Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1: VISION MYTHS AND TRUTHS
Myth: The Cell Church Strategy Is a Mega-Church Strategy
Truth: Few Cell Churches Reach Mega-Church Status
Myth: The Cell Church Does Not Work
Truth: Cell Church Brings Health, Life, and Growth
Myth: Cell Church Is a Fad
Truth: The Cell Church Has Deep Roots
CHAPTER 2: MODEL MYTHS AND TRUTHS
Myth: Following a Particular Model Will Bring Success
Truth: Apply Principles to Your Specific Situation
Myth: The Number 12 Has Special Significance in the Organization of Groups
Truth: The Principles of Evangelism and Discipleship Make Cell Ministry Work
Myth: Once You Have a Model, Stick by It
Truth: Innovate and Change the Model as the Spirit Leads
Myth: Cell Church Focuses Exclusively on the Cell and Celebration
Truth: The Cell Church Focuses on Key Systems that Produce Life in the Cell and Celebration
Myth: Change the Church by Criticizing It
Truth: Let People See It Worked Out
CHAPTER 3: CHURCH GROWTH MYTHS AND TRUTHS
Myth: Church Growth Is the Driving Motivation for Becoming a Cell Church
Truth: Theology Is the True Foundation upon Which to Build a Cell Church
Myth: If I Choose to Become a Cell Church, My Church Will Grow
Truth: Only Jesus Can Give True Organic Growth
Myth: If My Church Does Not Grow, I'm Not Successful
Truth: Success Should be Measured by Faithful Effort, Rather than Results
Myth: The Cultural Context Should Dictate the Ministry Strategy
Truth: The Bible Critiques What Is Good and Bad in Each Culture
CHAPTER 4: LEADERSHIP MYTHS AND TRUTHS
Myth: Leading People into Cell Church Is Similar to Leading People into Other Church Programs
Truth: Leading a Cell Church Requires a Different Kind of Leadership
Myth: It's Okay to Simply Add Cell Ministry to What You Are Already Doing
Truth: A Pastor Needs to Make Cell Ministry the Central Priority
Myth: Lead Pastors Need to be Available to Everyone
Truth: Effective Cell Church Leaders Delegate
Myth: There Are Fewer Problems in the Cell Church than Traditional Ministry
Truth: Cell Church Ministry Reveals Problems Often Hidden under the Busyness of Traditional Ministry
Myth: All Pastors Must Lead Cell Groups
Truth: Not All Pastors Will Lead a Cell Group. Avoid Cell Church Legalism
Myth: If You Fail, Try Something Else
Truth: Failing Will Lead You to Discover What Works Best in Your Context
CHAPTER 5: CELL FOCUS MYTHS AND TRUTHS
Myth: The Cell Church Is All about the Cell
Truth: The Goal of the Cell Church Is to Make Disciples
Myth: View Everyone in the Church as a Leader
Truth: Everyone Should Be a Disciple-Maker
CHAPTER 6: CELL GROUP MYTHS AND TRUTHS
Myth: Cells Are an Extension of the Sunday Service
Truth: The Cell Is the Church
Myth: Cells Should Encompass All Small Groups
Truth: Start with a Quality Cell Definition
Myth: All Groups Must be Homogeneous
Truth: Allow Homogeneity to Naturally Develop as Cells Multiply
Myth: One Person Should Be the Designated Host
Truth: A Shared Hosting Arrangement Is Often the Best Option
Myth: Asking Everyone to Be in a Cell Stifles the Use of Spiritual Gifts
Truth: The Cell Group is the Best Place to Discover Spiritual Gifts
CHAPTER 7: COMMUNITY MYTHS AND TRUTHS
Myth: Cells Are Only about Community
Truth: Cells Emphasize Community, Evangelism and Multiplication
Myth: The Cell Meeting Will Meet All the Needs
Truth: The Cell Meeting Is Only One Aspect of Community Life
Myth: The Cell Leader Should Develop All the Relationships in the Group
Truth: People within the Group Should Share the Relational Load
CHAPTER 8: EVANGELISM MYTHS AND TRUTHS
Myth: The Focus of the Cell is Entirely Evangelistic
Truth: Effective Cells Need a Strong Core of Believers
Myth: Evangelism in the Cell Church Is Only Relational
Truth: Don't Limit Yourself to One Evangelistic Method
Myth: A Cell Group Must Add a Certain Number of New Christians before It Can Multiply
Truth: Cell Members Should Evangelize but Avoid "Cell Rules"
Myth: If the Cell Emphasizes Evangelism and Multiplication, It Won't Grow in Community
Truth: Evangelism that Leads to Multiplication Enhances the Community in the Group
Myth: The Cell Leader Does the Evangelism
Truth: Each Member of the Cell Should be Involved in Outreach
CHAPTER 9: MULTIPLICATION MYTHS AND TRUTHS
Myth: All Cells Must Multiply within Six Months
Truth: Multiplication Rates Depend on Receptivity Levels
Myth: Shut Down a Cell Group That Has Not Multiplied within One Year
Truth: Keep Working with Cell Groups That Are Not Growing
Myth: A Cell Multiplies When It Reaches Fifteen People
Truth: Cells Multiply When a Disciple-Maker is Ready to Lead the New Group
Myth: When God Wants the Cell to Multiply It Will Do So Naturally
Truth: It's Best to Make Clear Plans for Multiplication
Myth: Multiplication Destroys the Relationships in the Group
Truth: Relationships Can Be Maintained after Multiplication
CHAPTER 10: COACHING MYTHS AND TRUTHS
Myth: Finding the Right Coaching Model Is the Key to Success
Truth: The Relationship between the Coach and the Coachee Is More Important Than the Structure
Myth: Coaches Only Listen and Ask Questions
Truth: The Coach Seeks to Equip the Group Leader with Whatever It Takes
CHAPTER 11: TRANSITION MYTHS AND TRUTHS
Myth: Get Rid of the Programs Right Away
Truth: Wait until You Have Enough Cells to Cut Out Programs
Myth: Jump into Cell Church Immediately
Truth: It's Best to Have a Long Term Transition Plan
Myth: You Must Start the Transition with One Prototype
Truth: There are Various Ways to Transition
CHAPTER 12: CHURCH PLANTING MYTHS AND TRUTHS
Myth: The Focus Should Be on the Success of a Singular Church
Truth: Planting New Smaller Cell Churches Is Desirable
Myth: The Church Starts When the Celebration Service Starts
Truth: The Church Starts When the First Cell Begins
Myth: Open the Celebration Service as Soon as Possible
Truth: Wait until There Are Enough People in Cells to Start Weekly Celebration Services
Myth: You Must Start a Weekly Celebration Service
Truth: Some Cell Churches Will Never Meet Weekly in Celebration
Run with Truth
AFTERTHOUGHT
APPENDIX
ENDNOTES