Why cell church? Is it because David Cho's church, the largest church in the history of Christianity, is a cell church? Is it because someone said the number twelve will bring blessings and growth? Is it because cell church is the strategy that many "great" churches are using? Ralph Neighbour repeatedly says, "Theology must breed methodology." This book sets forth the biblical theology for cell based ministry. Without biblical truth, we don't have a firm under-pinning upon which we can hang our ministry and philosophy. On the other hand, we can plod through most anything when we know that God is stirring us to behave biblically. Cell church is not the latest, greatest church growth strategy. If it were, it would simply be a passing fad until the next hotter, more relevant strategy comes along. In fact, in many places around the world, cell church transforms the church through a purification process. Church growth is slow but cell church helps Christ's church go deeper. Joel Comiskey has been studying the cell church movement since 1991 and has discovered that the cell church strategy doesn't produce rapid growth in itself. God reserves growth for himself. He wants to receive the glory for all church growth. The first section of this book covers the Trinity, the model for all small group community. The good news is that the Trinity works within believers to mold and shape them into his image. This section explores God's emphasis on the family, starting from Genesis, Christ's formation of a new family, and then the early church's focus on family. Comiskey believes that family is the principal image of the church in Scripture. The last chapter in this section explains Jesus and his kingdom and more specifically how Jesus trained his disciples to evangelism through home-based outreach. Section two reveals how the early church met in homes. It explores what they did in those home meetings, the size of the house churches, and how home evangelism took place through ancient oikos relationships. Comiskey looks at how New Testament leadership developed naturally through the house church structure and how the early church connected the house churches into celebration gatherings (large group meetings). The last section applies all eight chapters to the church today. This last section draws out the New Testament insights that are applicable to the 21st century church.

Drawing on biblical teaching and the ministry of the early church, Gareth Weldon Icenogle offers guidance for setting up and running a biblically based small-group ministry program.

Community within the church today is hemorrhaging. Attention spans are dwindling, noise levels are increasing, and we can't seem to find time for real relationships. The answer to such social fragmentation can be found in small groups, and yet the majority of small groups—at least in the traditional sense—are often not the intentional, transformational community we really want and need. Somehow we need to get our groups off life support and into authentic community. Pastor Brad House helps us to re-imagine what gospel-centered community looks like and shares from his experience leading and reproducing healthy small groups. With wisdom and candor, House challenges us to think carefully about our own groups and to take steps toward cultivating communities that are able to glorify Jesus, bless one another, and participate in the mission of God.

Home Cell Group Explosion (2023 version) is the most researched and practical book ever written on cell group evangelism! Joel Comiskey traversed the globe to find out why certain churches and small groups are successful in reaching the lost. He found the answers and freely shares them within this volume. If you are a pastor or small group leader, you should devour this book! It will encourage you and give you simple, practical steps for dynamic small group life and growth. My friend Joel Comiskey is a combination of a local church practitioner and a painstaking scholar. Joel spent hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars visiting eight of the highest-visibility cell group churches to interview their leaders and record his findings. I love this book because it focuses on the multiplication of cells for the greatest evangelistic results. (C.Peter Wagner, Author, Scholar, and Church Growth Expert) Comiskey does not just describe what is happening in cell churches. He takes the next step and identifies in a step-by-step fashion how we can apply these principles in our churches. It is all here-everything we need to know to start and grow a cell group ministry. I am grateful to Dr. Comiskey, for the time, effort, and research that has gone into producing this long-needed book. (Richard Peace, Ph.D., Professor of Evangelism and Spiritual Formation, Fuller Theological Seminary) Joel and I shared many days in Bogota as this book was written. His grasp of cell church models is superior to any other person I have worked with: this book is a treasure of information for church planters and pastors wishing to transition to the cell model. (Ralph W. Neighbour, Jr., Author, and Pioneer Church Planter)

This edition is being replaced by ISBN# 0979067936 Does the cell church strategy work in North America? We hear about exciting cell churches in Colombia and Korea, but where are the dynamic North American cell churches? This book not only declares that the cell church concept does work in North America but dedicates an entire chapter to examining North American churches that are successfully using the cell strategy to grow in quality and quantity. This book provides the latest statistical research about the North American church and explains why the cell church approach restores health and growth to the church today. More than anything else, this book will provide practical solutions for pastors and lay leaders to use in implementing cell-based ministry.

Your leaders really can lead cell group meetings that cause the members to say ''WOW!'' This book will show your leaders how to: -hear God during the meeting -structure the meeting so that it flows -spur the group members to participate and share openly -create stimulating questions -listen effectively -and see the details that create a warm, inviting atmosphere for unbelievers Do people expectantly return to your group meetings every week? Do you have fun and experience joy during your meetings? Is everyone participating in discussion and ministry? You can lead a great cell group meeting, one that is life-changing and dynamic. Most people don't realize that they can create a God-filled atmosphere because they don't know-how. Now the secret is out. This guide will show you how to: -Prepare yourself spiritually to hear God during the meeting -Structure the meeting so it flows -Spur people in the group to participate and share their lives openly -Share your life with others in the group -Create stimulating questions -Listen effectively to discover what is transpiring in others' lives -Encourage and edify group members -Open the group to non-Christians -See the details that create a warm atmosphere By implementing these time-tested ideas, your group meetings will become the hot item of your members' week. They will go home wanting more and return each week bringing new people with them.

Joel Comiskey is convinced that the primary goal of the church is to make disciples who make disciples. But how is the church supposed to do that? This book answers that question. Dr. Comiskey explains how both cell and celebration (larger gathering) work together in the process of making 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. This book will help you understand why and how to become a church that prioritizes discipleship. What others are saying: I've read all of Joel Comiskey's books, but this one is his best work yet. I'm looking forward to having all of our pastors, coaches, cell leaders and members read this book in the near future. Dr. Dennis Watson, Lead Pastor, Celebration Church of New Orleans __ I am so excited about Joel Comiskey's new book, Making Disciples in the Twenty-First Century Church. Joel has unpacked discipleship, not just as an endeavor for individuals, but as the critical element for creating a church community and culture that reproduces the Kingdom of God all over the earth. Jimmy Seibert, Senior Pastor, Antioch Community Church __ Like Joel's other books, this one is solidly biblical, highly practical, wonderfully accessible and is grounded in Joel's vast research and experience. Dr. Dave Earley, Lead Pastor, Grace City Church of Las Vegas, Nevada