discipling okay or it could be a couple you know if it's a married couple and they are taking they are going to be leaders so it's a couple and there could be six other couples you know let's say if it's a cell group for married people so it could be a couple taking care of six other couples so so in effect you have about 12 plus to 14 people in the cell groups right or if it's only single people individuals then it's about 12 plus the leader okay now this number 12 you know we've keeping it a little flexible you know it could be less than 12 it could be a little over 12 maybe maximum of 15 but the reason we want to keep it at that is so that the discipling process can be effective okay see what happens is if it's going to be just like another church service then again there is no personal connect by that I mean you know there is no one-to-one interaction there is no personal fellowship because people still feel would feel a little lost people still feel that you know it's their needs are not being you know addressed or they may have questions and maybe they you know they won't have an opportunity because the group is very big so opportunity to have that addressed so so the thing is intentionally it's it's 12 okay the second one is that you're committed to one cell group or you know the group that is led by one cell group leader you know or a couple who are leading so so in the sense that the the the church member is not going from one cell group to another cell group to another cell group you know every time you know every week not attending different service I want to see what's happening there or I want to see what's happening there well you're having the person is free actually but in a but there's recommendation or the suggestion is that okay you be part of one cell group you can be committed to one cell group now this could be the one that is maybe convenient for you to go or maybe maybe you feel that okay this is this is a place where you belong so you go to one cell group you be committed to one cell group and you grow in that cell group you serve in that cell group okay so so from the point of the cell group leader so the cell group leader is connecting with this small group of people okay it 12 and it's with this group of 12 so the several leader is also you know getting to know each of them knows their life knows their testimony and also if they able to minister to them at an individual level if they need if they need help should they have questions should they have challenges the cell group leaders able to minister and also you know take them minister take them to a place of maturity spiritual maturity Christlikeness right so that's so that also happens so so what happens is that over a period of time let's say from this 12 there are three or four people who are who have come to a place of maturity they are they are they're ready they are they're mature they've grown in the understanding they've grown in character and they are they have come to a place of of ministering right they've come to a place of being leaders themselves then the cell group the cell group leader encourages them and also there's another step which is the potential cell group potential cell group leaders from that group like who desire who have the ability and the desire to become cell group leaders they get trained right by the by the pastor they get trained the short training and how to be cell group leaders what to do what not to do etc and they start some groups of their own with 12 other people okay so it's six other couples or 12 other people sometimes it's a mix of married people and single people so which is fine so this is something that happens right so so there's one leader or a one leader couple and you know so these are some features that we need to understand there's one leader or one leader couple who are leading six or six other couples or you know 12 others so that number again is intentionally kept like that so that people can grow so that people can you know have effective fellowship so the numbers kept that way so that it doesn't really become too big so there is no personal time with each other right so it's a small that's why we call it a small group it's intentionally kept that way then the other feature that we see is that they are growing they are maturing they are committed to that one cell group you know there could be reasons why you know they might say okay I'm not able to be part of this life group maybe I've moved to another house which is not in the same area which is another area which is fine you know you find another cell group in the area and you be part of that so here now we see that they're committed to one cell group so week after week or you know once in two weeks they're going to the same cell group they're growing okay so that's when you know there is there is quality fellowship right so they are knowing they're getting to know they are they're growing in the word of God they're growing in their gifts and so on in the use of the gifts and everything happens there they're committed to one cell group so what happens when they grow to maturity well now they go get trained and go start their own cell groups so they could if they want to be part of this cell group or attend the cell group and then have their own if they have the time some people have the time saying okay I'll attend the cell group okay and I'll lead my own cell group so one you know one day I attend this cell group that I'm part of which has another cell group leader but on another day I am leading my cell group for which I'm the cell group leader so so all the cell group leaders and a pointing of leaders and training of leaders it does it happens in a orderly manner right so the cell group leader might suggest to the pastor saying okay he has this person we feel that no he or she has grown and it's good to be a leader so so then you know suggest and then the pastor also observes and talks and says okay why don't we know why don't you get trained and after that it's that the training is not you know it's a long term long drawn thing but just to make sure that the basics are in place the fundamentals are understood and also the vision of the cell church is firm so people don't start something and do something on their own and you know well there is a lot of you know flexibility a lot of creative things but the big vision a big picture is that it is a model for discipleship that's something that that should not change so yeah okay so all that happens right so then the goal of this this cell group model or cell church model it's to make disciples okay so we looked at the Great Commission we saw the logic is a saying therefore go and make disciples we so we learned a few things from there right we said okay it's not just to win believers but to make disciples we know that making disciples is a process because we looked at how the Lord Jesus made disciples like he shows them he was with them he you know they serve together they spend time together etc so it's a process of making disciples we need to understand that right the cell group meeting is one of the ways to facilitate that process okay so a lot of discipling person involvement it takes place between the cell group leader and the members outside of the cell group meeting okay the cell group meeting might happen on a let's say it happens every Friday every Friday night the cell group meets okay so during the cell group meeting also there is a lot of you know things that are happening there's a lot of discussion there's a lot of question answers there's a lot of sharing personal testimonies all that happens and outside of that right when the cell group leader meets people or maybe gives a call and talks to people in the cell group that also is part of the discipling making process right okay so then okay some information about cell groups they could either meet weekly or once in two weeks okay and so what happens if people let's say I have 12 people in my cell group and each of them at various points have grown to be cell group leaders and now started their own cell groups okay so maybe they're not able to attend the cell group meeting which which I'm having but they are now grown to start their own life groups their own cell groups so all the 12 are starting their own life to cell groups they've moved out so now I'm free to take on 12 more I'm free to take on 12 other people to be part of this so that I can continue that same process bring them up to a level where they can start their own cell groups so this whole process continues okay now some might want to attend and have their own cell groups which is fine which is okay but if they don't want to that is also okay okay so there's no false sense of commitment so which means that even during the course of these meetings this vision or this methodology needs to be shared with people in the cell group saying okay hey this is what we'd like to do you know at some point in time when you're ready you can start your own cell groups it's not necessary that you need to be part of it when you when you start your own cell group well if you're welcome to but it's not necessary but this is what we'd like to do over a period of time everybody grows up to start their own cell group so so you see you know let's say there are 12 people and each start their groups of 12 you see how many people are being disciple okay I think that's what we see in this you know you let's say you have one with 12 and each of the 12 if they have their own groups of 12 you see how the how effectively you're able to disciple others well as a single person you know this yellow dot that you see here as a as a person maybe able to do 12 or maximum you know 15 but then if the other 12 are able to do the same thing to others then you see 12 into 12 144 you know is a number or the number of people who are actually being disciple right so actively intentionally being discipled to follow Christ and the same path of from being disciples to leaders disciple minister to leader right so then it becomes it results in a strong church a church that is you know based on the word the church that is committed a church that is where the everyone is accountable right where the challenges that they face you know there are there are people to pray for them they are able to you know whatever their challenges are they have been they're able to help them whatever the needs are they're able to help so all this happens when we have this kind of a model if it's working well you need to make sure that it's working well so that's the thing okay here are some differences between cell between that cell group model and a care cell okay so in the cell group model that goal is discipleship so that's the first thing it goal is disciple making okay whereas in a care cell it could be evangelism it could also be fellowship right so it could be like people are saying okay hey there is this meeting that is happening why don't you come so you know you could be inviting colleagues from office you could be inviting other family members and saying okay there is this meeting in this people's home in this person's house would you like to come would you like to attend so it can be you know it will be a way to share the gospel right so primarily that's the that's the thing which is happening that's the emphasis every time people gather together there is a the gospel being shared and you know that happens and secondly it's also a time of fellowship you know people are meeting catching up talking to one another and all it's all good things right but you see the difference right in the cell group model the cell leader's responsibility is to disciple the cell members develop them as leaders and equip them to make to become disciple makers so that's the focus right so how can I disciple them effectively how can I grow these people effectively now that will be the that is what is going on in the cell leader's mind okay so the cell leader does things in order to in order to equip the others he does things to minister to them of course there is also you know taking care of needs and solving with problems and etc praying interceding etc but the thing is always the big picture is always how can I equip you to be a leader you know so so that you can grow in order to disciple others right so how can you follow the lord effectively so that you can come to a place of leading others effectively to follow the lord right so that's the difference so here if it's a care cell the the leader's responsibility is to conduct the meeting you know the cell meeting making sure they might have different speakers like they might have some you know they might invite different people to speak in the cell a care cell meeting and others come to listen so that you know the cell leader is responsible either for sharing himself or herself or sharing the word or making arrangements so that others will share okay so it is not again you know I just want to emphasize that these are good things that are happening you know it is a good thing but that is it is not you know the vision of the cell church so that we need to know the difference right okay so here in a cell church each person is committed to one cell group when we say cell leader we are effectively saying that they're part of that cell group they're committed to that cell group okay whereas in a care cell you can visit any care cell so it's just that on a venice day or on a friday you visit a care cell you be part of it right well here each cell grows up to 12 each person starts their own cell while continuing to remain part of the original cell if they want to right but here when the numbers increase they become two groups let's say the group becomes you know 20 or 30 then they start you know they start becoming two groups and you know the group divides itself to accommodate more and more people here every person eventually will become a cell group leader and lead others and disciple 12 others whereas here in a care cell well the person can attend for various reasons you know I want to maybe have this time of fellowship I want to be there with other believers during the week and not really think about equipping oneself to become a leader okay so one need not necessarily become a leader when it comes to a care cell so that's you know that's the basic difference some of the main differences that we see for the apc-12 cell group model of cell church and then when you compare it with the care cell model right okay so why why 12 people well we we see in scripture certain examples of 12 disciples 12 tribes etc you know the way God governs we see you know several scriptures but you know it is you're not going you know too deep into that but when we see look at 12 well there is scriptural evidence and also practically it's it's a workable thing right so it's a workable thing in the sense that you're able to meet you're able to it's a manageable workable number of people right which one individual can take care of okay so so that's why it is 12 okay so we'll take a break and then probably you might have some questions we'll take take some time to answer questions and then we'll look at what happens in a cell group meeting okay okay so we'll we'll take a break right