Myths and Truths of the Cell Church
Myths and Truths of the Cell Church

Author: Joel Comiskey

Publisher: CCS Publishing

Published: 2016-11-23

Total Pages: 204

ISBN-13: 1935789406

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Most of the modern day cell church movement is biblical, dynamic, and positive. Sadly, errors and false assumptions have also crept in to confuse and lead astray an otherwise healthy movement. Joel Comiskey, in this ground-breaking book, exposes the myths of the cell church movement and then offers positive principles and insights to guide churches and leaders on the right path. Each chapter begins with a unique insight from a worldwide cell church leader who will share decades of wisdom in working with cell groups. These leaders include: Ben Wong, Robert Lay, Mario Vega, Bill Beckham, Abe Huber, Jimmy Seibert, Scott Boren, Werner Kniesel, Randall Neighbour, Jim Egli, Steve Cordle, and Les Brickman. You will enjoy the insights of these leaders in the cell movement. This book will help you avoid pitfalls and apply biblical, time-tested principles that will guide you into fruitful cell ministry. Whether you’re starting out for the first time in cell ministry or a seasoned veteran, this book will give you the tools to help your ministry stay fresh and fruitful.

Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church
Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church

Author: Joel Comiskey

Publisher: Joel Comiskey

Published: 2012-11-06

Total Pages: 207

ISBN-13: 0984311033

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

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.

Making Cell Groups Work Navigation Guide
Making Cell Groups Work Navigation Guide

Author: Joel Comiskey, Scott Boren, Ralph Neighbour, Randall Neighbour, Bill Beckham

Publisher: CCS Publisher

Published: 2023-05-27

Total Pages: 585

ISBN-13: 1950069397

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This is an expanded, 624-page reference tool for the 8-stage transition process found in How Do We Get There From Here? (formerly titled, Making Cell Groups Work). This sizable compilation is filled with hundreds of articles by pastors and experts, including helpful articles such as how to transition your church's calendar and budget to allow for a growing holistic small group (cell group) ministry, how to choose team members to implement the transition; tips on how to prototype groups; and much much more! One of the most valuable tools found in this resource is a revealing readiness assessment tool, which will help you determine weaknesses (if any) in four key areas of church health, all of which are required for a successful transition.

Children in Cell Ministry
Children in Cell Ministry

Author: Joel Comiskey

Publisher: CCS Publishing

Published: 2015-11-14

Total Pages: 221

ISBN-13: 1935789813

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

In this ground-breaking book, Joel Comiskey challenges pastors and leaders to move from simply educating children to forming them into disciples who make disciples. Comiskey lays out the Biblical base for children's ministry and then encourages pastors and leaders to formulate their own vision and philosophy for ministry to children based on the Biblical text. Comiskey highlights how to disciple children in both the large group and the small group. He quickly moves into practical examples of intergenerational cell groups and how effective cell churches have implemented this type of group. He then writes about children only cell groups, citing many practical examples from some of the most effective cell churches in the world. Comiskey covers equipping for children, how to equip the parents, and mistakes in working with children in the cell church. This is a must read book for all those wanting to minister to children both in large and small groups.

Facilitate
Facilitate

Author: Joel Comiskey

Publisher: CCS Publishing

Published: 2019-03-05

Total Pages: 58

ISBN-13: 1935789996

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Facilitate highlights the key dynamics of small groups that will give a leader confidence to minister to those in the group. Facilitate teaches a leader how to listen well, ask questions, train others, involve people, and prepare for the meeting. This book shows a potential leader how to develop new leaders to continue the discipleship process. It is excellent to use both in a Sunday school class and one on one. This book has eight lessons, full of practical questions and applications. You will learn how to: Prepare spiritually for the power of God to flow in the meetingStructure the meeting in a dynamic and effective wayEncourage attendees to participate and share their experiencesSuggest interesting topics and questionsListen carefully and detect problems in the group By putting into practice the ideas and suggestions in this book, any leader of a cell group will find it easy to achieve an exciting atmosphere in the meetings and ensure that attendees want to come back and even bring new people with them.

Home Cell Group Explosion
Home Cell Group Explosion

Author: Joel Comiskey

Publisher: CCS Publishing

Published: 2023-03-08

Total Pages: 136

ISBN-13: 1950069370

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

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)

How to Be a Great Cell Group Coach
How to Be a Great Cell Group Coach

Author: Joel Comiskey

Publisher: CCS Publishing

Published: 2022-04-22

Total Pages: 103

ISBN-13: 1950069222

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Research has proven that the greatest contributor to cell group success is the quality of coaching provided for cell group leaders. Many are serving in the position of a coach, but they don't fully understand what they are supposed to do in this position. Joel Comiskey has identified seven habits of great cell group coaches. These include: • Receiving from God. • Listening to the needs of the cell group leader. • Encouraging the cell group leader. • Caring for the multiple aspects of a leader's life. • Developing the cell leader in various aspects of leadership. • Strategizing with the cell leader to create a plan. • Challenging the cell leader to grow. Practical insights on how to develop these seven habits are outlined in section one. Section two addresses how to polish your skills as a coach with instructions on diagnosing problems in a cell group, how to lead coaching meetings, and what to do when visiting a cell group meeting. This book will prepare you to be a great cell group coach, one who mentors, supports, and guides cell group leaders into great ministry.

2000 Years of Small Groups
2000 Years of Small Groups

Author: Joel Comiskey

Publisher: CCS Publishing

Published: 2015-10-03

Total Pages: 295

ISBN-13: 193578966X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book explores how God has used small groups throughout church history, specifically focusing on the early church to the present time. God not only established the early church as a house to house movement, but he also has used small groups throughout church history. This book chronicles the small group or cell movement from Jesus all the way to the modern day cell explosion. Themes include: -Small Groups In Biblical History -Small Groups In Early Christian History -Small Groups and Monasticism -Small Groups During the Pre-Reformation Period -Luther and Small Groups -Martin Bucer and Small Groups -The Anabaptist Movement -Puritan Conventicles -Pietism -The Moravians -The Methodists -Modern House Churches -Small Groups in North America -The Modern Day Cell Church This book will both critique the strengths and weaknesses of these historical movements and apply principles to today's church. You will grow in appreciation and understanding of key small group principles from those pioneers who have paved the way. You will also learn to value those movers and shakers who faced far greater odds to implement small groups than the difficulties confronted today. Many have struggled with the same things you're wrestling with now. And just like they found solutions in the face of persecution and trial, God will help you to persevere, find solutions, and ultimately bear abundant fruit for his kingdom and glory.

Living in Victory
Living in Victory

Author: Joel Comiskey

Publisher: CCS Publishing

Published: 2020-07-14

Total Pages: 148

ISBN-13: 1950069028

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Christians desire to grow in their relationship with God. They want to flourish, to experience victory in their Christian lives. They want to live in the overcoming power that the cross provides. But they are stuck. They are like my friend, John, who works sixty hours per week, sits in two hours of traffic each day and carries the burdens of the world on his shoulders. He and his wife, Jenny, love each other, or at least they used to. They now spend their time together carting their kids to activities after driving through Taco Bell for dinner. Every week, John sits in the second row at church, listening to the pastor, and he and Jenny volunteer in the children’s church. But he told me last week that he is exhausted. On the surface, he has a good life, but deep down he is drowning. He has no real victory. How does someone like John stem the tide? How does he start living the victorious lifestyle Jesus came to offer? Many find the answer in promises of a magic pill, something that provides a quick fix. But such fixes don’t exist. The victory of God is an ongoing lifestyle while adopting and applying certain priorities that prepare and equip us for life. True victory comes in heaven and not on earth. And only the Spirit of God living through the believer based on God’s Word can give true victory. But there are basic principles that God has used throughout the centuries to encourage believers and give them victory. In this book, I’ve pinpointed nine principles and priorities that will help a believer live a victorious Christian life. They are: -victory in preparing for eternity -victory in experiencing God's love -victory in God's grace -victory in God’s sovereignty -victory in spending time with Jesus -victory in close relationships -victory in the local church -victory in rest -victory in healthy living These nine priorities will help you understand and apply principles that are simple, biblical, and time-tested to produce spiritual, emotional, and physical benefits. My aim is to stimulate you to live these biblical truths while allowing the Holy Spirit to transform you.

How to Lead a Great Small Group Meeting
How to Lead a Great Small Group Meeting

Author: Joel Comiskey

Publisher: CCS Publishing

Published: 2021-11-02

Total Pages: 101

ISBN-13: 1950069125

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

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.