Why cell church? Is it because David Cho's church is a cell church and happens to be the largest church in the history of Christianity? Is it because cell church is the strategy that many "great" churches are using? Ralph Neighbour repeatedly says, “Theology must breed methodology.”Joel Comiskey has arrived at the same conclusion. Biblical truth is the only firm foundation for anything we do. Without a biblical base, we don’t have a strong under-pinning upon which we can hang our ministry and philosophy. We can plod through most anything when we know that God is stirring us to behave biblically. In the first section of this book, Comiskey establishes why the Bible is the only true foundation for small group ministry. He then looks at how the Trinity is our example for community. He covers the family in the Old Testament and how the most prominent image of the church is God's family. He then explore how Jesus called out a new family and utilized houses to establish this new family. In section two, Comiskey explains why and how the early church met in homes and gathered those house churches together to celebrate. He discusses relational evangelism, and how leaders developed naturally through the house church strategy. In the third section, the author applies the theology of the first two sections to the church today, attempting to give practical examples about how the New Testament Church can inform and instruct the 21st Century Church today. “Joel Comiskey effectively draws upon the skills of a careful interpreter, the heart of a pastor, and a background in cross-cultural missions to craft this thoughtful and informative treatment of cell-group ministry. An attentive reading of Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church will challenge—in the most positive sense of the word—traditional church models and approaches to ministry driven by consumer-oriented pragmatism. I warmly commend Joel’s book to pastors and others who long to enjoy the kind of relationships experienced by the early Christians, and who wish to base their understanding of community on the theological bedrock of biblical truth.” (Joe Hellerman, Ph.D., Professor of NT Language and Literature, Talbot School of Theology, Team Pastor at Oceanside Christian Fellowship)“Just when it seems that everything has been written that could be said about the church, its nature and its expansion, when all the cliched formulas have been reshuffled ad infinitum, all the accusations dispensed and the mea culpas chanted, suddenly appears a book that can be ignored only to the Kingdom's detriment. This passionate appeal for the rediscovery of the dynamic of the early church that conquered the pagan world within a couple of centuries begins with an unimpeachable Trinitarian theological grounding for the definition of the church. It continues with a careful consideration of the historical and cultural factors that contributed to the shaping of its life and worship, and it culminates with pertinent advice for the transposition of the author's findings to the contemporary church scene. Required reading for pastors and other leaders of static, moribund and/or dysfunctional congregations.”(Gilbert Bilezikian, Professor emeritus, Wheaton College, Willow Creek Community Church)

Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church: New Testament Insights for the 21st Century Church

Religion & Spirituality

Comiskey, Dr. Joel

Christian Books & Bibles

CCS Publishing

What is the main objective of cell ministry? We know that the goal of the Christian life is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. But does God have a particular purpose for the cell-based church? I've come to the conclusion that the primary goal of cell ministry is to make disciples who make disciples. Christ commanded his disciples to reproduce themselves (Matthew 28:18-20). But how were they supposed to do that? This book answers that question. Most discipleship books assume that discipleship is an individualistic endeavor. And yes, there are important individual spiritual disciplines (e.g., personal devotions, etc.). Yet in Matthew 28, Jesus was talking to a group of disciples. He wanted them to follow his example by making disciples in a group. The early church continued Christ's pattern by making disciples through the house churches that celebrated together in public worship. In this book, I explain how the cell church makes disciples. In the cell, a potential disciple is transformed through community, priesthood of all believers, group evangelism, and team multiplication. The cell system ensures each leader has a coach and that training happens. Then the cells gather together to worship and grow through the teaching of God's Word. The goal of the two-wing church is to make disciples who make disciples. This book will help you understand why and how to become a cell-based church. Whether you’re planting a cell church or transitioning from a traditional church, this book will help you get there.

Making Disciples in the Twenty-First Century Church: How the Cell-Based Church Shapes Followers of Jesus

CCS Publishers

Facilitate highlights the key dynamics of small groups that will give a leader confidence to minister to those in the group. Facilitate teaches a leader how to listen well, ask questions, train others, involve people, and prepare for the meeting. This book shows a potential leader how to develop new leaders to continue the discipleship process. It is excellent to use both in a Sunday school class and one on one. This book has eight lessons, full of practical questions and applications. You will learn how to: <ul> <li>Prepare spiritually for the power of God to flow in the meeting</li> <li>Structure the meeting in a dynamic and effective way</li> <li>Encourage attendees to participate and share their experiences</li> <li>Suggest interesting topics and questions</li> <li>Listen carefully and detect problems in the group</li> </ul> By putting into practice the ideas and suggestions in this book, any leader of a cell group will find it easy to achieve an exciting atmosphere in the meetings and ensure that attendees want to come back and even bring new people with them.

Facilitate: How to Lead a Life-giving Small Group

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Comiskey, Dr. Joel. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Comiskey, Dr. Joel

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Comiskey, Dr. Joel. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church: New Testament Insights for the 21st Century Church

Making Disciples in the Twenty-First Century Church: How the Cell-Based Church Shapes Followers of Jesus

Facilitate: How to Lead a Life-giving Small Group