http://joelcomiskeygroup.com/blog Thu, 15 May 2008 20:00:18 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en By Mario Vega When we started our work with small groups in houses, we began to wonder about the offerings subject. Was it appropriate to collect offerings in the cells? There were two positions: one from brothers who thought offerings should be collected and the other from those who thought ... http://joelcomiskeygroup.com/blog/2008/05/15/offerings-in-the-cells/   by Steve Cordle   What makes for a good equipping track? One of the characteristics of an effective equipping track is that it will combine disicpleship training with leadersihp training. Specifically, there will be little difference between growing as a follower of Jesus and growing in group leadership. When discipleship training and leadership training ... http://joelcomiskeygroup.com/blog/2008/05/14/equipping-track-as-discipleship/ by Rob Campbell www.cypresscreekchurch.com Joel's post yesterday was a call for willing pastors to have a cell coach.  He wrote, "People need more to be truly effective.  They need constant practice...Successful implementation happens when leaders are held accountable to put into practice the principles learned."  He quoted Thomas Henry Huxley:  "The great ... http://joelcomiskeygroup.com/blog/2008/05/13/whos-your-coach/ "All the students I brought last year to your cell church course have failed to put the teaching into practice," the bishop's assistant said during the last day of the church planter's course in Nyack, New York. Robert works for the conservative Episcopalian diocese in Albany, New York. For the second year, ... http://joelcomiskeygroup.com/blog/2008/05/11/the-need-for-coaching/ by Mario Vega As a result of my blog on Cell Lessons for leaders, several people have asked some questions. Here are the answers: Jeff Bassett asks: when do we make available the study guide to the leaders? The lessons are published in small volumes covering an entire quarter. Since the lessons ... http://joelcomiskeygroup.com/blog/2008/05/08/answering-questions/   by Steve Cordle   There are many ministries to attend to in a healthy cell-based ministry: the equipping track, coaching leaders, writing material, outreach, etc. It can be easy to get unbalanced or preoccupied with minor issues unless we keep our goal in mind: a reproducing disciple. What do you want a disciple to look ... http://joelcomiskeygroup.com/blog/2008/05/07/remember-the-goal/ by Rob Campbell www.cypresscreekchurch.com Recently, a man approached me right before a Sunday A.M. Celebration service at my church.  He asked if I could spend some time with him and counsel him.  I told him I would love to get to know him, but I wasn't real good at long term counseling.  ... http://joelcomiskeygroup.com/blog/2008/05/06/listening-ears-hearts-of-love/ Jeff Tunnell here, filling in for Joel Comiskey who is ministering in New York. Early on in transitioning our congregation from Traditional to Cell-based structure, we confronted the issue of building a training track (equipping track for discipling new believers into future leaders). Being a small congregation, resources in both ... http://joelcomiskeygroup.com/blog/2008/05/04/adopt-adapt-abandon/ by Mario Vega What can a leader teach? Should a leader be left on it’s own to freely teach? Or should he/she be oriented on the contents to teach? These were some of the questions I made myself when starting our cell model. This work with cells came in response of ... http://joelcomiskeygroup.com/blog/2008/05/01/cell-lessons/   by Steve Cordle Recently a new member to our church responded to our open, outreach-oriented group philosophy by asking "Didn't Jesus have a closed group?" Our new friend had been part of a thriving church in another state that had used the closed small group approach. The thinking there is that authentic community will be hard ... http://joelcomiskeygroup.com/blog/2008/04/30/open-vs-closed-groups/