Paradigm 26 "Discipleship and Small Groups"
In this chapter Edmund Chan cites Ex 18:21, Ac 2:46 and Mk 3:14 as evidence that SGs are a "biblical pattern". I think that the first reference has to do with administrative organization and that the last is just about the calling of the Twelve. The middle passage promotes SGs by implication only (there is a larger gathering at the temple and smaller ones in homes) but does not exclude the possibility that they are a byproduct of the historical and cultural circumstances of the time. We also have the way Jesus dealt with people (the thousands, the 70/27, the 12, the 3 and the one) to say that we should be stratifying our attention to particular individuals rather than relating to everyone in the same (superficial) way.
Perhaps it is better to look at the "one another"s of Scripture and ask how we can best fulfill them in our present context (see below). This relational aspect is not possible in larger church contexts. I think this inescapably leads us to the necessity of SGs. In other words - SGs are not an organizational option, but a Biblically-mandated requirement for all but the smallest churches.
Chan says that the largest churches need prayer, cells and missions, with the Word informing and directing all of these. He says that laying the church infrastructure for cells as the basic disciplemaking unit is the "greatest leadership challenge".
The cell does Worship, Word, Works and Walk, which cover our identity, biblical insights, influence and integrity respectively. Failure to cover these aspects adequately leads to dryness, deadness, emptiness and meaninglessness. The 4Ws are fundamentals of a disciple's life which interweave with the lives of other disciples in love.
We spent time talking about the balance of these factors in our cell. Some said that not all cells will be equally good in all aspects of these. We each agreed that worship and word are not lacking in our cell. We could improve our works even in this lockdown period. On one hand, we know it is not possible to force deep sharing and that the changing demographics of this cell makes it more difficult to develop deep relationships. On the other hand we also could challenge ourselves to deepen the level of our sharing and prayer. Winnie mentioned how good it was to be able to eat dinner together outside with old members of the cell in the past. We also have to consider how relevant the cell can continue to be in time to come because of changing characters and expectations of new generations.
The "one another"s of Scripture:
Perhaps it is better to look at the "one another"s of Scripture and ask how we can best fulfill them in our present context (see below). This relational aspect is not possible in larger church contexts. I think this inescapably leads us to the necessity of SGs. In other words - SGs are not an organizational option, but a Biblically-mandated requirement for all but the smallest churches.
Chan says that the largest churches need prayer, cells and missions, with the Word informing and directing all of these. He says that laying the church infrastructure for cells as the basic disciplemaking unit is the "greatest leadership challenge".
The cell does Worship, Word, Works and Walk, which cover our identity, biblical insights, influence and integrity respectively. Failure to cover these aspects adequately leads to dryness, deadness, emptiness and meaninglessness. The 4Ws are fundamentals of a disciple's life which interweave with the lives of other disciples in love.
We spent time talking about the balance of these factors in our cell. Some said that not all cells will be equally good in all aspects of these. We each agreed that worship and word are not lacking in our cell. We could improve our works even in this lockdown period. On one hand, we know it is not possible to force deep sharing and that the changing demographics of this cell makes it more difficult to develop deep relationships. On the other hand we also could challenge ourselves to deepen the level of our sharing and prayer. Winnie mentioned how good it was to be able to eat dinner together outside with old members of the cell in the past. We also have to consider how relevant the cell can continue to be in time to come because of changing characters and expectations of new generations.
The "one another"s of Scripture:
- Romans 12:10. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
- Romans 12:16. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
- Romans 14:13. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another
- Romans 15:7. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you
- I Cor 1:10 ...agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you
- 2 Cor 13:11. encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace
- Gal 5:13. serve one another humbly in love
- Galatians 6:2. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
- Ephesians 4:2. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
- Ephesians 4:32. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
- Ephesians 5:19. speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit
- Ephesians 5:21. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
- Colossians 3:9. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
- Colossians 3:13.Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
- Colossians 3:16. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:13. Live in peace with each other.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
- James 5:16. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
- 1 Peter 1:22. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
- 1 Peter 4:8. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
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