The Challenge of Cell Church

Content

The Challenge of Cell Church is the book for all those who are puzzled but intrigued by the mention of cell groups. Author Phil Potter explains how tapping into the hidden potential of small groups can help your church grow. Sharing his own experience, he covers issues including shared ministry, discipling, communication, community, evangelism, prayer and worship.

This book is packed with insights for leaders who want to turn their small gruops 'inside out'. Each chapter includes a cell study outline for home groups and leadership teams, helping them to reflect on the life and health of their own small groups.

View items in similar categories

• Group Study
• Growing Churches
• Christian Leadership

Endorsements

Easy to read, jargon-free and...will ring true in any church leader's ears.
The Baptist Times

I warmly recommend The Challenge of Cell Church. If we are to be missionaries in a world where religion is a leisure option, cell church is one of the most helpful resources for the task.
Graham Cray, Bishop of Maidstone

A must for anyone interested in exploring cell church within a contextualized UK situation.
Christianity and Renewal

Phil has a thorough grasp of the subject and only teaches what he has put into practice. The best book on cell church I have read.
Mike Breen, Community Church of Joy, Glendale, Arizona

Author info

Phil Potter is currently Director of Pioneer Ministry in the Diocese of Liverpool. He was Vicar of St. Marks, Haydock for 19 years (now Associate Vicar), which became a centre for encouraging cell-based ministry. He continues to be involved in national strategies for promoting cell church and fresh expressions of church. Before ordination, he worked internationally with the late David Watson, leading his team of Christian artists, and also recorded four albums with Kingsway music.

• View other titles by Phil Potter

Reviews

From The Church of England Newspaper - Friday 28 March 2008

I grew up to the sounds of guitar jangling in my parents' house group meeting once a week at our home, so the concept of cell church has never been alien to me. However for some, it is merely a buzz word or jargon. A 'cell' is a regular meeting of a small number of members of a larger church. Through worship, prayer and Bible study they fellowship and learn and learn to disciple one another. Phil Potter's book, The Challenge of Cell Church, is a useful addition to the number of books written on this subject.

For Potter, Cell churches have to reflect five key values in order to succeed. Firstly, everyone must be involved. Cell church is not about choosing the most obviously gifted person to run everything. Sometimes, the shyest and least forthcoming people can make the strongest contributions.

Secondly, nurturing discipleship should be the norm. Members should be encouraged to share from their own lives and be open about their strengths and weaknesses. Thirdly, creating community. This means learning to live among a diverse people group with differing opinions on hymns/choruses, for example.

Fourthly, Potter focuses on evangelism. This is more than posting tracts out to neighbours. True outreach comes after true discipleship. Finally, there must be an encounter with God in the group. Here Potter shows an openness to the charismatic movement, welcoming the baptism of the spirit in its various forms. Yet he still has time for mere 'boring Bible-bashers', he assures.

I was inspired reading this book. There is something refreshing about Potter's outlook in which he encourages churches to look both inwards and outwards to serve the Kingdom of God - there is much here that can bless and encourage anyone trying to do new things in their church. And if you don't take my word for it you can take the commendation of the Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Revd James Jones, who wrote the foreword.

Matt Cresswell

Book details

• ISBN: 9781841012186
• Published: 20 July 2001
• Status:
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: