Cell Parable: Cells Are Not Small Groups

  Imagine two grassy fields; put a thousand people in each of them.

  In the first field are a thousand church members. People being social, they will begin to gather into groups of like-
minded friends. When the size of a group is about a dozen, hand them some excellent curriculum. If they do
something with the curriculum, they are a small group.

  The thousand people in the second field are an army. Each person present knows the following intimately:
  - Who commands the army, who commands them, and who they command.
  - Their unit - who is in it, their position in it, and their unit’s in the whole.
  - They have clear orders (little picture) and a clear mission (big picture).
  - They have the training and equipment necessary to fulfill their orders and the mission.
  - They have had lots of supervised practice to develop all necessary skills.
  - There are clearly understood customs of etiquette, clear rules, routine and structure.
  - There are clear consequences for disobedience.
  - There are identifying insignia: unit, rank, skill, campaign ribbons, medals and
          other means to reward and recognize merit and experience.
  The army has a commitment to win, moral courage, and is prepared to engage in a life and death struggle. They
are ready to risk their lives, follow orders, fight, and, if need be, to die.

Now give the people in each field an important task, such as the evangelization of a lost world.
What will happen next?
Photo courtesy of Bob Gallagher
http://www.gallagher.com/ww2/chapter6.html
©2006       All Rights Reserved

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From Seminar One: Diagnosis
www.disciplewalk.com/Resources.html
 "The cell group church is vision driven. It needs a strong leader to rally the people toward the God-
given vision. Because it is also structured like the military, it calls for a strong commander to instill a
sense of strict spiritual discipline to complete the task.”

  Lawrence Khong, The Apostolic Cell Church: Practical Strategies for Growth and Outreach from the
Story of Faith Community Baptist Church. Singapore : Touch Ministries International, 2000, p. 108.