Month: December 2008

by Mario Vega

In the process of inviting a new guest to the cell meeting, you must continue with a special gesture towards that person. This may be something simple but of great significance for this person: a visit when he or she is sick, remembering the birth date, an unexpected gift. Sadly, most people never do this.

When you are working to evangelize a person, what you do has much more impact than what you say. An action or gesture can be a decisive factor to introduce the gospel to the person.

When you have made an action with solidarity and love, the person will be so touched by that action that he or she will not refuse an invitation to go to a house where the message of the gospel is shared.

The curiosity that Christian conduct awakes is sufficient to trigger a desire to interact with such a person.

What do you think?

Mario

Translation in Spanish:

Una milla más.

En el proceso de hacer un invitado a la célula, se debe continuar con un gesto especial hacia esa persona. Puede tratarse de algo sencillo pero que será de gran significado para ella.

Una visita cuando se encuentra enferma, recordarse de su fecha de cumpleaños, un regalo inesperado. Es decir, aquello que la generalidad de personas nunca hace.

En el trabajo de evangelizar a una persona tiene mucho más peso lo que hacemos que lo que decimos. Una acción o un gesto puede ser un elemento determinante para presentar el evangelio a una persona.

Cuando se ha hecho una acción solidaria y de amor, la persona quedará tan marcada por ese acto que por ninguna razón rehusará una invitación para ir a una casa donde se comparte el mensaje del evangelio.

La curiosidad que despierta la conducta cristiana es suficiente para desatar un deseo de relacionarse con personas tan serviciales y que hacen lo que nadie más acostumbra hacer.

 

by Jeff Tunnell

www.bigbearchristiancenter.org

My wife and I helped with a surprise birthday party in one of the cells last night.  We gathered outside the house with a small band of friends and came in singing the familiar Happy Birthday tune just as the cell was ending. The person we were celebrating was so surprised that she was looking around the room trying to discover whose birthday it was not realizing that it was for her!

As we ate cake I spoke with a couple that was new to me. I was impressed to find out that SHE had recently rebuilt her own Jeep, engine and all.  She explained that when she went to the junkyard to get parts and advice, the owner took an interest in her project and began to coach her personally. As she approached each step of rebuilding the car, he would explain how to proceed and then watch her do the work, guiding her with his words, experience and attention but not doing the work for her.

I hope this leaves a picture in your mind as it did mine!  Effective coaching combined with close supervision are a quest when launching new cell leaders.  I believe that many “less than perfect” leaders could be utilized IF they have both of these; Regular relational contact with an experienced leader (supervision) and guidance that leads to success in cell ministry (coaching).

Last weekend my new acquaintance completed a brake job on her car all by herself…now to what conclusions does that lead you?

by Steve Cordle

I enjoy fresh fruit – but only when it’s ripe. I love a juicy orange, but I’ll pass on rock-hard pears and green bananas.

New leaders are part of the “fruit” of our cell ministry. But deploying a leader who is not ready (“ripe”) is a recipe for indigestion all around. 

A good equipping track will go a long way in preparing a person for leadership. However, just completing classes does not mean a person is ready to lead a group. What are the indicators that an apprentice is ready to lead a cell? Here are a few indicators:
– spiritually growing, as evidenced by a strong prayer and devotional life

– outreach effectiveness: have they brought someone to the group?

– influence with others in the group; would others look to them for spiritual direction?

– commitment to the church’s vision

– ability to submit to a coach

What are the top indicators for of leadership readiness in your ministry?

Steve

 

Ben Wong, founder of CCMN, has an excellent PowerPoint on the concept of sending (or being sent out) (download the PowerPoint here). He argues that Christ desires to “send us” rather than “keep us.” Ben feels that the missing factor in the modern doctrine of the church is “sending.” He emphasizes that the “church” is what the people of God DO in the world, rather than what we do in “church.” Jesus often talked about how the Father sent him into the world (e.g., Luke 4:18, John 4:34). And then at least seven times Jesus tells us that we are also sent into the world to continue the process. Jesus says in John 17:18, for example, “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”

Jesus trained and discipled people in order to send them. Sadly, we often disciple people in order to keep them. Notice that the word “send” is lodged within Christ’s prayer for harvest workers. Jesus says, “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matthew 9:38).

Cell ministry is never an end in itself. Unless cell members are challenged and trained to be workers, small groups easily become an end in themselves. Ben Wong says, “Sending should be the basic DNA of the church. . . A person’s growth has a progression – from following leaders – to becoming a leader.”

He even wonders if we should change the term “multiplication” to “sending.” Whatever you call it, I”m sure you get the point: God matures us spiritually in order to send us. Would you agree? Disagree? What’s your opinion?

 

Joel Comiskey

by Mario Vega

Once you’ve established the initial contact with the person you want to lead to Jesus, you must deepen the friendship by looking for ways to give continuity. In my previous blog, Michael Sove posted an excellent commentary where he narrates an experience which illustrates the above.

In order to deepen the relationship, Christians must be very sensitive to obtain key information. For example: needs, difficulties, marriage conflicts, interests, hobbies, etc.

With this information, you can now provide support, assistance, guidance or introduce this person to other cell members that have common interests or concerns. It is important to remember that studies show that the greater the number of Christians a person knows, the greater the probabilities of believing and following Jesus.

Up to this point, there has not been made an invitation to attend the cell meeting yet. So far it has only been about a sincere effort to love and serve the person. This is the best way to make new guests for your cell.

Other ideas?

Mario

Translation in Spanish:

Información clave.

Una vez establecido el primer contacto con la persona a quien se desea conducir a Jesús, se debe profundizar la amistad buscando la manera de darle continuidad. En mi blog anterior, Michael Sove colocó un excelente comentario donde cuenta una experiencia que ilustra lo anterior.
En la profundización de la relación, el cristiano debe estar muy sensible a obtener información clave. Por ejemplo: necesidades, dificultades, conflictos en el matrimonio, intereses, pasatiempos, etc.
Con esa información el cristiano puede ahora enfocarse para ofrecer apoyo, ayuda, orientación o presentar a la persona a otros miembros de la célula con quien tenga aficiones o preocupaciones comunes. Es importante recordar que los estudios indican que a mayor cantidad de cristianos una persona conoce, mayores las probabilidades que termine creyendo en Jesús.
Hasta este punto, todava no se ha hecho una invitación a asistir a la célula. Hasta ahora solamente se ha tratado de un esfuerzo sincero por amar y servir a una persona. Es la manera de hacer un invitado.
¿Otras ideas?