“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)

LIFE Groups

The home cell groups at Fellowship are called “LIFE” Groups (LIFE stands for “Living In Fellowship Everyday”).  This page contains information regarding our vision and strategy to be a New Testament Church.  We believe that the “pictures” of the church in Acts 2 (vs 42-47) and 4 (vs 32-35) are intended to be a model for local churches in every age.  We desire to be an Acts 2 & 4 church!

Why have home cell groups?

A fundamental reason for home cell groups is that we desire to take the words of Jesus and the Scriptures seriously.  In Matthew 7:24, Jesus described the “wise man who built his house on the rock” as the one who “hears these sayings of Mine, and does them”.  The foolish man is the one who “hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them” (v26).  We want to be wise and we want the lives of our church members to be spiritually strong, built on the rock of Christ.  Additionally, James 1:22 urges us to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves”.  LIFE Groups are ‘spiritual greenhouses’ where care, feeding, protecting and pruning lead to fruitfulness and Christlikeness.  James reminds us that “as the spirit without the body is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (2:26).  So, the primary point of LIFE Groups is to help each other apply God’s Word to our lives so that we can spiritually grow up to be like Jesus (Eph 4:15).

There is a Biblical basis for home cell groups:

• Ex 18:13-27 > the original model for Israel
• Lk 6:13; 9:14; 10:1 > a method of Jesus
• Acts 2:46-47; 5:42 > the early church model
• Acts 13:1-20:38 > the mission strategy of the apostle Paul (e.g. Acts [8:3] 12:12; 16:15, 40; 20:20; Rom 16:5; 1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15)

What are we trying to accomplish?

We want to live in authentic Christian community (Acts 2:41-47; 4:32-35)

• We believe home cells to be the biblical and best way to practice the “one anothers” of Scripture.

We want to be “doers” of the Word and not hearers only (Jas 1:22)
• We believe that the intimate nature of a home Cell is the best environment for bringing believers to spiritual maturity.

We want to be fishers of men for Jesus [working together, with a net] (Matt 4:19; Lk 5:4-11)
• We believe the loving atmosphere of home cells to be the best way to share the gospel with our city.

The LIFE Group is where personal love and care are experienced, where friendships and relationships in the church are nurtured and where faith grows and relational evangelism can take place.  Additionally, the LIFE Groups can minister together in mission opportunities.

What is a “cell” (LIFE Group)?

• a “body” of believers experiencing community in Christ
    Colossians 3:12-17 describes “community”
• a family- caring for one another and extending Christ’s love
• not a perfect family, but a healthy, healing family

We look for progress, not perfection!
Every LIFE Group will have it’s own unique personality!

What happens in the LIFE Group meetings each week? 

The model is Acts 2:42-47 (4:32-35).  Each cell meeting focuses on four things (based on Acts 2:42): Scripture, Fellowship, Worship, Prayer.  A possible scenario might be:

1. Fellowship (20 min), snacks, gathering time, etc.;
2. Worship (10 min), sharing songs, singing hymns or choruses to accompaniment tape or CD;
3. Scripture (40 min), an application oriented study;
4. Prayer (20 min)

The times are approximate.  There are some LIFE Groups that enjoy a meal together each week or on occasion.  A full meal will add at least a half hour to the meeting time.  The groups can arrange these elements of their meeting as they wish and are encouraged to follow the direction of the Holy Spirit.  The LIFE Group leaders meet weekly for accountability, encouragement and learning.

The kinds of things that we do together:

• have fun and food together (have picnics, family fun events)
• include people in your everyday activities like shopping, entertainment, serving one another
• sit together, if possible, in church worship services
• celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions
• do mission projects together
• help each other reach out to neighbors (block parties, direct evangelism, etc.)
• do C.O.K.E. events together (Conspiracy Of Kindness Evangelism)

What have we have learned from having home cell groups?

We have had LIFE Groups at Fellowship for nine years.  Here are some things that we have learned in that time:
• LIFE Groups are not about what you can get, but what you can give.
• An irony: the families that “don’t need” LIFE Groups the most are most needed in LIFE Groups (broken families today need models and encouragement from those “less” broken).
• Pursuing the Kingdom of God is much harder than we could imagine.  We can only pursue it in the power of the Holy Spirit.  A godly church is composed of people pursuing godliness as a family.
• The spiritual power of a godly family cannot be measured (we’re raising godly children).
• LIFE Groups will impact the next generation for Christ and His Kingdom (they bless children and youth).
• God has promised a harvest of spiritual blessings if we will sow to the Spirit and not give up (Gal 6:7-10).

If you are interested in visiting a LIFE Group in Fellowship, you may call our church office (913-764-3153) and a group leader will be in touch with you.