This weekend course went beyond action points, to the deeper foundations needed for community, mutual support, worship, giving, sharing, prayer and interactive Bible study. Practical Guidance on how these foundations can be applied and used were discussed in detail. This foundational teaching applies to youth groups, cell groups, LIFE groups, women's groups, men's groups, in fact any form of Christian community coming together weekly to share and grow in Christ. (taught are Harare Theological College).

1. Weekend Seminar
 Friday: 5.45 pm - 8.30 pm
 Saturday: 8.45 am - 12.30 pm

2. What do we mean by Cell Groups ?
 Any small groups of believers coming together to grow in
Faith and Community
• Men’s Groups
• Women’s Bible Studies
• Youth Groups
• Singles Groups
• LIFE groups
• Bible Study groups

3. What’s the Purpose of this Seminar ?
 To understand deeper
– what is the Biblical Foundation & Vision for Cell Groups ?
 To discuss Practical Application
– how to lead a group + develop interactive bible studies, +
worship, + prayer, + a close knit community + a vehicle for
evangelism

4. Foundations …
1. Biblical Foundation
2. Role in church community
3. Role in believer’s lives
4. Aims for a cell group
5. Activities of cell group
6. Role of a Cell / Small Group Leader

5. Practical how to :
7. Run a Cell Group Meeting
8. Build Community
9. Develop Group Worship & Prayer
10. Develop Gifting & Ministry
11. Lead Interactive Bible Studies
12. Develop Group Discipleship
13. Use Cell Group as a vehicle for evangelism
14. Handle the challenging people

6. Introductions
• Myself …Clive Ashby - Lecture at Harare Theological College
• Please share with us:
• Your name & family
• Your home area & church
• Any ministry you’re involved in
• Why you have come here – what would you like to gain ?
• e.g. positive & challenging - experience of small groups

7. Prayer …

8. 1.
Biblical Basis
Discuss :
• What is the Biblical Basis & Vision for Cell Groups ?
• Which Scriptures speak to this ?
( 10 minutes in groups of 4)

9. The Model of Christ
 Where was the central focus of Christ efforts?
 To the crowds of thousands ?
 To the small group of 12 apostles ?
 To how many people did Christ place all his hope and
trust in - to change the world through the Gospel
message ?
 Who did Christ share the innermost depths of his
message to ?

10. From the Crowds
 (Matthew 4:25) And great crowds followed him from
Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea,
and from beyond the Jordan.
To the 12
 (Luke 6:12-16) In these days he went out to the mountain to
pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. (13) And
when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them
twelve, whom he named apostles: (14) Simon, whom he
named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John,
and Philip, and Bartholomew, (15) and Matthew, and
Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who
was called the Zealot, (16) and Judas the son of James, and
Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

11. The Model of the 12
• This is the plot of all 4 gospels – from the crowds – to the
small group
• Jesus had all the opportunity to heal and preach to the
crowds.
• But he chose a more effective way – to develop a small group
of disciples
• Jesus invested most of his time and energy in just 12 people.
- how much more should we also trust God to work through
the collection of people in our small groups
• We are called to do just as Christ did – to make disciples of all
nations.
• Jesus has deliberately shown us the best technique. Not to
preach to the crowds – but to transform through the small
groups

12. Teaches & Ministers through the 12
Matthew 14: 15 - 21 + Matt. 15: 32 - 38
 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said,
"This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the
crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for
themselves." (16) But Jesus said, "They need not go away;
you give them something to eat." (17) They said to him, "We
have only five loaves here and two fish." (18) And he said,
"Bring them here to me." (19) Then he ordered the crowds to
sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two
fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he
broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the
disciples gave them to the crowds. (20) And they all ate and
were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the
broken pieces left over. (21) And those who ate were about
five thousand men, besides women and children.

13. Builds the Family
Mark 3:31-35
 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside
they sent to him and called him. (32) And a crowd was sitting
around him, and they said to him, "Your mother and your
brothers are outside, seeking you." (33) And he answered
them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" (34) And
looking about at those who sat around him, he said, "Here
are my mother and my brothers! (35) For whoever does
the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.“
 We are the Family of Christ
 To be brothers, sisters, mothers, aunts to each other

14. Teaches Loving Service in the 12
John 13:3-17
 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things
into his hands, and that he had come from God and
was going back to God … (5) Then he poured water
into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet
and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped
around him. (16) Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant
is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger
greater than the one who sent him. (17) If you know
these things, blessed are you if you do them.

15. Christ’s instruction to make disciples
Matthew 28:19-20
 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to
observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I
am with you always, to the end of the age."
 We are instructed to make disciples (meaning learners)
– not simply converts
 We are instructed to disciple & teach – using the very
techniques & approach Christ has shown: through
community, demonstrating Christ living, sharing our
lives – with individuals & small groups

16. The Model of the First Church
Acts 2: 42-47
 As soon as the church was established – the model,
the blueprint is given -
 Devoted to Apostles teaching (together)
 Devoted to fellowship
 Devoted to the Breaking of bread
 Devoted to Prayer (together)
 Spent much time together – shared possessions
 Meet in (a) Jewish temple & (b) in homes
 The heart of Christian growth took place in
multitudes of homes across the city
 Result > grew + people saved

17. Model of the First Church
Acts 4 : 32 - 35
(32) Now the full number of those who believed were of
one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the
things that belonged to him was his own, but they
had everything in common.
(34) There was not a needy person among them, for as
many as were owners of lands or houses sold them
and brought the proceeds of what was sold

18. Model of the First Church
 Not simply meetings – unity of one mind & heart
 True fellowship always involves Sharing of
possessions
 No-one was needy
 Took place through small group fellowship – not
possible in a large audience

19. Prayer in the early Church
 (Acts 12: 12) “When he realized this, he went to the
house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name
was Mark, where many were gathered together and
were praying”
 When their fellow believers suffered – as Peter
in prison – they automatically gathered in each
other’s homes to pray
 How do we respond to the struggles of our
fellow believers when in sickness, arrested etc
– do we gather to pray together in each other’s
homes ?

20. History – Roman Empire
 In AD 64 – emperor Nero attacked the church &
made it illegal for Christians to build meeting
places.
 For 250 years Christianity grew faster &
millions were converted through cell groups in
believer’s homes.
 Later when church moved away from the homes to
big building it lost much of its zeal & community.

21. History - China
 In China from the 1950s – the communist (atheist)
government removed all Christian missionaries
from China – there were less than 1 million
Christians
 For 50 years the church has been persecuted &
outlawed – it went ‘underground’ and met in
small groups from house to house
 Now the church has approx. 100 million
 By the 2030 China will have 160 million Christians
– more than any other country

22. Historically - Revivals
 Cell groups have been a central part of large revivals
 “virtually every major movement of spiritual
renewal in the Christian church has been
accompanied by a return to the small group”
(Howard Snyder)
 John Wesley said – “no circuit (of churches) ever
did or ever will flourish unless there are small
groups in the large society (congregation)”.
Central to this revival & renewal were the 12 member
house groups.

23. The Creator’s design – Society copies
 Secular business, political & development models have
copied God’s model to achieve greater impact on human
behaviour change.
 Successful programmes in HIV & AIDS across the world
adopted small group peer education to achieve behaviour
change.
 Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was started by a Pastor who
used small group counselling to bring people of alcohol
addiction. Through this method thousands have been freed
from alcoholism in the last 50 Years.

24. Impact upon Churches
 In churches where cell groups are central, widespread &
operate biblically :
- believers grow more quickly in spiritual growth
- fewer back-slide & leave the church
- Spiritual gifts are more often identified, developed & used
- deeper level of care & concern for one another
- stronger sense of unity & purpose
- greater development of future leaders
- more people in the community are won to Christ

25. 2.
Role in Church Community
Discuss:
• What should be the role of cell groups within the church
community ?
• As an optional extra ? As the building block ?
( 8 minutes in groups of 4)

26. The Context of Church as Community
1 Peter 2:9-10 = We are the People of God
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a people for his own possession, that you may
proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of
darkness into his marvellous light. Once you were not a
people, but now you are God's people”

27. We are the People of God
 Just as Israel were the chosen people, nation of God – NOW
we both Jews & Gentiles are the new people, nation of God
 We are not saved to be individual Christians
–> we are saved INTO the nation of God
 Our No.1 Nationality has changed – from Zimbo >> to
Christian
 Our No.1 family has changed – from human family >> to
the family of God
 Therefore: called to live in - Intentional Community
 NOT : for a series of church meetings and activities

28. My view = What can the church do for ME ?
Bible = How can I be part of GOD’S KINGDOM ?

29. 1 Corinthians 12:14-26 = We are part of the Body
(15) Now if the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not
belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of
the body.
(17) If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing
be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell
be?
(18) But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them,
just as he wanted them to be.
(21) The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head
cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"
(24) But God has put the body together, giving greater honour to the
parts that lacked it,
(26) If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured,
every part rejoices with it.

30. We are part of the Body of Christ
 The reality of God’s word = we are the body of Christ
 To live individually does not take away the reality of God’s
word – we will be living a lie
 We have been called with His abilities & gifts to have a
special role and part in the body
 No role in the body is greater than the other
 Weaker parts of the body - should be given more honour,
care & support
 If one member suffers, we suffer with them
 If one member rejoices – we rejoice with them

31. People = What Church meetings do I have to go to?
Sunday Service
Cell Group
Women’s Group
Men’s Breakfast
Prayer Meeting
Bible = What can we do together as God’s People?
Grow in God
Learn
Pray
Worship
Support each other
Reach out to the needy
Enjoy Life together

32. John 13:34-35= Christ’s Central Command
(34) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another:
just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
(35) By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have
love for one another."
John 15:12-17
(12) "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have
loved you.
(13) Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life
for his friends.
(14) You are my friends if you do what I command you.
(17) These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

33. 1 John 3:14-18 = Life of Love for One Another
(14) We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we
love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.
(15) Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that
no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
(16) By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we
ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
(17) But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need,
yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in
him?
(18) Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in
truth.

34. Christ’s Central Command: Love
 Context John 13-15: Christ to the disciples, last message
before crucifixion
 As a result of receiving Love of Christ : giving of his life for us
 So we are commanded to lay down our lives for one another
 Love is demonstrated in Actions – in helping one’s brother in
need
 Through Love for one another – the light of Christ SHINES
into the world

35. John 17:20-23 = Christ’s final prayer
(20) "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in
me through their word,
(21) that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in
you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe
that you have sent me.
(22) The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they
may be one even as we are one,
(23) I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so
that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even
as you loved me.

36. Christ’s final prayer
 Not for large buildings / huge crowds
 For a depth of unity between believers –
even to the extent that there is between the
Father & Son in the Trinity
 Through this unity + communion with God –
the world will see Christ

37. Our Union as Believers
> to Imitate the very Union of God

38. People = How do I live for Christ ?
Pray more
Repent
Evangelise
Read God’s Word
Etc etc.
Bible = How can I + WE live for Christ
= Love One Another
= Grow in God
= Confess + Repent
= Evangelise
= Study God
= Fruits of the Spirit
= Reach the Needy

39. Role of Cell Groups in the Community of God
 Cell Groups are a VEHICLE to live community life
 NOT a magic formulae for a mid-week meeting
 Cell Groups are a place to draw people –
 to know one another deeply
 to share one another’s lives
 to grow in God together
 to encourage each other in faith and walking in God
 to support one another emotionally, spiritually and materially
 to share one’s possessions with those more needy

40. 3.
Role in Believer’s life
Discuss :
• What role should cell groups play in believer’s lives ?
• What difference can they make to the believer’s faith in Christ ?
( 8 minutes in groups of 4)

41. Role of Small Groups in Believer’s Lives
 Learning of God & the Gospel
 The dangers of only self learning
 The role of group learning – of discussion,
disagreement, debate (e.g. Acts 15: 1-35)
 Accountability
 The need to be accountable to one another
 The need to confess to one another (James 5:15-16)
 Growth in character
 Growth, correction, encouragement - only possible
in community (e.g. Paul’s mentoring of Timothy)
 Fruits of the Spirit (Gal.5:22) through community

42.  Prayer
 Throughout the Bible – prayer needs to be BOTH at
the individual and group level
 Support
 Biblically the small group of fellow-believers is the
most trusted place of support – whether
emotionally, spiritually or financially (beyond family
+friends) - Acts 2
 Family & Fellowship
 The close-knit bonds of small groups – are ultimately
to become a believer’s “second family” – as Jesus
described – our adopted brother, sister, mother,
father

43. 4.
Aims of the Cell Group
Discuss :
• Bringing together these scriptures & what we’ve discussed –
what would you say should be the ultimate vision for you cell
group – list some key points
( 8 minutes in groups of 4)

44. Aims / Impact :
 Believers grow to Maturity in Christ
 Deeper Understanding of Scripture
 Greater Prayer & intercession for one another
 Believers develop their Gifts & move forward in Ministry / role
to play for God
 Close Community & Fellowship
 Believers Supported Emotionally, Spiritually, Materially
 Non-believers see the Witness of the Gospel through Christian
community
 Rate which of these your cell groups achieve / not

45. 5.
Central Activities of a Cell Group
Discuss :
• From these scriptures – list what needs to be the central
activities of your cell group
• Which ones are common in your group ?
• Which ones are lacking in your group & need more work
to build on ?
( 8 minutes in groups of 3 to 4)

46. Key Central Activities :
 Interactive Bible Study
 Sharing one’s Burdens & Needs
 Group Prayer for each other & the Kingdom
 Worship to God
 Sharing Meals together & Communion
 Social Evangelism
 Service in the Church
 Service in the Community

47. 6.
Role of a Cell Group
Leader

48. 7.
Content of a
Cell Group Meeting
Discuss :
• Practically – How do we structure a
cell group meeting?

49. Suggested Structure for Cell Group Meeting
Structure (= 2 ½ hours )
1. MEAL = Person A (30 mins)
2. WELCOME = Person B (5 mins)
3. SHARING = Person B + everyone in turn (15 mins)
4. WORSHIP = Person C co-ordinate (20 mins)
5. PRAYER = Person D coordinate (20 mins)
6. INTERACTIVE BIBLE STUDY = Person E coordinate (50 mins)
7. CHAT & DISCUSSION

50. 8.
Building Community
Discuss :
a) What are we called to do Biblically as Community ?
b) Since we are the Family of God - How do we practically
build this Community in our cell groups ?

51.  Biblical Calling
= to ‘one-another’

52. Called to : Love to one-another
1 John 3:23
 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his
Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has
commanded us.
1 John 4:11
 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 Peter 4:8
 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers
a multitude of sins
1 Peter 1:22
 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a
sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure
heart,

53. Called to : Fellowship with one-another
1 John 1:7
(7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we
have fellowship with one another, and the blood of
Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

54. Called to : Comfort one-another
2 Corinthians 13:11
(11) Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort
one another, agree with one another, live in peace;
and the God of love and peace will be with you.

55. Called to : Live in Harmony with one-another
Romans 12:15-16
(15) Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who
weep.
(16) Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but
associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own
sight.
Romans 15:5-6
(5) May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you
to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with
Christ Jesus,
(6) that together you may with one voice glorify the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

56. Called to : Forgive & Bear with one-another
Ephesians 4:2
(2) Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with
one another in love.
Ephesians 4:32
(32) Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one
another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Colossians 3:12-13
(12) Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,
compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness,
and patience,
(13) bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint
against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has
forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

57. Called to : offer Hospitality to one-another
1 Peter 4:9
(9) Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

58. Called to : Submit to one-another
Ephesians 5:21
(21) Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

59. Called to Serve one-another
Galatians 5:13
(13) You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.
But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh;
rather, serve one another humbly in love.
1 Peter 4:10
(10) As each has received a gift, use it to serve one
another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

60. Called to : Encourage one-another
1 Timothy 5:1-2
(1) Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as
you would a father, younger men as brothers,
(2) older women as mothers, younger women as sisters,
in all purity.

61. Called to : Correct + Teach one-another
Colossians 3:16
(16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching
and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with
thankfulness in your hearts to God.

62. Called to : Exhort one-another
Hebrews 3:12-13
(12) Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an
evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from
the living God.
(13) But exhort one another every day, as long as it is
called "today," that none of you may be hardened by
the deceitfulness of sin.

63. Called to Support one-another
Hebrews 10:24-25
(24) And let us consider how to stir up one another to
love and good works,
(25) not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of
some, but encouraging one another, and all the
more as you see the Day drawing near.

64. Called to : Restore one-another
Galatians 6:1-2
(1) Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you
who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.
But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
(2) Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill
the law of Christ.
James 5:19-20
(19) My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth
and someone brings him back,
(20) let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his
wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a
multitude of sins.

65. More than a Meeting :
 From the N.T. the cell / home groups were more
than a weekly 2 hour meeting
 Believers shared their lives with one another
 Intentional Community :
– Sharing time
– Sharing experiences
– Sharing meals
– Sharing possessions
– Sharing your faith
– Sharing your way of living for Christ

66.  Practical Steps

67. • Encourage Personal Sharing in Weekly Cell Meeting
• At the start of the regular weekly meeting (15-20 mins)
• Time for Sharing from the past week
• Ask each person to share in turn
– gives the quieter people a chance to talk & be involved
• ‘How has your week been ?‘
• One positive thing to be thankful to God for
+ one challenging thing for people’s prayer
• Result = Builds Closer Connection & Support between Believers
• (to develop trust & openness > establish in the group
– the approach of confidentiality + non-judgement )

68. • Establish TRUST & OPENNESS
> >Teach ‘Ground Rules’ for the Cell Group –
• Confidentiality – ‘what is said here stays here’
• The Bible warns against Gossip (2 Cor.12:20, Proverbs 11:13, Proverbs
16:28, Proverbs 18:8, Proverbs 20:19)
• Gossip destroys betrays trust, breaks openness & trust
• Respect & Non-Judgement of One Another
• We are commanded not to judge one another (Matt. 7:1-5)
• Keep central that we are all children of God + all part of the Body
• Love over Selfishness
• Central is Christ’s command to love one another (Jn 13:34-35, 15:12-17)
= Deciding to Listen to one another + be interested in one another

69. • Meals together = In Weekly Meeting & each other’s homes
• Invite people for meal before meeting every week/s
• biblical approach (Acts 2:42,46)
• Key to increase fellowship & community
• even a simple meal of soup & bread is special
• Socials together
• Draw people together in weekends & other times
• Barbeques, Cinema, Restaurant, Outing to Chivero etc.
• Builds true friendships -> openness -> trust
• When people come to trust one another -> they can come to
effectively pray + support + disciple one another

70. 9.
Building Prayer + Worship
Discuss :
• How do we Practically Build Group Prayer
+ Worship to become a central part of our Community
together ?

71. The Problem (for some)
• Group prayer & worship = seen as a ‘spiritual activity’
– for the very ‘spiritual people’
• People are introvert & shy to pray or worship aloud
• Some people pray – LONG prayers – which dominate
the meeting
• People don’t know what to pray or how to pray
• Prayer meetings become dull & tedious

72. Building Group Prayer
• Teaching + Guidelines – How to Pray
• Matt 6: 7-13 = Clear, specific & simple – no empty phrases
• Help it become clear – what praying for
• Encourage all to pray
• E.g. pray for the person on your left/right
• E.g. giving each person a topic
• Make prayer Early + central
• Not ‘tagged’ on to the end when everyone tired + in a hurry
to leave
• Track the Group’s Prayers
• Keep a diary of prayers asked + answered

73. Building Group Worship (beyond the songs)
• Make Worship Central (15-20 mins in a meeting)
• Encourage people to share scriptures, testimony to
goodness of God, etc. (1 Cor.14:26).
• Focus on a Theme each week – e.g. the love of God, the
beauty of His creation, the majesty of God
• Be Creative + Flexible – responding to how the group wants
to worship God
• e.g. ‘POP PRAISE’ = as in pop-corn – each person says a
short few words on what they praise or thank God for
• Options – with instrument / using song sheets / use
background CD / use MUSIC VIDEOS with printed words on
screen

74. 10.
Develop Gifting+Ministry
Discuss :
• How do we as Cell Leaders – Develop People’s Gifts
and Ministry ?

75. Ephesians 4:11-16 = To Equip Believers
(11) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the
shepherds and teachers,
(12) to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body
of Christ,
(13) until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of
the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature
of the fullness of Christ,
(14) so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the
waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human
cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
(15) Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way
into him who is the head, into Christ,
(16) from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint
with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly,
makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

76. Equip the Believers :
 These divinely given men should not serve in such a
way as to make people perpetually dependent on them.
Instead, they should work toward the day when the saints
will be able to carry on by themselves. We might illustrate
this as follows:
 The circle in the centre depicts, let us say, the gift of a
teacher. He ministers to those in the circle around him
so that they are equipped, that is, built up in the faith.
 Then they go forth and minister to others according to
the gifts God has given them. In this way the church
grows and expands. It is the divine method of producing
growth in the body of Christ, both in size and spirituality
 (Commentary: William MacDonald)

77. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11= Gifts of God’s Spirit
(4) Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
(5) and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
(6) and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who
empowers them all in everyone.
(7) To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common
good.
(8) For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to
another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
(9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the
one Spirit,
(10) to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another
the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of
tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
(11) All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who
apportions to each one individually as he wills.

78. Romans 12:4-8 = Gifts of God’s Spirit
(4) For as in one body we have many members, and the members
do not all have the same function,
(5) so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually
members one of another.
(6) Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us
use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
(7) if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
(8) the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who
contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one
who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

79. Developing the Gifts & Ministries of Believers
 Scripture shows – God has gifted different believers with
different roles & service (ministry)
 Our role as leaders is to serve God in identifying and nurturing
these gifts within people in the ‘safe’ environment of the cell
group (as Paul did to Timothy)
 Have different people responsible for the :
– Hosting
- Welcoming/introducing & socials,
- Sharing & Counselling Support
- Leading prayer
- Leading worship
- Teaching & bible study
 Discuss with believers, mentor them, try gifting questionnaires

80. Self-View = MY Ministry ? (English Football Team)
Bible = OUR Ministry for each other (German Team)

81. 11.
Leading Bible Studies
Discuss :
• What is the best way of leading small group Bible studies?
• How can we guide believers to learn and apply God’s word in
an active way? What approaches do we use?

82. Process
To Bring out :
1. Original truth of what this scripture is saying
– so that people have a better understanding of what the author
originally wanted to say through the passage to the original reader at
that time.
2. Universal principles of the passage
– what is the timeless message of the passage?
3. Modern application of the passage
– How can the universal message of this passage be applied
NOW in 2016 & HERE in Harare,
by OUR church & by ME ?

83. 1. Original Truth
2. Universal Principles
3. Modern
Application

84. Steps
1. Feedback – from last week’s topic and how applied it to life
2. Opening question – to start the thinking
3. Introduction - Context of Study e.g. ‘part of a series on …’
4. Read the Passage – from 2 different Bible versions
5. Background to the Passage – explain the context to the passage
within the Book of the Bible and situation written

85. Steps
6. Break-down parts of the passage
7. Each part – focus on 1-2 major points + refer to other links in the Bible
8. Lead-in questions – discuss (a) issues raised (b)how it applies personally
• encourage people to talk - by eye contact - by show interest
– by active listening - by verbal reflection on they say
• in an historical account / story – imagine that they’re there and how would
they deal with the situation [use the opportunity where people
misunderstand or mis-interpret to gently correct & replace with more
accurate understanding]
9. Conclusion – Bring message together & each person decide to apply it to
next week
10. Action Taken – Challenge each person to take 1 action from the message
of tonight to step forward on in the next week

86. Guidelines
1. Give 1 ½ hours before bible study to read over the
scripture passage, meditate & think it over & read the
background info provided & the questions guideline.
2. Pray beforehand that God through his Holy Spirit will
speak through you and guide the discussion to guide
His message of scripture to speak not only truth but also
apply it deep into people’s lives
3. Use a question guideline but also adapt it to your
convictions & style of the group

87. 4. Organise for yourself and 1-2 other people to share the
teaching / leading of study. Not everyone should be pressured
to teach, only some have the gift. But it is important to share
the role with another person who is a mature Christian and has
ability to teach – one day we will not be there. Possibly train
someone to also teach or share the teaching with someone to
give them more experience.
5. Doing a Study series of several weeks leads to more learning
than one-off random studies.
6. Vary the studies - Do a series based on a topic/issue then a
series based on a book of the bible.
7. Vary the approach – do a series based on a booklet, a series
based on own input, a series based on CD or a video teaching
series (breaking it up for discussion) – alternate between
different approaches – to avoid the ‘death’ by worksheet, or
‘boredom’ by repeated lectures

88. Options
 Reading through a BOOK together
 Using a BIBLE STUDY Booklet
 Discussing the SUNDAY SERMON
 Studying a BOOK of THE BIBLE
 Watching & Studying a TV PRESENTATION
 Discussing a TOPIC

89. Extremes to Avoid
 Front led lecturing – which leads the group to become passive listeners
and as a result remember, digest & apply very little of the information
from the passage
→There is a need to enable people to think through, ask questions,
grapple with the issues and apply it to their lives
 Talking too much and dominating the verbal communication of the
meeting
→Once the important points have been made – there is a need to
practice active listening – to encourage & give time for people to talk
and share
 Taking too background a role and not guiding the discussion in a
direction
→There is need to guide the discussion using a prepared list of
questions & at times correcting misinterpretation. The session needs
to be on a journey from knowledge of the passage to understanding
the underlying message & principles to applying it to our lives.

90.  Coming unprepared & waffling – no direction to the meeting
→the leader needs have a certain amount of understanding of the
passage to ensure that accurate meaning of the passage is
communicated.
 Having no plan or direction to the meeting – just open sharing
→ God wants people to learn from the message & meaning of His
revelation – not just to talk about what they think about it this
evening. Jesus calls us to make disciples. Bible studies are a place
of group discipleship and the leader plays a role in leading this
process of discipleship. There needs to be input and guidance.

91. 12.
Disciple Believers
Discuss :
• How do we fulfil the Great Commission to make disciples of
all nations ? – practically: how do we disciple people (a)
individually + (b) as a group ?

92. 13.
Cell group Evangelism
Discuss :
• How can we take our cell groups forward as a vehicle for
evangelism?

93. People = How do I show Christ’s LOVE to the WORLD ?
Bible = How can I + WE show Christ’s LOVE to the WORLD ?
• Love
• Joy
• Patience
• Goodness
• Kindness
• Support

94. 14.
Handling Challenging Behaviours
Discuss :
• What types of difficult behaviour do we experience ?
• How do we handle difficult behaviours in a cell group ?

95. Challenging Behaviours ?
Which of these challenging behaviours do you experience ?
• Hijacking the meeting ?
• Can’t stop talking ?
• Imposing Personal Viewpoints ?
• Judging + Criticising ?
• Gossiping personal matters ?
• Non-responsive ?
• Totally Passive ?

96. Handling Challenging Behaviours
• Lay the Foundation
• The PURPOSE of Cell Group Community
• The Central COMMAND of LOVE
• God’s CALLING for UNITY
• Establish the ‘Ground Rules’
• Respect for one – another
• No Judging
• No Slander
• Confidentiality – No Gossip

97. Handling Challenging Behaviours …
• Close Friendship
• Through Friendship – Understand the Cause of the Problem
• Through Friendship – Gain the opportunity to speak into person
• 1 – 1 Discipleship
• Disciple the person 1 – 1 to change & become more Christ-like
• The Need to Challenge & Confront in Love
• Your Responsibility – to uphold God’s work through God’s
people
• The Need to Challenge
• 1st privately and gently
• 2nd privately and clearer
• 3rd through the elders of the church
• 4th if no change / repentance – person takes leave from the group

98. 15.
Recommended Books
to Read
• To grow further in Leading Cell groups – we recommend
these books to read
• Many are available to read in the H.T.C library

99. Recommended (in HTC library) :
 Joel Comiskey (2001) - ‘How to lead a great cell group meeting’
 Joel Comiskey (2005) - ‘Cell Church Solutions’
 Joel Comiskey (1999) - ‘Reap the Harvest’
 David Finnell (1995) - ‘Life in His Body’
 Carl George (1997) - ‘Nine Keys to effective Small Group Leadership’
 Julie Gorman (1993) - ‘Community that is Christian’

100. Recommended (other) :
 David Prior (1983) – ‘The Church in the Home’
 David Cox (1998)– ‘Building Christian Community : Think Big,
think Small Groups’
 Laurence Singlehurst – ‘Loving the Lost: The principles & Practice
of Cell church’
 Mark Mittelberg (2000) – ‘Building a Contagious Church’
 Bill Donahue (1996) – ‘The Willow Creek Guide to Leading Life
Changing Small Groups’.