What purpose, if any, do home cell groups serve in the Church today?
In Acts 2:46, We are given a glimpse of how the early church operated. The word says, “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,”. From this verse we learn that these early believers not only, continued daily in the temple but also broke bread from house to house. Not only did they not forsake the assembling of themselves together as is the manner of some, Hebrews 10:25
but they also broke bread in more intimate settings; those were and are today, the homes of fellow believers.
The,” bread” these early believers were breaking and sharing in their homes was not only physical, but spiritual. What these early believers received and learned by the teaching of the word in the temple, now became part of them, by the work and revelation of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
The teaching of sound doctrine we receive, here at Temple of Praise, changes us. Our minds are being renewed as we hear and study God’s word. The preaching of God’s word not only helps in transforming us, but it also equips us with this life giving bread, which is the word of God. Once we receive this word and it does it’s miraculous work in us; we can then share it with others in more intimate settings, namely, the homes of fellow believers.
So, meeting in the church has its purpose in regards to doctrine; teaching, and preaching, but I believe the home cell groups are greatly needed in helping to develop, and maintain strong relationships within the body of believers, which is the church. The Holy Spirit creates and strengthens these relationships within the church, through the fellowship of the saints that takes place in the church as well as in the homes of fellow believers.
Once truly strong relationships are produced within the church, and developed through the home cell groups, then we, like the Church of Acts, will begin to see several things take place among us. First, we will experience that, “gladness and singleness of heart” that Acts 2:46 speaks about. Then we will see what follows in Acts 2:47.
We will be able to praise and worship our Great God in Spirit and in truth. We will have favor with all people, and the Lord will, “add to the church daily such as should be saved”; Praise God!
Let us be encouraged by God’s word. Let us, “continue daily with one accord in the temple”; but let us never forget to also continue to break bread from house to house”, especially as we see, “the day approaching”. Hebrews 10:25
