Christian Cell Groups

New Curriculum for Christian Cell Groups

Here at Christian Cell Groups we are always trying to provide you with curriculum and helpful materials to assist you in your Christian Cell Groups ministries.  In conjunction with the Internet Pastor Online we are now making available to you a complete twenty-eight week series on the Book of Matthew.  Use of these videos and audios is absolutely free and they can be used in a variety of ways.  Some Christian Cell Groups just watch the provided video and then have a discussion time.  This makes the preparation time for leading your group a snap.  Just make sure the video is going to work before you cell group starts and then watch when everyone arrives.  The videos are about twenty-five minutes long which leaves plenty of time for discussion and fellowship.  All of the audio and video links for the book of Matthew can be found by clicking here Book of Matthew.  We will include Matthew Chapter 1 for you here so that you can what the series is all about.

Matthew Chapter 1

This series looks at the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter. By clicking on the appropriate link below you can see the notes, listen to the message, or watch the message. Blessings!

Notes for Matthew Chapter 1

Listen to Matthew Chapter 1

or watch the message below:

The Internet Pastor is currently teaching through the New Testament verse by verse and as each book is finished it will be made available for you at no charge on Christian Cell Groups to use as curriculum with your christian cell or small group.

We hope that you will enjoy this latest teaching series and we look forward to partnering with you in advancing the Kingdom of God. Blessings on you and your ministry!

Defining Cell Groups

Christian cell groups, simply defined, are a group of believers that get together to help each other grow spiritually. A cell group may meet weekly, or monthly, or anywhere in between.

The main purpose of any cell group is long term discipleship. Cell groups try to help their members grow in a couple different areas: their spiritual gifts, overcoming sin, and their relationship with Jesus. What any given cell group focuses on primarily will be slightly different from other cell groups. A cell group can meet over any common activity or interest. Many do not meet for just a bible study anymore, but instead come together over a common activity. Some will meet over a hobby, some will try to learn a particle skill, and some will try to answer an area of inquiry.

The leader of a cell group is a Shepherd. A shepherd is basically a mature Christian believer who has been called to small group ministry and has some experience or training. The shepherd mentors the members in the cell group and makes sure each member has the opportunity to grow spiritually and use their fights. Of course, the leader of the cell group does not have to have the title of Shepherd. Instead, he or she may be called “leader” or “mentor” or whatever the members are most comfortable with.

A cell group also has a coach. A coach is not a member of the cell group, but rather the shepherd’s mentor. The coach’s job is to mentor the shepherd, offering support, training, and encouragement whenever it is needed. The coach is probably not an expert in small group ministry, but he or she will probably have experience as a shepherd.

It is important for cell groups to have a vision statement. A vision statement should be a short, straight the point statement that reflects what the cell group’s members hope for and it should also coincide with what the church believes in. It is a good idea for the cell group members to sit down together and come up with the vision statement as a group. It is also important for cell groups to have clear goals. These goals need to be specific, with the ability to be measured, and have a deadline to go along with them. All group members should also be included when setting goals.

It is good for a church to have cell groups, so that people with common interests can come together and grow as friends and in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Shepherds and coaches can help guide this process, but it is really up to the members to decide on the vision statement and the goals together – setting the tone for what the group focuses on and how they grow together.

Cell Groups: How to Start One

If you want to start Christian cell groups in your church, especially if there are no cell groups in your church, it is important to pray on the subject first. There should be a very clear calling from God before beginning anything, especially before beginning a cell group.

If there is a calling from God, the next step is to start asking yourself hard questions. Is your church ready for a new group? Will you lead it? Do you have what it takes to lead it? Will other groups start meeting because of this group? Will people even come? These are just a few of the questions you should ask yourself before you begin a cell group.

If after asking yourself the hard questions and you still feel called from God, the next step is to develop your vision for the cell group. Where would you like the group to go? What do you feel like God is calling you to? These are some of the questions you need to answer when developing you vision for the group. Once you have developed your vision, go to your pastor. Ask him what he thinks. How does he feel about it? Does he give you his blessing? If your pastor blesses the group, begin talking to your friends in the church. Ask them what they think about your idea, and if they would help you. After you have gotten feedback from your friends, go to other key members in the church. Ask if they would be willing to help your cell group along.

Once you have a group of friends and key members signed on to your cell group, you should all sit down and come up with a vision statement together. The vision statement should be short, but should still reflect the goals of the group and coincide with the beliefs of the church. After you have your vision statement, you are ready to being your group. Make sure to have it announced at church services. There might not be an overwhelming turn out right away, but it will grow as it progresses. It is important to not only invite church members, but also people that do not go to church. Keep an “open chair” policy. Never turn anyone away!

Starting a cell group is a big deal. There may be some stress added to your life because of starting the group. However, the stress is worth it, because you are creating a group where people can come together and grow in their relationships with others and with Jesus. If you feel called to start a cell group, do not keep it a secret. Pray about it. Talk to your pastor, and talk to your friends.

Great Ice Breakers

People go to Christian cell groups for many reasons. Of course, people go to cell groups to learn about God. But they also go to develop relationships with the other people who attend the same cell group as they do. So, if you are leading a cell group and you are noticing hesitation between the members to develop relationships with one another and share with one another, there are icebreakers that you can use to get the ball rolling and your members talking.

An excellent ice breaker game is, “If I were a…” This is a great game because members take turn saying something silly about themselves and no one has to get up from their seat. For instance, someone can say, “If I were a piece of fruit, I would be a pear, because I am unique but still pretty.” Or, someone could say, “If I were a cartoon character, I would be Batman, because I am strong and mysterious.” Get the game going by starting it yourself, and then encourage everyone else to take a turn. Laughter is a marvelous thing. It encourages people to open up, and they will probably share more after having a laugh with one another than they would have otherwise.

Another good ice breaker game is, “Who am I?” Everyone writes the name of a celebrity on a post it note. That note is then placed on someone else’s forehead, that the person with the note cannot see the name written on the note. Everyone takes a turn asking the group a yes or no question pertaining to figuring out what their sticky note says. The first person to figure out what is on their note wins. A more simple ice breaker is to have everyone go around the room and introduce themselves, but instead of just saying their names, have them say one of their favorite things as well.

When choosing an ice breaker game, try to keep it simple. The idea is to get people to share, not to make them feel uncomfortable. The best types of games are the ones that people can play while not having to get up out of their chairs. Ice breakers are great for groups just beginning to meet, but they are also great for groups that are having trouble opening up. A big part of cell groups is the building of friendships between members. And friendships can only occur after the ice has been broken.

What are Small Groups?

A small group is a gathering of believers who come together weekly to pray, share, and support one another. Small groups may only have 3-12 members at a time. The best part of small groups is that it allows the members to connect with one another, to share their lives together, and to help one another grow in their relationship with God. Most small groups have a leader, who leads the meeting and teaches lessons from either a bible or a bible based curriculum. Some small groups meet for a limited amount of time, for several months or so. Others will meet for as long as they are capable, with no time limit.

Several important components of small groups include prayer, learning, sharing and multiplication. Prayer is very important in small groups. While each person should pray for their own individual needs, it is necessary that members also focus on praying for others as well. This will help the group have an outward focus. Another component of small groups is learning. This is where the group leader comes in. The group leader will spend some time teaching a bible lesson, whether it is short or in-depth depends on what the group is meeting for. A third component of a small group is sharing. Sharing is just what the name implies. The group members each spend some time sharing about the things that are going on in their lives, whether it be good or bad. Sharing allows the members an opportunity to build lasting relationships. The final component of small groups that are discussed here is multiplication. Basically, small groups should try to have an “open chair” policy. This means that no one should ever be turned away, even if adding another person to the group causes it to be not as small as it once was.

Small groups are an important part of church life. They help church members come together and build strong relationships, not only with each other but with Jesus. They allow members to learn more and to study the bible more than they may get to with just one sermon a week on Sunday. A church member who attends a small group meeting or Christian cell groups will be better off for it, because they will hopefully develop strong relationships with other members, and will have grown in their relationship with God.