St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

Cell values

At the sermon on the mount, when Jesus taught the crowds, they “were all amazed, because he taught as one who had authority, and not like their teachers” (Mt 7:29). I wonder if it was a bit like a Parish Weekend Away, or a trip to the Keswick Convention or Spring Harvest?

Those sorts of events are wonderful at the time, but many people find they can’t keep up the feeling of being close to God once they get back into their own week-by-week church services. And I think Jesus knew this problem, because he finishes his sermon by telling them not just to listen to him, but do what he says (Mt 7:24-7 & Lk 6:46).

Is this the problem with the church? Do we wallow in a sea of sermons? How can we stop being hearers only, and start being doers?

As I’ve described “Cell Church” in my letters in May and June, you might have thought it is all about the way we organise church? In fact it’s much deeper than that. It’s about the whole point of church.

In a Sunday service we sit in the pew and listen. We may be challenged ourselves, but more often we can sit and let it flow over us, like water off a duck’s back. Afterwards we chat and have coffee, but often we can avoid reacting to what has been said. We can go home just the same as we came.

But a cell group is about helping us to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only”. The early Methodist “Class Meetings” had this idea at their heart. Each person would come prepared to give an account to the others of the ways s/he had tried to put holiness of life into practice during the week - successes and failures, temptations overcome and temptations yielded to, acts of selfless altruism and courage, and times of outer indifference and inner coldness. The group was about sharing the inmost self, and giving and receiving help.

I suppose the danger is obvious. Personal revelation can be misused and turned into a weapon to hurt. But it can also be the most healing experience, particularly as it is in the context of a group of followers of the One who loves us with unending love. The cell is the place where we can find God’s forgiveness through others’ understanding, God’s word through others’ insights, and God’s direction as others listen and counsel us.

How do I become a doer of God’s word? By joining a group in which I can study his word with others and so allow it to make an impact on me - where I can be accountable to God through others and so kept on track. By joining a cell group.

John Hartley

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. July 2002, Page 1.
Home Page. Index of articles. Vicar's Letters: index, Autism, Christening, Body & Cell, Cell Love, Cell Values, Cell Friends. In this issue: (July 2002) Vicar's Letter, On TV, Wildfire, Question.	Cell values At the sermon on the mount, when Jesus taught the crowds, they “were all amazed, because he taught as one who had authority, and not like their teachers” (Mt 7:29). I wonder if it was a bit like a Parish Weekend Away, or a trip to the Keswick Convention or Spring Harvest? Those sorts of events are wonderful at the time, but many people find they can’t keep up the feeling of being close to God once they get back into their own week-by-week church services. And I think Jesus knew this problem, because he finishes his sermon by telling them not just to listen to him, but do what he says (Mt 7:24-7 & Lk 6:46). Is this the problem with the church? Do we wallow in a sea of sermons? How can we stop being hearers only, and start being doers? As I’ve described “Cell Church” in my letters in May and June, you might have thought it is all about the way we organise church? In fact it’s much deeper than that. It’s about the whole point of church. In a Sunday service we sit in the pew and listen. We may be challenged ourselves, but more often we can sit and let it flow over us, like water off a duck’s back. Afterwards we chat and have coffee, but often we can avoid reacting to what has been said. We can go home just the same as we came. But a cell group is about helping us to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only”. The early Methodist “Class Meetings” had this idea at their heart. Each person would come prepared to give an account to the others of the ways s/he had tried to put holiness of life into practice during the week - successes and failures, temptations overcome and temptations yielded to, acts of selfless altruism and courage, and times of outer indifference and inner coldness. The group was about sharing the inmost self, and giving and receiving help. I suppose the danger is obvious. Personal revelation can be misused and turned into a weapon to hurt. But it can also be the most healing experience, particularly as it is in the context of a group of followers of the One who loves us with unending love. The cell is the place where we can find God’s forgiveness through others’ understanding, God’s word through others’ insights, and God’s direction as others listen and counsel us. How do I become a doer of God’s word? By joining a group in which I can study his word with others and so allow it to make an impact on me - where I can be accountable to God through others and so kept on track. By joining a cell group. John Hartley
Top of page.	This web page was last updated on 5th July 2002.