Lemuel Dizon,  Youth Pastor of JIA Homebase

I. Introduction – In any expansion, these 3 characteristics are present: Chosen, Complete, Contagious.

    • In science, the human body is composed of cells. The cell is the basic unit or the building-block of life (chosen). Each cell is self-contained (complete) and stores its own set of instructions for carrying out their activities. They make our bodies function by communicating and cooperating with the cells around them (contagious).
    • In creation, Adam & Eve were chosen as the first human beings. They were a complete family unit to accomplish the goal to multiply and to fill the earth (contagious).
    • In the Parable of the Talents, the master assigned the talents to each servant according to their abilities (chosen). The servants received the complete package to be able to turn in a profit (contagious).
    • In John 15:16, the Lord has chosen us and appointed us (complete) to go and bear fruit that remains (contagious).
    • The Cross was God’s chosen method to bring complete salvation for those who believe in Christ. The Cross is contagious when Christ is lifted up in our lives.

II. The Characteristics of a Cell Group / Small Group that will Expand

    • The cell group is a Chosen method of God to build up the believers of Christ.
      • Jesus and His disciples – Mark 3:13-15
      • The early church – 2 Timothy 2:2
      • The example of Moses – Exodus 18
    • The cell group is a Complete unit which is able to expand the Kingdom of God.
      • It should be where a new believer learns how to Worship God in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:23), receive Instruction / Teaching (Matthew 28:20), to Fellowship with other believers (Hebrews 10:24-25), & Evangelism (Matthew 28:19, Psalm 126:5-6).
      • It should contain all the ingredients to start a new church because, at the very core, the cell group is a church by itself (Matthew 18:20).
    • The cell group is a Contagious component of the church to attract people to come to Christ.
      • A proper structure and system should be put in place intentionally, reviewed by leadership regularly, and have radical obedience to God’s voice so that the cell group can attract people to multiply and return a profit for the Master.

III. Conclusion

    • The Cell group is an important guidepost of the church towards expansion. It is where the believer learns that he/she is Chosen by God out of all the people in the world. The Cell group should have the Complete ingredients for an individual believer to grow or even start a new church. The Cell group should act as the evangelism arm or the ‘lifeboat’ of the church and be Contagious in our Schools, Offices, and Communities.