Christ's small group was full of problem people. We would label most of them as the "extra grace required" type. Yet, Jesus molded, shaped, and prepared them to be the key leader's of His church. None of Christ's disciples occupied important positions in the synagogue, nor did any of them belong to the Levitical priesthood. Rather, they were common laboring men, having no professional training, no academic degrees, and no source of inherited wealth. Most were raised in the poor part of the country. They were impulsive, temperamental, and easily offended.
Jesus broke through the barriers that separated the clean and unclean, the obedient and sinful. He summoned the fisherman as well as the tax collector and zealot. Jesus saw hidden potential in them. He detected a teachable spirit, honesty, and a willingness to learn. They possessed a hunger for God, a sincerity to look beyond the religious hypocrisy of their day, and they were looking for someone to lead them to salvation. In calling the despised to Himself, in sitting down to a meal with publicans, in initiating the restoration of a Samaritan woman, Jesus demonstrated that even these people were welcomed into the kingdom of God.
Are you willing to welcome those with rough edges into your cell group with the view of preparing them for future leadership? Who are some of the rough edge people that you are developing through small group ministry in 2008?
John Wesley, like Jesus, excelled in leadership development. Howard Snyder in the Radical Wesley writes, "One hears today that it is hard to find enough leaders for small groups or for those to carry on the other responsibilities of the church. John Wesley mastered the art of finding the gem in every person.Wesley put one in ten, perhaps one in five, to work in significant ministry and leadership. And who were these people? Not the educated or the wealthy with time on their hands, but laboring men and women, husbands and wives and young folks with little or no training, but with spiritual gifts and eagerness to serve. . . Not only did Wesley reach the masses; he made leaders of thousands of them."
Michael Sove, cell champion at Allen Memorial Baptist in Maryland writes about a guy named Mike Miles, who started talking with a cook named Aron at Lacey's Restaurant. Over time he invited him to a Sunday service. In April 2007, Aron attended his first Celebration service at Allen Memorial Baptist Church and gave his life to Christ. Aron was immediately invited to the Neighborhood Life cell group that met at Mike Miles house on Tuesday. Aron went and loved the experience. Over the next couple of weeks Aron invited his wife and two children to attend the cell and celebration service with him. They both accepted Christ. Aron began the process of training by taking the five book equipping track that Allen Memorial Baptist uses to train leaders. Aron began to meet every Thursday afternoon at 4:30 for training and mentoring. Aron soon became associate leader in the cell, and Matt began asking Aron to lead parts of the life group meeting.In December 2007, Aron launched his own cell group with nine in attendance! Aron has been reaching his neighbors for Christ and is continuing the process of outreach through his own cell group.
Not everyone will lead their own cell. Some will be part of a leadership team that starts a new cell. I've becoming increasingly convinced that team leadership is so critical in cell ministry. I rejoice in those who can lead a cell all by themselves. Yet, another option is to start a cell with a leadership team.
2008 offers many possibilities to fulfill the prayer of Jesus through cell group ministry: "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field" (Matthew 9:37-38).
Joel Comiskey |
Resourcing the worldwide cell church movement 
