1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,600 Acts 2 verse 46 so continuing daily 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:09,280 with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house 3 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:12,120 to house 4 00:00:12,120 --> 00:00:14,120 Someone say house to house 5 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:18,480 They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart 6 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:24,740 Praising God and having favor with all the people and the Lord added to the church 7 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:28,040 Daily those who were being saved 8 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:30,040 Now we'll look at 9 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:32,040 Chapter 5 of Acts 10 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:34,040 Verse 42 11 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:41,040 And what this verse shows you is that what we read in chapter 2 was not a one-time event 12 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,040 But it was the culture 13 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:46,040 It was the lifestyle 14 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:48,040 It was the mode of operation 15 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:52,040 Among the first apostolic church 16 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:55,040 And daily in the temple 17 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:59,040 And in every house 18 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:06,040 They did not seize teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ 19 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:12,040 Again last Sunday, we looked at the important role of the temple in revival 20 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:17,040 But today we're going to look at the most critical part of our strategy for growth 21 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:20,040 Which are cell groups or small groups 22 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:23,040 And I'm going to just simply entitled this 23 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:27,040 The church on fire from house to house 24 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,040 Let's pray a brief prayer right now 25 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:31,040 Father we love you 26 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:35,040 Thank you God for the way that you've already moved in our service today 27 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,040 But we know that you have more in store 28 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:42,040 So I ask God that our hearts are open, saturated and prepared God 29 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:46,040 God that you would speak to us 30 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:49,040 Give us wisdom, direction God 31 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:51,040 Unite our church with this word 32 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:57,040 God and help us Lord to see Lord the strategy 33 00:01:57,040 --> 00:02:00,040 The model God that you gave 34 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:03,040 The blueprint that you gave the church 35 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:06,040 And what it's going to take for us to expand your kingdom 36 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:08,040 Lord anoint my lips Lord 37 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:10,040 And put your word in my mouth 38 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,040 And be glorified in Jesus name 39 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:15,040 Some will say amen 40 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:16,040 You can be seated 41 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:17,040 Today's going to be a little different church 42 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:19,040 This is not your typical 43 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:25,040 Sunday sermon because what I'm going to do is lay out the vision in more practical terms 44 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:33,040 So I want you to pay close attention because this is part inspiration and part instruction 45 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:38,040 This is part motivation and part strategy 46 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:47,040 Because it is important for us as a church to understand what growth looks like 47 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:50,040 And of course we're going to go back to the original model 48 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:52,040 I don't think we need to change it 49 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,040 I think it stands on its own 50 00:02:54,040 --> 00:03:02,040 The early church possessed all the ingredients and the mechanics that brought them about great growth in the first century 51 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:11,040 And so what makes the apostolic church so wonderful and why I love it so much is that we are really restorationists 52 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:13,040 We are continuationists 53 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:23,040 We just believe that the book of Acts contains the keys and the answers that we need to have a really Holy Ghost revival 54 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:25,040 And so this is all we're doing 55 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:27,040 We're going back to the blueprint, back to the basics 56 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:29,040 I'm going to say back to the basics 57 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:31,040 Back to the basics 58 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:33,040 It's quite simple when you think about it 59 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:36,040 And it says that they went from house to house 60 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:38,040 And this is our plan 61 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:40,040 This is our strategy for growth 62 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:47,040 We are going to do several different things this year as a church that I think are going to be wonderful 63 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:49,040 Such as the revivals that we've been talking about 64 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:51,040 We've got one coming up in February 65 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,040 There'll be some outreach activities 66 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:58,040 But what I want us to understand is that those events are just that 67 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:00,040 They are events 68 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:02,040 They are special activities 69 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:04,040 That they come and then they go 70 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,040 And they have their place and they have their purpose 71 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:12,040 And we thank God because God can turn someone's life around in an activity like that 72 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:14,040 Or in an outreach 73 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:16,040 A backpack drive 74 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:19,040 Or a service in the park which we plan to do this year 75 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:21,040 And so that's great 76 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:22,040 That's wonderful 77 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:24,040 Those are things that supplement 78 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:29,040 And it can be a great addition to what God is doing in the church 79 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:35,040 But what I want you to understand today is that those things are simply the icing on the cake 80 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:38,040 Those are the icing on the cake 81 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:41,040 But the cell group or the small group gathering 82 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,040 That's the cake 83 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,040 That is the primary vision 84 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:50,040 And in order for us to avoid becoming purely an event-driven church 85 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:56,040 Or just going from an activity to the next activity 86 00:04:56,040 --> 00:05:01,040 There needs to be some operative things that are happening 87 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:05,040 And these are things that a city like church that we have explored 88 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:09,040 And we have done in various ways and various modes 89 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:16,040 And so there's been different experiments even of how this looks like 90 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:20,040 But more than ever what we and what I feel in my heart 91 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:27,040 And the way that God's been leading us is that we would just get back to that blueprint that God has for his church 92 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:31,040 And so what I want you to do today and what I hope that you will prayerfully do 93 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:35,040 Is consider how you can plug in to the vision of the church 94 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:41,040 And this message today is going to explain just how to do that 95 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:46,040 But let me start off by stating the vision of the Apostolic Assembly 96 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:52,040 Which if you don't know, you'll know now that we are a part of a beautiful organization 97 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,040 The Apostolic Assembly 98 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:58,040 And we are very much in alignment with the vision of the assembly 99 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:01,040 And the vision of the Apostolic Assembly is this 100 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:10,040 The statement is the Apostolic Assembly is a healthy, growing, spirit-filled, cellular church 101 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:17,040 The Apostolic Assembly is a healthy, growing, spirit-filled, cellular church 102 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:26,040 And not only is this the vision of the Apostolic Assembly, but it is also the vision of City Light Church 103 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:31,040 And I want to zero in on the cellular part of this vision 104 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:40,040 A cellular church, a church that is made up of cell groups or we call them here city groups 105 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:46,040 But I'm going to use that term interchangeably because it's all referring to the same thing 106 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:53,040 Cellular groups refer to cell groups or as we call city groups, friendships groups 107 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:56,040 Different churches call them different things, life groups, home groups 108 00:06:56,040 --> 00:07:00,040 But basically at the core it is a cell group 109 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:05,040 And this is what a cellular church is all about 110 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:14,040 It's about groups within the church, these cell groups that come together at various times with great frequency 111 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:16,040 The more frequency the better 112 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:24,040 Throughout the month and during the week, not here on Sundays, but during the week to gather together for a special purpose 113 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:25,040 For God's purpose 114 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:28,040 And the book of Acts gives us the blueprint 115 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:34,040 It reveals that the Christians of the Apostolic era used their homes 116 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:36,040 Very, very important that we see this 117 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:41,040 They used their homes as primary hubs for ministry 118 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:43,040 Now why is that the case? 119 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:45,040 Because there was only one temple 120 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:47,040 And they didn't live at the temple 121 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:50,040 The temple was a place to visit 122 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:54,040 It was a gathering place of corporate worship, prayer, and sacrifice 123 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:59,040 And all of the various religious ceremonies that took place 124 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:02,040 But nobody lived there unless of course you were a priest 125 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:04,040 But everyone else lived in their homes 126 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:13,040 And so the temple, while important, only accounted for a very small percentage of the people's time 127 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:19,040 If the temple were the only outlet for faith to be expressed and lived out 128 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:24,040 They would either have to move to the temple or they'd have to be there every single day 129 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:28,040 But this is not the plan, the blueprint of God 130 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:32,040 That we just go to the temple, that we check in, clock in, and clock out 131 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:37,040 Go about our way and just sort of do our own thing the way we want to do it 132 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:45,040 But there is a blueprint of the Apostolic people gathering together in their homes 133 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:49,040 It was so central to the work of God 134 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:56,040 And it provided a space for believers to discover and develop God's plan for their life 135 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:59,040 Virtually every aspect, virtually every virtue 136 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:04,040 Every component, if you will, of the Christian life 137 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:11,040 Is supposed to be lived out or experienced in that cell group setting 138 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:16,040 This is the way that God envisioned his church to operate 139 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:22,040 That every expression, everything that we think sometimes has to happen here in the church 140 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:25,040 And could only happen here in the church 141 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:31,040 Is actually properly optimized to happen in our homes as well 142 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:39,040 And it's in our homes and in those meeting spaces that there is literally no limit to what God can do 143 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:40,040 Amen 144 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:43,040 And so in these intimate home settings 145 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:52,040 The early church experienced rapid, explosive, and unprecedented numerical growth 146 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:57,040 It was in their homes that they gathered together and they shared the gospel 147 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:59,040 And they encouraged one another 148 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:03,040 And I'm going to in a few moments give you some of these keys that we're looking at 149 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:08,040 And what we really want to drive in all of our city groups this year 150 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:12,040 There was only one temple, like I mentioned, but there were many houses 151 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:20,040 And all of those houses represented a cell meeting or a cell group where people could gather together 152 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:26,040 And once that cell group got large enough in one house, because they didn't have big mansions or nothing 153 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:30,040 Small little, they really looked more like shacks in many cases 154 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:34,040 They were just little bungalows or little apartment all kind of grouped together 155 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:42,040 And once that house was too small, they simply would split and create another cell 156 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:47,040 And they would multiply and move to the next house and then to the next house 157 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:49,040 And like that and like that and like that 158 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:51,040 It just continued to spread rapidly 159 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:57,040 And there are places in the world today such as communist China and others 160 00:10:57,040 --> 00:11:02,040 Do you know that right now that Christianity is growing the fastest in China? 161 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:07,040 Now it's really hard for people to gather the data because of course of the regime there 162 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:15,040 They're not free to just gather in temples and it's all taking place underground in the homes 163 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:16,040 In the homes 164 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:23,040 And so as much as we love and as much as coming to church on Sundays is an important part of who we are 165 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:29,040 Let's not forsake the assembly of ourselves together as such are in the habit of the writer of Hebrews said 166 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:34,040 And we love coming together, we love having church, but it's not enough to come to church 167 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:38,040 We have to take the church with us 168 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:40,040 Amen somebody 169 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:44,040 And so this is what a cell is all about 170 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:50,040 Cell groups or city groups serve two key roles in the kingdom of God 171 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:57,040 Two key roles in the kingdom of God which lead to numerical growth or multiplication 172 00:11:57,040 --> 00:12:02,040 I like that word multiplication because God doesn't just add he multiplies 173 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:06,040 Amen and he wants to multiply the church but two key things happen 174 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:09,040 Number one the lost are one 175 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:21,040 The lost are one and number two baptized members are nurtured spiritually and within the cell are activated for Christian service 176 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:31,040 Virtually every aspect of the Christian life both the saving of the loss and the developing and the nurturing of our spiritual lives 177 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:40,040 And and Christian service all of that can be lived out in a cell or a city group meeting 178 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:50,040 We are not dependent simply upon this church this building at 1425 South Springer Road in Mountain View, California to have revival 179 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:59,040 In fact, I would go out and I would say that that the revival that God wants to give us is really going to come not here 180 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:13,040 But outside of these walls in our cell groups and cell groups is one of the most important ways that we as a church can close the proverbial back door of the church 181 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:18,040 You know the front door is great when people come in and they experience or they are saved 182 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:26,040 But but the back door is often where people will slip out and and go astray or backslide 183 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:47,040 But we can help close the back door and retain the folks and the people and the precious souls and that God puts into our into our care by getting totally invested and devoted to the cell group to the city group that we are a part of and that we are serving together in 184 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:57,040 If this becomes our approach, then there is literally no there is no limit to what God can do in there 185 00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:06,040 The cell groups will foster the development of spiritual gifts. The spiritual gifts don't have you don't have to wait to use your gift when you come to church 186 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:26,040 You say I want to be used in this particular gift. I want God to to to flow through my life in this certain way all the gifts of the spirit all nine gifts of the spirit that we read about in the Word of God can all be used and experienced in the cell or the city group meeting 187 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:50,040 Healings can happen there somebody say man today. Hallelujah. You could throw me an amen every once in a while. That's all right. Amen. Miracles can happen in there. People can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost in there and the word of knowledge can be spoken there word of wisdom and discernment all nine gifts of the spirit can be in operation in the cell group meeting. 188 00:14:50,040 --> 00:15:13,040 Amen. It's got all the ingredients there everything that we need and the beauty of it all is that it only takes but two or three people and that's it. Didn't we read in scripture where it says if just but two or three are gathered in my name there I am in the midst of them. 189 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:29,040 It doesn't take a large gathering. They met somebody. It doesn't take all of this and we love all of this but it doesn't take all of this to have that kind of explosive apostolic growth that God wants to give just two or three just you another person. 190 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:46,040 And if you can get a three and make threes a party great but that's really all that it takes. And so by the end of today's service we're going to see that there are these cells that we have in our church they come in all shapes and sizes and locations but but God's going to do a great work in them. 191 00:15:46,040 --> 00:16:10,040 I believe this with all of my heart cell groups do five things and I want to get to these because I want to lay out the ingredients. I want you to see what it's going to take and whether you are a seasoned member of this church serving the Lord a long time or a new newish convert or someone who is visiting us today. 192 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:27,040 Maybe this is your first time in a service like this. I hope that this will also encourage you because we all want a place that we can belong. We all want a place where despite who we are and where we come from we can plug in and be nurtured and cared for. 193 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:43,040 And so there are five activities or the five full groups if you can put the next slide up for me please. So the five full activities of a cell group are this please take a look at this. 194 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:46,040 These are the five. 195 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:52,040 The five activities of a cell group we've got number one worship. Amen. Everyone say worship. 196 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:57,040 Number two discipleship. Help me say discipleship. 197 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:07,040 Number three everyone say ministry. Number four fellowship. Number five evangelism. 198 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:26,040 All five of these gears all five of these activities exist within the cell group the apostolic cell group and I want to just for a moment take a look at each of these I may not spend as equal time on every one of them because there's a few that I just feel in the Holy Ghost to invest a little more time in. 199 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:42,040 But but let's just start with the worship worship is important to the cell. We haven't always emphasized this in our city groups here at City Light Church but we're going to start emphasizing it now because it's important just like worship creates an atmosphere. 200 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:45,040 You know worship creates an atmosphere. 201 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:59,040 I can tell you right now that is so much easier for me to come up here and preach after the praise team has sung and the worship has been because an atmosphere has been created. Nothing worse than a preacher to go up when it's just stale dry and cold. 202 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:12,040 And there's no atmosphere you know it's just like you got to really it takes a lot to break the ice but but worship creates an atmosphere and in the same way that it does here it also can do in the home. 203 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:26,040 Watch this it says from house to house in the homes it says in the book of Acts that they were praising God and having favor with all the people so there was praise going on in our system. 204 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:35,040 So I'm here to encourage you city group leaders today and the city groups that we have in our church to incorporate an element of praise. 205 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:45,040 I told one of our city group members this past couple weeks ago I said sister you're going to bring your guitar next time we meet. I'm not going to point her out. Hallelujah. 206 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:51,040 I said we're going to sing in our cell group. 207 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:52,040 Hallelujah. 208 00:18:52,040 --> 00:19:03,040 I said we're going to worship God we're going to create an atmosphere here even if we just sing a song or two because whether it's you whether it's just you know maybe we didn't get any visitors here today that's all right. 209 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:18,040 We're going to we're going to create an atmosphere you know why because God inhabits the praises of his people and we have guests there we have family members there we have loved ones there we have a community member there of a co-worker there whoever is there. 210 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:22,040 If we create a little atmosphere it sets the mood. 211 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:42,040 He said well we don't have anybody that plays any instruments well put on us I was going to say a CD everyone's got like you know MP3 and all that you know Apple Music Spotify Hallelujah put on a YouTube you know show some apostolic make it apostolic if it's going to be on YouTube apostolic worship and then just create an atmosphere. 212 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:49,040 Hallelujah. And then as you do that you're going to begin to see your heart start to get a little more tender. 213 00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:56,040 Hey everybody's feeling a little bit better because now the atmosphere the presence of God has been welcoming to that group meeting. 214 00:19:56,040 --> 00:20:12,040 We start worshiping God and then and then those visitors if they're unchurched that they haven't really experienced it now we're starting to get them acquainted to the presence of God and now they're becoming more aware that wow this God is he's real and he's here right now. 215 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:24,040 And so worship is a powerful a powerful and you know I you know I can keep on preaching on that but but let's move on to the next the next activity of a cell group which is discipleship. 216 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:41,040 Amen discipleship attending our city groups meetings is more than just coming together having fun which is important I'll get to that in a moment but but just you know like it's more than like a pow wow you know it's more than just a huddle up. 217 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:51,040 There there it's more than just you know patting each other on the back there is an element of of we are as iron is sharpening iron. 218 00:20:51,040 --> 00:21:10,040 We are developing each other we are developing different people are at different stages of their Christian walk but there is an element of discipleship those attending the city group meetings that all of you who are going to who are going to plug into this like you need to understand that that that that it's about learning the city group meeting is about learning 219 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:12,040 biblical truth. 220 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:23,040 Amen. We're not there to just talk about the you know the sun the moon and the stars you know we're not just there to you know it just you know pep each other up you know rally to hype each other up you know we're there to get into the word of God. 221 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:39,040 We're there to tell you mean if it's just one scripture whatever the lesson is that they were there to teach it and to mold and and so cell groups then are a great means of making disciples you know why I'm gonna tell you the greatest reason why and this is the reason why I believe that the cell group is 222 00:21:39,040 --> 00:22:02,040 even better than a classroom setting and I do enjoy classroom setting there's a place for that as well but you know in a classroom everyone is just facing the teacher and they're just having a class and you know and then class dismiss and everyone goes home but in the cell group discipleship can be much more effective you know why because it goes beyond theory. 223 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:22,040 We're not just telling people we're taking them there through the word of God and by modeling in front of them what discipleship looks like so you can teach them about prayer till you're blue in the face but if you show them there in the in the cell group how to pray now they're seen with their own eyes. 224 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:46,040 Oh this is what it looks like this is what this is what being the Pentecostal looks like and then begin to see it in real life because if not people will think well oh they just put on a show on Sundays and all that but when they see you in the home and they see you in daily life and they see you in the real world then it becomes real. 225 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:52,040 It's discipleship is no longer a theory now it's real. 226 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:54,040 It's practice. 227 00:22:54,040 --> 00:23:11,040 And we read in the word of God in Exodus chapter 18 verse 20 says teach them the statutes and the laws hallelujah and show someone say show show them the way in which they must walk. 228 00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:36,040 The work they must do so discipleship is at the core of a city group or of a of a cell group we are teaching we are modeling biblical doctrine we're not just telling them you know you know you gotta do this but but we're modeling to them what apostolic life is and what Christianity is and what loving 229 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:57,040 people are and what my neighbor is and and what holiness is and we're showing them and this is so powerful. Why because we're also they're going to see it, especially if they're on if they're a new convert, they don't have the privilege that some of you have had to grow up in an apostolic home 230 00:23:57,040 --> 00:24:22,040 and model for you every day of your life. You are extremely blessed if you had that but no not everybody was afforded that opportunity and I'm getting a little passionate about this now because we could command change out of people but unless we're willing to let those same people into our life to model what change looks like that we have to be careful how hard we demand it. 231 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:29,040 We demand change out of people that we're not willing to model for them in real life. 232 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:45,040 So this is what it is to serve God and we show them the joy of the Lord and we're modeling these things the Word of God and close proximity to other it starts to rub off on them you start you know you start to rub off on them. 233 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:57,040 The way you live your life and the word it brings conviction and it brings change hallelujah and they start to see that change in the cell so this is for everybody. 234 00:24:57,040 --> 00:25:01,040 Amen. How many of you know that discipleship is an ongoing process. 235 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:05,040 I need discipleship. Amen. How many of you know you need discipleship. 236 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:25,040 We only discipleship and so the beauty of it all is that no matter what stage of disciples whether you're a new convert you know you still you're not even fully dry from getting baptized yet or you've been serving God from a long time now we all need it and so the cell is the place where it happens. 237 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:38,040 And in there we are getting we are rubbing off on each other and now we are starting to facilitate the transfer of biblical convictions and values to those people were rubbing off on them. 238 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:46,040 Praise be to God. That's discipleship. Amen. I took a little longer on that one but it was important. The next one. Amen. 239 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:52,040 Number three ministry somebody say ministry ministry is an activity of the cell. 240 00:25:52,040 --> 00:26:00,040 Why because members of the cells you are now you have been given the gift you have been given the opportunity to me. 241 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:16,040 You know what ministry is ministry is just another word for service to serve someone say serve ministry is not a platform ministry is not a title ministry is not you know you know whatever it is you want to give it. 242 00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:25,040 Ministry is it is serving and so in the cell you are given an opportunity to minister. 243 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:31,040 Why because now you are becoming more aware of each other. 244 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:46,040 You're seeing one another and now you are seeing each other's needs and the more you become familiar with the needs of your brother and your sister in the Lord. 245 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:49,040 You don't have to guess and make assumptions about what they're going. 246 00:26:49,040 --> 00:27:01,040 Now you have you are close enough to feel maybe even what they're feeling and and see with your own eyes and our hear them confess it and admit it to you or to the group when they ask for prayer. 247 00:27:01,040 --> 00:27:12,040 And this gives you an opportunity now to minister to them the word of life hallelujah and encourage them and edify them. 248 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:24,040 Amen and build them up in their in their faith and hallelujah and encourage them to keep on going and whatever that need is it could be a financial need. 249 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:33,040 Oh wouldn't it be beautiful if somebody in your cell group had a financial burden or need and could they come to the church and the church be a blessing. 250 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:44,040 Yes but I'm telling you how beautiful would it be also for that that cell group to come together and collect a little fun and say why don't we help this brother this sister out. 251 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:48,040 Let's just bless their socks off. They need help this month. Come on. 252 00:27:48,040 --> 00:28:03,040 Amen somebody that's ministry that's ministry and these things will greatly boost the development of your ministry. You say I want more ministry. 253 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:07,040 I want a ministry. Get into a cell and you'll find your ministry. 254 00:28:07,040 --> 00:28:16,040 I want to serve wonderful. Get into a cell and you'll see from day one opportunities to serve. 255 00:28:16,040 --> 00:28:19,040 You can serve in various roles. You got people you know we're going to do this in the home. 256 00:28:19,040 --> 00:28:23,040 Some of you you know you like to cook you like to make little what do they call them? 257 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:28,040 I don't know something boards. I got all kinds of you know what I'm talking about. 258 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:31,040 I was about to speak in tongues right now. Hallelujah. It's got honey. It's got all these things. 259 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:37,040 You know some of you are like masterful at that. Hey praise God. Bring that chakri board out and let God use you. 260 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:45,040 You know hallelujah or if it's baking or this or that or you just got other little things that you do to kind of just spice up the atmosphere. 261 00:28:45,040 --> 00:28:51,040 Let God use you or in prayer your cell group leader might call on you. Why don't you lead us in prayer today. 262 00:28:51,040 --> 00:29:01,040 Whoo man. God begins to use you. There are just multiple manifold ways in which in the something I'm getting excited about in the cell group. 263 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:06,040 We can see the hand of God moving in ministry. Hallelujah. 264 00:29:06,040 --> 00:29:20,040 And then that brings me to number four which is fellowship and fellowship which is a point that I in the Holy Ghost really preached and and and came strongly on last Sunday 265 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:28,040 because it's great when we see fellowship here at church on Sundays. But you know church it goes beyond that. 266 00:29:28,040 --> 00:29:36,040 It goes beyond that. It really does. We are we are as a church we're supposed to be a family. 267 00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:40,040 You know we're we're all like brothers and sisters in Christ. 268 00:29:40,040 --> 00:29:49,040 And and I think that when we see the cell operating in the early first century church I'm talking about the first apostolic. 269 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:56,040 They're the prototypes you know that we're all looking to. We want to we want to emulate these early Christian believers. 270 00:29:56,040 --> 00:30:06,040 And so they they fellowshiped with each other. You know God made us relational. Amen. 271 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:15,040 I said he made us relational. We are relational beings and it can be challenging to develop real relationships on Sundays. 272 00:30:15,040 --> 00:30:21,040 We love the fellowship here. But you know after it's you know praise the Lord and God bless you and how you doing and nice car and nice outfit and all that. 273 00:30:21,040 --> 00:30:32,040 And then and then and then it's just goodbye. You know and maybe I'll maybe I'll comment on one of your Instagram posts or something like that. 274 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:39,040 But there's really not much. So the fellowship that we have here is nice and wonderful and we want to encourage more of it. 275 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:45,040 But for the most part it's going to be casual and at times somewhat superficial. 276 00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:53,040 But in contrast true fellowship. Are you tracking with me here today. You found the one I'm saying true fellowship develops in a cell group. 277 00:30:53,040 --> 00:30:59,040 Why because there you get to relate to each other. You get to know each other and you get to build those relationships. 278 00:30:59,040 --> 00:31:10,040 The original apostolic. What do they do breaking bread. They broke bread from house to house and they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart. 279 00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:18,040 And this is a very important component a very important component of of the cell group. 280 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:28,040 And so we encourage that. But I want to get to the fifth one because this is the one that really is going to touch on the heart. 281 00:31:28,040 --> 00:31:33,040 This is really where the heart of God is today. And that is a man that's evangelism. 282 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:49,040 Somebody say evangelism. Amen. Let's say it again. Evangelism cell groups are the basic and most rudimentary the most elementary I should say. 283 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:57,040 Mode for evangelism in the church. It is our strategy for growth. 284 00:31:57,040 --> 00:32:03,040 Every member who is plugged into a cell to a city group must be committed. 285 00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:15,040 Hear me today church. You've got to be committed to inviting your friends or family members or whom ever God has placed on your heart. 286 00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:26,040 It's got to be the mission. It's got to be the focus. It's got to be the goal of the cell to multiply with new people in the New Testament. 287 00:32:26,040 --> 00:32:37,040 The best way to win the loss was by taking them to Jesus. Come and see a man who told me all about my come and see a man. 288 00:32:37,040 --> 00:32:42,040 This is how this is how the early disciples were chosen. 289 00:32:42,040 --> 00:32:48,040 They went and they found somebody and they brought them to Jesus and one by one. 290 00:32:48,040 --> 00:32:57,040 The church expanded in the case of the New Testament church. It's by taking them not just to we can't take them to Jesus the physical Jesus. 291 00:32:57,040 --> 00:33:10,040 Amen. Because he's not here in a physical sense. But we can take them spiritually by bringing them into our homes and into our gathering places because there they can experience Jesus. 292 00:33:10,040 --> 00:33:18,040 And there the love of God will be evident. They will see that the love that we preach is not just a message. 293 00:33:18,040 --> 00:33:26,040 It is to be felt. It is to be experienced. And this is where evangelism is most effective. 294 00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:36,040 Evangelism is the winning of the loss. It is taking people to Christ. It is it is leading the unsaved to the Lord. 295 00:33:36,040 --> 00:33:48,040 It is sharing the gospel. And again, we see the original apostolic's were devoted to this acts 542 in every house. 296 00:33:48,040 --> 00:33:57,040 Someone say every house in every let's say it again. Every house. They did not seize. They were so committed. 297 00:33:57,040 --> 00:34:00,040 They were so dogged about it. They were so committed to it. 298 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:09,040 They were so focused on it and they did not seize teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. 299 00:34:09,040 --> 00:34:14,040 Somebody clap your hands. Let's just give God a praise here today. Hallelujah. 300 00:34:14,040 --> 00:34:22,040 In every house and every house, they opened them up and it became salvation stations. 301 00:34:22,040 --> 00:34:32,040 It became a place of refuge. It became a place where where where the healer could heal and the Savior could save. 302 00:34:32,040 --> 00:34:38,040 It became a place of relational event, relational event. 303 00:34:38,040 --> 00:34:42,040 I need to drive this into your spirit and heart today. 304 00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:52,040 Church relational evangelism is the most effective and rewarding form of evangelism. 305 00:34:52,040 --> 00:34:57,040 Now we know that God can save people in any way he chooses. 306 00:34:57,040 --> 00:35:02,040 God can save people in any in any fashion he desires. 307 00:35:02,040 --> 00:35:12,040 But time and again, case after case, we see relational evangelism working in the early church. 308 00:35:12,040 --> 00:35:21,040 And let me tell you, church, let me tell you, friend, once you get a taste of relational evangelism, you won't want to stop. 309 00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:26,040 Once you see and once you taste the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, 310 00:35:26,040 --> 00:35:33,040 once you see what God can do through your life, through relational evangelism, what do I mean by that? 311 00:35:33,040 --> 00:35:44,040 It's using the relationships that God has already given to you or the people that he wants you to build bridges with and begin to work that ground. 312 00:35:44,040 --> 00:35:50,040 Hallelujah. There's nothing. How many of you know there's nothing wrong with the message that we have? Amen. 313 00:35:50,040 --> 00:35:52,040 Can I get a stronger amen than that? Praise God. 314 00:35:52,040 --> 00:35:58,040 They said there's nothing wrong with the message that we've got. There's nothing wrong with the word. There's nothing wrong with the spirit. 315 00:35:58,040 --> 00:36:04,040 We've got the right message. We've got the right Holy Ghost. We've got what we need. 316 00:36:04,040 --> 00:36:12,040 And that's not the problem. And can I tell you that there are plenty of people out there, people that we know in our sphere of influence, in our circles of life that need to hear it? 317 00:36:12,040 --> 00:36:19,040 That's not the problem. Jesus says that the harvest is plentiful all around us. 318 00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:28,040 He said, but the laborers are few. The laborers are few. I'm going to invite the keyboardist if you can come up. 319 00:36:28,040 --> 00:36:38,040 We're going to do something here, especially in this moment, but we need to understand, church, that God has a blueprint. 320 00:36:38,040 --> 00:36:47,040 God has a model and it's laid out for us. It's very simple, but it does require. Amen. 321 00:36:47,040 --> 00:36:54,040 I said it does require. What does it require? It requires a commitment out of us. 322 00:36:54,040 --> 00:36:59,040 I want to ask you, where's your commitment today? 323 00:36:59,040 --> 00:37:04,040 Not talking about just coming to church. That's great. 324 00:37:04,040 --> 00:37:08,040 But where's your commitment? 325 00:37:08,040 --> 00:37:20,040 If it was just a once a week thing, you know, what makes us any different from football fans? They gather on Sundays every week. 326 00:37:20,040 --> 00:37:28,040 If it was just a once a week thing where we can check in and check out and say, well, I've done my part. God bless you. 327 00:37:28,040 --> 00:37:39,040 If that's all it is, then we're missing the right fist. We're missing an uppercut that we can give the enemy. 328 00:37:39,040 --> 00:37:45,040 If we just be a church of good church services and all that, that could be nice. 329 00:37:45,040 --> 00:37:53,040 But we are hampered. We are limited, handicapped. We're fighting with one arm. 330 00:37:53,040 --> 00:38:00,040 Evangelism in the cellular church is not just telling people about God or telling him that God loves them. 331 00:38:00,040 --> 00:38:10,040 It's about taking them to where the love of Christ is evident. And that is the cell group. 332 00:38:10,040 --> 00:38:18,040 Church, this is the direction we're going. And I've said it before. We have in different forms, in different ways, 333 00:38:18,040 --> 00:38:26,040 attempted these city groups and they've been a blessing and in different periods they have served a purpose. 334 00:38:26,040 --> 00:38:40,040 But God speaking very clearly to the church and we are in alignment with the greater body of Christ, other oneness, Jesus name, apostolic churches in our organization as well. 335 00:38:40,040 --> 00:38:49,040 We are singing out of the same songbook. We're in unison with them. But this is the way. 336 00:38:49,040 --> 00:39:01,040 And you talk to the leaders from the top all the way down. This is, and I love it so much because this is how the early church grew. 337 00:39:01,040 --> 00:39:10,040 And this is how we're going to grow. Evangelism in the cell group helps believers fulfill what Christ has commissioned us to do. 338 00:39:10,040 --> 00:39:18,040 He didn't tell us, go therefore and have church. Well, if that's what he did, I might be pretty good at that. 339 00:39:18,040 --> 00:39:27,040 He said, go therefore and make disciples. And this is what God has called us to do. 340 00:39:27,040 --> 00:39:36,040 I hope you feel, you feel something. I hope today there's a bit of, the pastor's going there. 341 00:39:36,040 --> 00:39:47,040 It's God bringing the church into alignment with his word, with his plan. And we're going to make things very, very simple. 342 00:39:47,040 --> 00:39:57,040 We've got seven, we've got seven cells, seven city groups that God's going to use. This is the beginning. 343 00:39:57,040 --> 00:40:03,040 We're going to have more because God's going to multiply them. God's going to multiply them. 344 00:40:03,040 --> 00:40:15,040 But church, if you're looking for something else, if you're waiting for a pastor to say this, if you're waiting for church, this is it. 345 00:40:15,040 --> 00:40:22,040 There's not another vision. There's not another plan. There's not another mode of operations, not a strategy. 346 00:40:22,040 --> 00:40:32,040 It's about people opening up their lives or their homes or getting into a home, into a cell and saying together, 347 00:40:32,040 --> 00:40:43,040 let's, let's do our part to grow, to multiply this cell. And we're going to go, we're going to go into the temple every Sunday. 348 00:40:43,040 --> 00:40:51,040 Church is not canceled next Sunday. Praise God. Come back. Invite people to church. Amen. Invite them. 349 00:40:51,040 --> 00:40:57,040 And it would be more awesome that you would invite the people that have been attending your cell. 350 00:40:57,040 --> 00:41:01,040 Why don't you come and check it? If you think this cell's cool, tell them, if you like what you see here in this cell, 351 00:41:01,040 --> 00:41:11,040 well, you got to check out our church on Sundays. You got to see what we do on Sunday. It's going to blow your mind. 352 00:41:11,040 --> 00:41:20,040 Bring them there. Bring them. Bring them. I'm putting this on all of us today. Every one of us. I've got my cell. 353 00:41:20,040 --> 00:41:28,040 I'm not exempt. I'm not just sending out people, you go do the cell, you know, I'm not going to sit here and, you know, take score on what's going on. 354 00:41:28,040 --> 00:41:36,040 No, I've got my cell and God is challenging me too. Let's grow this thing for the Lord. 355 00:41:36,040 --> 00:41:45,040 We've got other ministries in the works. Yes, we're praying, developing those things, but all the other ministries that you may hear about as the year goes on, 356 00:41:45,040 --> 00:41:51,040 or even future years, praise God, all those things are wonderful, but they're all going to just simply complement. 357 00:41:51,040 --> 00:41:58,040 They're not going to compete with the cell. The cell, the city group is going to be, this is the mode. 358 00:41:58,040 --> 00:42:06,040 This is what we're going to devote ourselves to and everything else we do. Remember the icing on the cake. 359 00:42:06,040 --> 00:42:11,040 Hey, that's extra. That's wonderful that we get to do those things, that we get to have those things. 360 00:42:11,040 --> 00:42:14,040 We're going to have a revival in February. Praise God, let's have a revival. 361 00:42:14,040 --> 00:42:18,040 But we're not going to grow the church just having one revival or even two revivals. 362 00:42:18,040 --> 00:42:22,040 Those things are there to supplement and to support the work that God is doing. 363 00:42:22,040 --> 00:42:28,040 Yes, we're going to invite people to those things, but it's right here. 364 00:42:28,040 --> 00:42:32,040 So we have seven and I'm going to at this time, we're going to do something very special. 365 00:42:32,040 --> 00:42:40,040 We're going to have a commissioning and a consecration. I'm going to invite the cell, the city group leaders at this time. 366 00:42:40,040 --> 00:42:47,040 We've got seven, starting with myself, Sunnyvale number one. Amen. I'm here. 367 00:42:47,040 --> 00:42:53,040 I'm going to invite Sunnyvale number two. Brother Kevin, would you please come? 368 00:42:53,040 --> 00:42:59,040 Number three, East Palo Alto, Brother Mario, would you please come? Hallelujah. 369 00:42:59,040 --> 00:43:07,040 Number four, we've got Bishop Rodriguez and San Jose. Amen. Bishop, we're so glad that you're participating in this. 370 00:43:07,040 --> 00:43:12,040 I mean, what a blessing. What an example he has been to us. Amen. 371 00:43:12,040 --> 00:43:21,040 Number five, Brother Jose Santos and Cupertino, would you would you come? Amen. 372 00:43:21,040 --> 00:43:26,040 Number six in the East Bay, Livermore, large territory there, but we're going to start. 373 00:43:26,040 --> 00:43:32,040 Amen. Brother David, would you please? And also number seven, amen. 374 00:43:32,040 --> 00:43:38,040 In the Valley, Brother Ben, the Modesto area, those that come from the Valley. 375 00:43:38,040 --> 00:43:45,040 Men of God, just come and just form a line right here and musicians, I'm going to invite you just to play whatever you feel in your heart. 376 00:43:45,040 --> 00:43:54,040 And hallelujah. Church. I feel the anointing in this place right now. Hallelujah. 377 00:43:54,040 --> 00:43:59,040 Thank you, Jesus. Some of these groups here, they're we're starting in different stages. 378 00:43:59,040 --> 00:44:04,040 Some some of these groups, they they're only able to meet monthly right now. 379 00:44:04,040 --> 00:44:11,040 Some are meeting biweekly. As time goes on, it is our prayer desire that we meet with more frequency. 380 00:44:11,040 --> 00:44:14,040 So those that meet monthly are prayers that you would meet biweekly. 381 00:44:14,040 --> 00:44:20,040 And those that meet biweekly, hey, one day we're shooting high, but maybe even meet weekly at some point. 382 00:44:20,040 --> 00:44:23,040 You know, you got to you got to crawl before you walk. You got to walk before you run. 383 00:44:23,040 --> 00:44:27,040 We're going to get there in Jesus name. We're going to get there. 384 00:44:27,040 --> 00:44:31,040 But I am honored today to commission these these men. 385 00:44:31,040 --> 00:44:37,040 And these are these are our ministers and these are our initiated deacons here. 386 00:44:37,040 --> 00:44:48,040 And what these men are going to do, they're going to be they're going to be the catalyst that God's going to use as we continue to grow, 387 00:44:48,040 --> 00:44:53,040 as we continue to see God move in our life. You see them here, church. 388 00:44:53,040 --> 00:45:00,040 If you're not part of one, then you need to plug in, plug into the one that is that is geographically makes the most sense. 389 00:45:00,040 --> 00:45:09,040 And where you know you can commit, you know, if you live in Cupertino, as much as Brother Ben would love to have you in Modesto, don't commit to that. 390 00:45:09,040 --> 00:45:16,040 You say, why, Brother Ben's like, don't tell him that, pastor, because it's going to be hard to stay committed to that. 391 00:45:16,040 --> 00:45:24,040 You know, so you're going to choose the one. And then as we grow and God's going to give us, it's not just going to be ministry in due time, in due time. 392 00:45:24,040 --> 00:45:33,040 We're going to see we're going to see other men and even women in the church. God's going to use and raise up to have different city groups. 393 00:45:33,040 --> 00:45:40,040 Praise be to God. Hallelujah. Oh, I feel the Holy Ghost. But I want you to connect with one of these. 394 00:45:40,040 --> 00:45:47,040 We're going to pray right now. And with these, I've commissioned I've commissioned this these city group leaders. 395 00:45:47,040 --> 00:45:58,040 I've commissioned them this year. I've given them all of us this goal that we are all going to win or restore at least two for Christ this year. 396 00:45:58,040 --> 00:46:02,040 How many believe that we can do this in the name of the Lord? 397 00:46:02,040 --> 00:46:08,040 Amen. 398 00:46:08,040 --> 00:46:15,040 We can do this in the name of the Lord. And I've commissioned us all to do that. We can win or restore at least two. 399 00:46:15,040 --> 00:46:20,040 Amen. Maybe God will give us more. Hallelujah.