Contents

1. Enemies of the Cell Model
2. Dealing with Difficult Participants
3. AvoidingLeadership Mistakes
4. Barriers to Growth

1. Enemies of the Cell Model

• Clericalism: People in positions of authority who do everything themselves. (1 Cor 12:4–7; Eph 4:11–12; 3 John 1:9–10; Matt 23:8–11; 1 Pet 5:2–3)
• Building-Centricity: the idea that the church is a building. (1 Cor. 3:16–17; 1 Pet. 2:5; Eph. 2:19–22; John 4:23–24; Acts 7:48–49; Matt. 18:20)
• Traditionalism: Glorifying what God has done in the past. Blindness to what God wants to do today. (Isa 43:18–19; Lam 3:22–23; Mark 7:8–9; Col 2:8; 2 Cor 3:17–18; John 3:8)
• Fad: Cell groups are just a fad; we need to wait it out. Cell groups are the rediscovered New Testament norm.
• Fear: We’re not familiar with terms like “cell groups,” “multiplication,” or “growth.” That could be dangerous. (2 Tim 1:7; Josh 1:9; Matt 14:29–31; Mark 4:40; Matt 28:19–20; John 15:5; Prov 3:5–6)
• Lack of Unity: Your church leadership must stand behind you and the cell group concept. (Eph 4:3–6; John 17:21–23; Col 3:14–15; 1 Cor 1:10–11; Rom 16:17–18; Gal 5:15; Phil 2:2–4; 1 Pet 3:8–9)
• Lack of perseverance: If the desired goals are not achieved immediately, the cell group model is abandoned. (Gal 6:9; Heb 10:36; Jas 1:3–4; 1 Cor 15:58; 2 Thess 3:13; Jas 5:11; Rom 5:3–4; Heb 12:1–2)
• Delay in multiplication, even though the group has met the conditions for it.
• Excessive expectations of prospective leaders (Luke 11:46)
• Lack of leadership training
• No leaders in training
• Competition between church events and cell groups:
  • Too many responsibilities for the leader in both the church and the cell group
  • Church events on small group days
  • (Acts 2:46–47; 20:20; Eph 4:3–6; 1 Cor 1:10–12; Phil 2:2–4; Rom 12:10; James 3:16–17)
• Lack of discipline in the meetings
• Outsideteachers who confuse the church and the cell groups.