Where Do We Go from Here?: A Guidebook for the Cell Group Church [Paperback]

Ralph W. Neighbour (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1880828170 | ISBN-13: 978-1880828175 | Publication Date: February 1, 2000 | Edition: Revised

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--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Touch Outreach Ministries; Revised edition (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880828170
• ISBN-13: 978-1880828175
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #732,772 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ABSOLUTELY A MUST READ 4 ALL CHURCH LEADERS AND LAY PERSONS!, July 10, 2000

By 

Cliff Ravenscraft "GenerallySpeakingPodcast.com" (Hebron, KY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Where Do We Go from Here?: A Guidebook for the Cell Group Church (Paperback)

Where Do We Go From Here has been an answer to prayer and a confirmation of the vision God has given to me for my ministry. Below are just some of the insights that I have received from this book. You really owe it to yourself to read this book.

I consider this book to be one of my greatest tools in my ministry. I am starting my own Church and this is the model I plan to use. Please email me and let me know if my review has inspired your to purchase the book. [e-mail]

What are the benefits of a Cell Group Church over that of a Traditional Style Church?

1. Cell Group Churches are more efficient than traditional churches. In the traditional church, only 10% to 15% of the membership are engaged in the tasks required to make the Church function. After the teachers, administrators, musicians, etc., have been pulled out of the total membership, the rest are expected to be faithful members. If an automobile engine were rated at 15% efficiency, it would never see the light of day. The contrast between this misuse of Christians and the New Testament church, where 100% were involved, is scandalous. In the Cell Group Church, everyone is involved ministry, even the children.

2. Cell Group Churches are based on the Scriptural concept of community. The essence of community is a sense of belonging. There is a powerful Christian comaraderie established when people belong to each other in a cell group. This cannot be equaled in a church which assembles people in large groups. People look after one another, and they share the ministry of reachingthe unconverted as a community task.

3. Cell Group Churches focus on the importance of prayer for their ministries. Half nights of prayer are commonplace among cell groups. As much as one third to one half of the time spent in their gatherings is devoted to prayer. Because of this focus on prayer, it is common for many to find Spiritual, Emotional, and Physical healing as a result of a cell group who has a deep commitment to prayer.

4. Cell Group Churches are not limited by the size of a church building. It is obvious that most traditional churches are limited by the size of their buildings. For some, the original building is used for generations. For others, a spurt of growth requires a massive building fund drive and a small addition of space. The success of a church is often measured by how packed the auditorium is, rather than by the number of people who are brought to personal faith. When cell group churches do construct space, it is clearly created for the purpose of equipping, and not for attracting, members.

5. Cell Group Churches are focused on evangelism that includes the powerful witness of Christ working within His body, beyond the traditional presentation of the "plan of salvation." The "ungifted" and the "unbelievers" of 1 Corinthians 14:24-26 are once again, as in the early church, exposed to the amazing power of they body of Christ, where all are involved in the process of edification. Once again it has become commonplace for these seekers to fall on their faces and say, "Surely God is among you!" The form of evangelism that takes place in a Cell Group Church is as old as the book of Acts!

6. Another benefit of a Cell Group Church is that the gospel is offered by non-professional hands, the hands of friends or neighbors, not outsiders. With this being the case, suspicion of the Christian clergy is not present when people in the community are the bearers of the gospel. It is not uncommon for cell groups to see conversions on a weekly basis.

7. Because cell groups are battlefields where people are set free from strongholds, it is commonplace for a cell group meeting to focus on a Biblical teaching related to a life problem. While the Traditional Church will focus on these issues in a sermon, the cell group calls each member to be accountable. Many times a cell group leader will ask, "What is the state of your life concerning this issue?"

There are many more benefits of a Cell Group Church over that of a Traditional Style Church. Please understand that I am not saying that the Traditional Church is completely ineffective. It is just that E.O.T.C. believes that the Cell Group style of ministry is a better means of reaching out to the growing number of people who are lost and need to find eternal life in Jesus Christ.

It has never been, nor will it ever be our desire to take people from other churches to build the size of our Church. While we will never turn down someone who wants to join our church, our primary goal and focus is to reach out to the unchurched, unsaved population with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are not in competition with anyone other church wether it be a cell group based or traditional. There is a place for both styles of churches in our culture and it is our suggestion that each believer find a Church where they will be encouraged to grow in the faith and where they will be taught the Word of God and given a place to worship from the heart. For some that may be a different church than E.O.T.C., but the truth is that we are all ONE CHURCH!!!

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Doing Church As They Did In The 1st Century!, June 22, 2000

By 

Andy (Cheltenham, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Where Do We Go from Here?: A Guidebook for the Cell Group Church (Paperback)

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? With updated information on new cell church models, new information on equipping and harvest events and practical teaching on how to begin a transition to a Cell Church. This book will continue to stir hearts to dream about what the church can be! You will find hope for your church in the UK and North America as you read this book and discover new things that Dr. Neighbour has learned over the last 10 years. Share this vision with your pastor or friend . . . buy 2 copies!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The cell group church, May 21, 2007

By 

Adam Reiter (Waterloo, IA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Where Do We Go from Here?: A Guidebook for the Cell Group Church (Paperback)

Great book that gave me a lot of insight to what the cell group church is doing around the globe. It shared with me some of the differences between a traditional church and a church of cell groups. Having a church with small (cell) groups to being a church of small groups is totally different and Ralph Neighbor helped explain the differences between these two mindsets in his book Where Do We Go From Here? I have a clearer picture of where I need to go from here but God help me in this. It is a drastically different church than what I see around me but I do believe that the church will need to change to be more effective in the future.