WE BELONG CONFERENCE

SESSION 1 — THE MAIN DOOR

INTRODUCTION

• Christiansandnon-Christiansalikeallhavealongingtobelong;tohavegenuinerelationships.• ChurchesareplacesofbelongingasdemonstratedinthebookofActs.• Cellgroupsprovideaplatformforpeopletobelongandassociatewithagrouptheycanidentify

with.

WHAT IS A CELL CHURCH

1. Therearevariouswayshowwedochurch:a. TraditionalModel

– CharacterisedbyritualsandBibleteaching.– Thefocalpointistheworshipgatheringand church

programmes.

b. SeekerModel– Characterisedbysleekprogrammingwithpracticalsermons.– Investsheavilyonworshipgatherings.

c. ApostolicModel– Characterisedbyaprominentanddominantleader.Personality drivenchurch.

(C) 2019RiverLifeChurch.AllRightsReserved.ForInternalDistributionOnly.

KEY POINTS• Everyonehasalongingtobelong;Christiansandnon-Christiansalike.• SmallerBiblicalcommunitiesfacilitatebelongingasdemonstratedinScriptures.• RiverLifeisacellchurch;notachurchwithcells.Ourkeyministryisthecellministry.Allother

ministriesrevolvearoundit.• Cellsaretheplaceswhereamember’sprimarycommunitylifetakesplace.• Weneedarenewalasacellchurch.

SESSION SUMMARY

– Thefocusisonworshipgatherings.d. RevivalModel

– Characterisedbypersonalexperience.– Thefocusisonworshipgatherings.

e. CellModel– Characterisedbyanemphasisondisciple-making.– Investsheavilyinsmallgroups.

2. Areweacellchurch,orachurchwithcells?• AChurchWithCells

– Seescellgroupsasanoption/justanotherministry.– Communitydoesnotnormallyhappenincells.Cellis

justaprogram.– TheSundayserviceisthemostimportantmeeting.

Cell meetseveryotherweekbecauseitisthesecondary meeting.

• ACellChurch– Centresitselfoncellgroups.– Newpeoplefindcommunitywithinthecells.– Cellistheprimarycommunity;notsecondary.– Thetimeforcellisblockedoutbymembers.Thereare

nocompetingprogramsduringthesetimesasitisthe placeofprimarycommunity.

WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF A CELL CHURCH

1. Everychurchhas3kindsofdoors,butoneofthesedoorsisthemaindoor.• TheFrontDoor

– Thefocusofthefrontdoorchurchistheaddingofmembers.– Typically,themainplatformforthistohappenistheSundayServices.– MostchurchesareFrontDoorChurchesespeciallyseekersensitivechurches.

• TheBackDoor– Thisdooriswherepeopleleavethechurch.– Mostchurcheswouldwanttonarrowthisdoor.

• TheSideDoor– Thisdoorreferstothecellcommunity.– Thefirstencounternon-believerswillhavewiththechurchisthroughthecellcommunityoraministryofthechurch.Thisdoesnothappenwithinthephysicalfacilitiesofthechurch.

(C) 2019RiverLifeChurch.AllRightsReserved.ForInternalDistributionOnly.

(C)2019RiverLifeChurch.AllRightsReserved.ForInternalDistributionOnly.

2. PrinciplesofaCellChurch(SideDoorChurch)• TheSideDoorChurchmodelisevidentthroughoutScripture(Jesusandthe12disciples,House

toHousePrincipleinActs,etc)• Disciple-makinghappensinthecontextofeverydaylife.• Valuechangestakeplacewithaccountabilityaspeoplelearnandinteractinasmallersetting.• Everyindividualisaminister(Eph.4:1-16,1Pet.2:9).

3. ThedefinitionofaCellChurch(SideDoorChurch)• Theministryofthechurchisbuiltaroundgettingasmanypeopleaspossibleintosmallgroups

(cells)whocanthendiscoverspiritualfriendshipsandgrowspirituallytogether.• Cellministryisattheheartofthechurch.• Abigmajority(65%-80%)isinvolvedwithachurch-relatedcell.

4. CommonfeaturesofaCellChurch(SideDoorChurch)• Asidechurchhasacommonvocabulary:

– “Churchbeginswhentheserviceisover.”– “Churchhappensbetweenservices.”– “Ourpurposeistocreateministersoutofspectators.”

• Evangelismismoreeffectivewhendonetogetherasateam(netfishing)thanalone(linefishing).• Cellgroupsareattheheartofthestrategyofthechurch.• Leadersfunctionprimarilytoequipmembersforservice.• Churchstaffensuresthattheecosystemwithinthechurchenablestheleaderstoraisedisciples

ofChristandformemberstousetheirgiftingstoserveothers.

5. DiscipleshipplatformsinaCellChurch(SideDoorChurch)• WorshipGatherings:Celebrateandlearn(Upwards)• MidSizeGroups:CommunityandMission(Outward)

– Aclusterofcellgroups(30-200ppl)intimatelylinkedtothelifeofthechurch.– It’spurposeistocombineresourcesforoutreach,enfoldnewcomersandprovideasenseofidentityaccordingtopeergrouporsimilarlifesituation.

• CellGroups:CareandInvolvement(Inward)– Asmallgroup(7-12people)intimatelylinkedtothelifeofthechurch.– ItisatransformationalcommunitythatpraysandparticipatesinGod’smissiontogetherforthepurposesofGod’swork(Acts2:46).

(C)2019RiverLifeChurch.AllRightsReserved.ForInternalDistributionOnly.

– ThepurposeofacellgroupistomakedisciplesthatbeholdChristandrevealHim.• MentoringGroups• PersonalWalk

RIVERLIFE AS A SIDE DOOR CHURCH (CELL CHURCH)

1. In1991,RLCmadetheintentionalmovetobecomeacellchurch.Thisprocesswascompletein1996.2. Thekeyquestionweneedtoaskourselves–iscells(sidedoor)stillthemaindooratRLC?

• Currently,wehave67%ofworshippersincells.3. Weareacellchurchinneedofrenewal.