START/JOIN A CELL-GROUP TODAY

THE PURPOSE OF SMALL GROUPS

A. Pastoral Care and Discipleship

God has definitely given His church the burden for pastoral care and discipleship. Our desire

should go beyond just birthing people into the Kingdom, but it should involve providing effective covering and accountability that precipitates growth, and bringing people to a place of personal fruitfulness and ministry. It is impossible to pastor a crowd in any individual way. The small group approach is a biblical way of feeding a multitude of people.

B. Building Relationships and Fellowship

It is clear that God wants the individual members of the church to be more closely linked to one another so that they can be in a position to better minister to the needs of one another as the Bible clearly directs. This was a top priority of the church in the Book of Acts and the

small group helps to keep people from being alone in the midst of a large number of people. This is more important for the more passive, reserved and quiet personality, and yet all will benefit greatly by their involvement.

C. Assimilating New People into the Church

Whether people are newly saved or simply new to the church, there needs to be a means

whereby they can quickly feel a part if they are going to be permanently established and

genuinely committed to the vision of the local church. It takes several years to feel a part of

a crowd, but in a few, brief contacts in an intimate setting, people can feel loved, cared for and needed.

D. Evangelism

God wants every believer to be reaching out to others in their sphere of influence. The smallr goup is a perfect place to introduce new people to other believers in the Body of Christ.

Through the small group, it is possible for them to gain the support and the relationships that

they need for them to be established.

Extracted from Bishop's Sermon about the Cross. 

1. Substitution.

Isaiah 53.6, 1 Peter 2.24, 2 Corinthians 5.21

Jesus stands in our place, so that in the ‘Great Exchange’ as Martin Luther called it, we gain his righteousness while he takes our sin. This is our cross, our rightful death, and he takes it instead of us.

Therefore, I don’t have to die, even though sin causes death.

2. Propitiation

Romans 3.3, 5, 1 John 4.10

This is often lumped with the former but it’s a distinctly different thing. It means the turning aside of wrath. Jesus’ death turns aside the wrath of God so that his anger is not levelled at those who trust in Jesus’ death.

Therefore, God’s wrath is not levelled against me, even though he is just and I deserve it.

Prayer Points:

1. Lord thank you for taking my place on the cross, substituting me, you took my sin, my shame, my suffering, sickness and death, that I may be the righteousness of God in Christ. 

2. Lord thank you for diverting God's wrath even though I deserve it, you showed me love, may Your name be glorified in Jesus' Name.