What does a Cell Group do?

          Cell Groups try to do four things.  They seek to love God by worshipping Him (Upward).  They try to love each other by meeting each other needs, lifting each other up in prayer, encouraging each other, and spurring one another on towards good deeds (Inward).  They work towards actively reaching the lost through personal evangelism; building relationships and showing practical love (Outward).  They also seek to build each other up in Christ through discipleship (Forward).  These four dimensions or directions represent what each group is trying to accomplish for the Kingdom and are derived from the Great Commandments and the Great Commission (Matt 22:36-40 and Matt 28:18-20).

           How does that practically work out?  Each group's activities, schedule, and calendar will vary depending on the people that make up that group.  Group's will be organized around zip codes or neighborhoods so that members can spend more unscheduled time with each other.  Cell Groups will be encouraged to spend regular time with each other outside of the meeting.  Activities like barbecues, block parties (to reach neighbors), or eating together are highly encouraged.  The perfect example of a Cell Group can be found in the book of Acts 2:42-47

          "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common.  Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.  And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."  (Acts 2:42-47, NIV)

         While every group will be different, the net result of any group's activities should be to add daily to the Kingdom, those who are being saved.