CELL LEADER'S MANUAL - Angelfire

1 THE UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGES CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIPJAMAICA, WEST INDIESCELL LEADER'S MANUALA GUIDE- AND REFERENCE- BOOK FOR CELL (SMALL)GROUP leaders , PROSPECTIVE CELL leaders ,AND GENERAL YOUTH LEADERSBYGORDON E. MULLINGST rials, MontserratDecember 1992 Rev. June (Not to be duplicated without the permission of the SCFSU, 1 Gordon Town Road, Kingston 6, Jamaica.)2 INTRODUCTIONThe things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust toreliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. [2 Tim 2:2.]It is bold, almost foolhardy, to put half a dozen lives into the hands of a nineteen or twenty yearold youth. Yet, this is exactly what we do in our cell , the people in the hands of our cell leaders are in training to become the leaders andthinkers who will guide the Caribbean well into the twenty-first only dare to do such a thing by standing on God's power and promises.

2 For, he is able tomake us "competent as ministers of a new covenant .. of the Spirit." [2 Cor 3:5, 6.]Such competence, however, does not come in one blazing, life-transforming moment ofencounter with God: the twelve apostles (the prototype Christian cell group!) were not suddenlytransformed at the Mount of Transfiguration, nor did they instantaneously become perfect atPentecost. Rather, competence takes time, effort, training, diligent practice, and, to be honest,learning from our is why Paul urged Timothy to find faithful men who would submit themselves to training,and pass on their heritage in God to yet is also the reason for, and the focus of, this MANUAL . In it, we have tried to distil the lessons wehave learned as we have worked with cells on campuses since their introduction in November1977. (The cell group was originally introduced as a follow-up tool for the watershed MonaCampus Missions '77.)

3 They proved to be so successful that the cell became a permanent featureof the movement's strategy.)As you use the MANUAL as a text and reference book, then, we suggest that you first work throughthe Self-Test on Leadership, with a friend, to help you highlight the points you need to especiallyemphasise. Next, go through the three major sections, in order. (Refer to the Table of Contentsfor details.) The first, on cells , will help clarify the cell strategy. The second will help youdevelop Bible study skills, build your prayer life, and improve your ability to share the third one will help you to grow as a Christian leader as you focus on the credibility of theFaith, on how to help those who are hurting, and on how to work with yourself and others todevelop and implement effective plans. (Many of the issues are dealt with as Bible studies, sowe urge you to work through the studies carefully, not just to read them.

4 Finally, we ask you to diligently apply what you learn in your work, and to hand it on to thoseyou lead. May God be with you as you work with those who embody the ,Trials, :12:17. 1 This village was destroyed by the Soufriere Hills volcano, December 26th OF CONTENTST itle PageIntroductionTable of ContentsSuggested Training Programme Schedule7 PRELIMINARY EXERCISE8 Leadership Survey9 PART ONE:Working with a Cell Cell and Ends21 Questions for Discussion22 Appendix:Handling Gifts in Cell are all the ministers of the of us has his own special area of springs from our relationship with ministry arises from eager obedience andthorough TWO: Basic Disciple-making in Preparing and Leading Group Bible the Bible Group Bible Types of Group Bible Studies314 PART TWO: Basic Discipleship Skills, cont' in Preparing and leading Group Bible Studies, Cont' the Practical Work33 APPENDIX 1: An Exemplary Study -- How to Grow Spiritually35 APPENDIX 2.

5 Useful Topics and Texts36 IBasic Discipleship-Related Themes36 IISome Great Passages in the Bible38 IIIB ooks to Study39 IVFundamental Doctrines [a survey of theSCFSU Statement of Faith] Evangelism DISCUSSION I:Proclaiming the DISCUSSION II:Reaching out to DISCUSSION III:Building Useful :College Evangelisation Strategy48 PAPER: On the Evangelisation of College and University Students Campus Years Can Be Strategic Should we Understand ourEvangelistic Mandate? in to be and Recommendations55 References57 Guideline , Faith and , the Bad Good it Really that Simple?615 PART TWO:Basic Disciple-Making Skills, cont' , Faith and Salvation, cont Issue of the Ten and , Intimacy with God, and Listening to ACTS of Prayer and the Power of the Nameof ministry of and to go From Here73 PART THREE:Leadership Apologetics and in the Sectarian Civil Media & Remarks102 Questions for Discussion102 Useful Books & Web , Wisdom and Professional Systems Development Life With With With Other and and Purposes116 Questions117 ENRICHMENT.

6 Fulness and Our Mandate118 PaperFulness and Our , the Fulness of Christ Vision & our Power of the Fulness of Christ Vision on the tho the Sectarian Dynamic in the the Church s Structures, Strategies & a Cell-Based Strategy for Remarks140 References/Further Reading1417 SUGGESTED TRAINING PROGRAMME SCHEDULEThe systematic training of cell leaders is critical to the long-term success of a cell a programme may be organised in any one of several instance, towards the end of the academic year before potential cell leaders are to take upnew responsibilities, an orientation session could be held to introduce and motivate theprogramme to participants, followed by a period of individual reflection and study over thesummer. Then at the beginning of the new academic year, a weekend retreat and severalworkshop sessions could be held. After this, cells of cell leaders could be used for onwardtraining and development, as well as a vehicle for co-ordination and mutual logical sequence of topics and session for such training, based on the contents of this MANUAL ,organised as a ten-session course2, would be:SESSIONTOPICMAIN ACTIVITIES/FOCUS1 INTRODUCTION Vision and Challenge Leadership survey Personal study assignments2 Handling cells cells and cell leadership Building disciples Managing challenges3 Bible Study How the Bible works Group Bible Study: OIA principles, techniques &safeguards4 Personal Evangelism Evangelising College students Training students in Personal Evangelism5 Fundamentals of the Faith Gospel and truth: Gal.

7 1:1 8 Justification, Faith & salvation Responding to the sects6 Prayer 1 John 5:14 15 & effective prayer Building the disciplines of prayer Prayer in cells7 Counselling Skills 2 Cor 1:3 4 and counselling principles & techniques where to go from here8 Apologetics The 1 Peter 3:15 challenge Thinking through the Faith Meeting contemporary challenges9 Planning and Management Wisdom, guidance, planning & managing Principles, strategies & techniques Working with people in groups/teams10 The Fulness Vision Challenge Eph 4:9 10, 11 16, 17 24 Working out the fulness challenge on the ground Commitment and prayer 2 Keyed to the major sections of this MANUAL . The course could work across a term or semester, or a church quarter,using 90 120 minute sessions. It could also be organised as the sessions for a training workshop series or a EXERCISEL eadership SurveyLeadership is a critical component of success in any organisation.

8 However, it is also extremelydifficult to define it as a concept or to derive generally applicable principles as the academicliterature on organisations and leadership so clearly , in studying Christian discipleship, we have a powerful example, Jesus: "And (Jesus)went up to the mountain and summoned those whom he himself wanted, and they came to he appointed twelve that they might be with him, and that he might send them out .. "(Mark 3:13, 14; NASB.) So, in the prototype Christian cell group, already we see the impact ofleadership through relationship and example, biblical teaching and training, vision and life-transforming power through the is, Christian leadership is visionary and transformational. Its focus is not that I got whatyou want, so you give me what I want, but rather that through a vision from God worked outand exemplified in lives and relationships, faithful disciples can be moulded to carry on Jesus work in the world.

9 For, Jesus came, descending, serving, liberating, dying for our sins, risingand ascending in order to fill all things. [Eph 4:9 10.]It is in that context that he gave leaders to the church, to equip God s people for works ofservice, so that as God s people fill their lives with Christ s grace, liberation, healing,deliverance, transforming power and glory, the whole world would more and more be filled withChrist. Clearly, then, the quality of leadership we manifest will be decisive in carrying forward thatprocess of filling all things with , our first task is to clarify where we stand as leaders , through reflection on keyleadership characteristics. So, this leadership training MANUAL starts with a self-rated leadershipsurvey, to which we should now turn.(After you have completed the course, and again and again as you go out to lead, we invite youto return to it, to measure progress.)

10 9 EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP"If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task."[1 Tim. 3:3.]The Church has always needed capable, dedicated, exemplary and effective leaders . Theproblem is what makes a leader capable or following test is an attempt to pin down some of the keys to effective leadership. Do it,prayerfully and honestly, with a good friend. Rate yourselves, and one another, compare, anddiscuss good points and poor Rate yourself on the following scale: 1-poor; 2-mediocre; 3-fair; 4-good; 5-very each quality, reflect on what it means, and give yourself a numerical score: : the ability to act without having to be told what to do.[ ] : the opposite of laziness, apathy, and putting off doing whatneeds to be done.[ ] : being sure of yourself and what you are trying to do,neither being crippled by fear nor foolhardy.