We know that the goal of the Christian life is to glorify God and
to enjoy him forever. While this is God's ultimate plan, does he
have a particular purpose for the cell-based church? I've been
wrestling with this question for the past twenty-two years. This
question confronts me every time I coach a pastor or pastors. In
preparation for coaching, I ask myself, "What is my principal
objective in helping this pastor?" "Where am I guiding this
church?" "What am I trying to do?" I've come to the conclusion that
the primary goal of cell ministry is to make disciples who make
disciples. Christ's last command to his disciples was for them to
repeat the process and to reproduce new disciples. But how were
they supposed to do that? This book answers these questions.The
early church followed Christ's pattern by making disciples through
the house churches that periodically celebrated together in public
worship. In 2 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul tells Timothy to continue the
discipleship process by passing on the pure gospel message to
faithful men and women. Even though the term "disciple" is later
replaced by words such as "brothers," "sisters," "Christians," and
"saints," the concept remains the same. We in North America and the
Western world often project our own cultural bias into Christ's
great commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Most discipleship books, in
fact, assume that discipleship is an individualistic
endeavor--between me and God. And yes, there is an important
individual aspect (e.g., personal devotions, etc.). Yet in Matthew
28, Jesus was talking to a group of disciples. He wanted them to
follow his example by making disciples in a group. Jesus molded
twelve disciples in a group and then sent them house to house. So
how does the cell church make disciples? In this book, I show how
the cell (small group) works together with the cell system to make
disciples who make disciples. In the cell, a potential disciple is
transformed through community, priesthood of all believers, group
evangelism, and team multiplication. In the cell, potential
disciples are formed through learning how to love one another,
exercising their gifts, evangelizing together as a group, and then
sent forth as teams to start new groups. Discipleship is a group
process in the New Testament, and God is calling his church to
re-emphasize this truth. The cell system ensures each leader has a
coach and that training (equipping track) happens. Then the cells
gather together to worship and grow through the teaching of God's
Word. All three aspects are essential to form disciples. Training
is needed because disciples won't learn all they need to know in
the cell. Coaching ensures that each leader is cared for and
receives shepherding. The celebration service brings the cells
together to hear God's Word, worship, and receive fresh vision. The
goal of the two-wing cell church is to make disciples who make
disciples. The cell church today makes disciples by following the
early church pattern of cell and celebration. Recommendations: I've
read all of Joel Comiskey's books, but Making Disciples in the
Twenty-First Century Church is his best work yet. In this book Joel
reminds us that the real call and challenge of the Church is not
developing leaders or numerical growth, but "making disciples who
make disciples." He also helps us understand why that is best done
in a cell or small group context, and gives us great insight about
how to make that happen. I'm looking forward to having all of our
Pastors, Coaches, and Cell Leaders and Members read this book in
the near future. Dennis Watson Lead Pastor, Celebration Church of
New Orleans ____ I am so excited about Joel Comiskey's new book,
Making Disciples in the Twenty-First Century Church. When I'm asked
what makes a cell church thrive, I always say, "discipleship."
Thank you, Joel, for unpacking discipleship; not just as an
endeavor for individuals, but as the critical element for creating
a church community and culture that reproduces the Kingdom of God
all over the earth. I pray this book won't only be read, but lived
out as we were made to make disciples. Jimmy Seibert Senior Pastor,
Antioch Community Church President and Founder, Antioch Ministries
International ____ I really like that Joel asked the Why question
before the How question. He even takes on the What question which
is just as important. The interest in discipleship is greater now
than anytime in the last fifty years. I fear however that we are
using the same words but are not speaking the same language. I
recommend this work, I cheer Joel on, he joins many of us who are
masters of the obvious. It seems so obvious that our purpose is to
be disciples and make disciples. I cheer him on because he goes
beyond the What and Why and does address the How. This will help
any person who reads it and I pray that there will be many. Bill
Hull, Author of Jesus Christ Disciple Maker, Disciple Making
Pastor, Disciple Making Church, and The Complete Book of
Discipleship, Adjunct Faculty at Talbot School of Theology, Biola
University __ The history of the cell church movement in Brazil has
many names of great man of God. Joel Comiskey certainly is one of
them. We see how over the years his understanding of the New
Testament Church has deepened. Again Joel surprises us with this
jewel. He covers many aspects of cell church life, showing us how
discipleship relates to the broader scope of it, and how to shape
followers of Jesus. He takes us to the heart of the matter of the
cell church as he states it: "The purpose of cell ministry is
making disciples who make disciples." Excellent book. The movement
in Brazil, certainly, will be blessed through this book. Enjoy it.
Robert Michael Lay Cell Church Ministry in Brazil Pioneer in the
cell movement in Brazil, and publisher of Joel's books __ In his
tremendously helpful new book, Making Disciples in the Twenty-First
Century Church, Joel Comiskey cuts directly to the core purpose of
cell ministry, which
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