Small group resources tend to overlook the spiritual side of small group leadership. And yet most would agree that spiritual preparation is the most important aspect of leading a small group. Only Gods supernatural power can draw people to the truth and liberate them to be all that God wants them to be. The key distinction of this book is the spiritual perspective it gives to small group ministry. So much of the literature about small groups that is already published relates to small group technique and only touches briefly on the Spirits power. This book is a practical reference guide to help small group leadership begin to move in the supernatural realm. The books first priority is to help small group leaders and members trust the Holy Spirit to lead them, empower them and work in their group. Small group facilitators often sense a lack of guidance, power and spiritual authority. Jesus knew His disciples would be powerless without a touch from the Holy Spirit, and so He told them to wait in Jerusalem, saying, You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Small group leaders need a power boost to make small group ministry relevant and exciting. The second priority of this book is to help the facilitator identify and mobilize each small group member to use his or her own spiritual gifts.

The church was meant to multiply! For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them (Matt. 18:20). Are you interested in planting a church that has exponential impact? If so, you will be partnering with God to build something that is alive, vital, and majestic. There is a parallel between planting a church and planting a seed in the ground. In Planting Reproducing Churches, Dr. Elmer Towns explains Gods strategy of multiplication as it pertains to planting local church communities. By understanding that every living organism can reproduce a multitude of itself from just one seed, you will see how one church can reproduce itself into an established denomination, large network, or thriving multi-site campus, all carrying the unique DNA of that local body. Read this book and learn the answers to practical questions such as: Who can plant a church? Should you start a church in your hometown? What type of authority should be followed in a church plant? Why is the vision statement essential? How do you choose a name for the church? How do you raise funds for a church plant? Get ready to receive strategies on how to plant life-giving, flourishing, reproducing churches that have the potential to complete the Great Commission in our lifetime!

David Garrison, PhD University of Chicago, defines Church Planting Movements as rapidly multiplying indigenous churches planting churches that sweep across a people group or population segment. Garrison's Church Planting Movements: How God Is Redeeming a Lost World signaled a breakthrough in missionary church planting. After the publication of Garrison's book in 2004 it became impossible to talk about missions without referencing Church Planting Movements. Church Planting Movements examines more than two-dozen movements of multiplying churches on five continents. After presenting these case studies, Garrison identifies ten universal elements present in each movement. He then broadens the circle of examination to identify a further ten common characteristics, factors identified in most, but not all, of the movements. He concludes his examination with a list of "Seven Deadly Sins," i.e. harmful practices that stifle or impede Church Planting Movements. Important for evangelical readers, the author returns to his findings to see how they stand up to the light of Scripture. What he discovers is that Church Planting Movements are much more consistent with the New Testament lay-led house-church movements that swept rapidly through the Mediterranean world in the face of hostile opposition than today's more sedentary professional institutionalized Christianity. Learn more about Church Planting Movements from the book's website: www.ChurchPlantingMovements.com.

If the church is to thrive in the twenty-first century, it will have to take on a new form as it ministers to the 120 million unchurched people in the United States. Planting Growing Churches for the 21st Century is still virtually the only available text on church planting in North America and beyond. In this third edition, readers will find material on the importance of healthy, biblical change in our churches, updated appendixes, insight on our postmodern ministry context, and strategies for reaching new population demographics such as Generations X and Y. Pastors, ministry leaders, and church planters will find the information and advice found in this book invaluable as they carry out their ministries.

Church planting is one of the most challenging yet rewarding adventures you can embark on. Often zealous planters and their teams launch their new church prematurely, without taking time to lay a firm foundation for long-term fruitful ministry. Failure to do so often results in a weakened new church, or even the new church closing after a few years. Rather than focusing on methodology, the how to's of church planting, this book gives attention to six foundational concerns wise planters will need to nail down before they ever plant: -Biblical foundations, -Theological foundations, - Ecclesiological foundations, - Missiological foundations, -Spiritual foundations, -Practical foundations. Although helpful for a wide range of planting leaders, this book is particularly written for four specific groups: -those who feel called to plant and are making preparations; -their planting teammates and launch leaders; -those exploring church planting; -those who coach and train church planters. Foundations for Fruitful Church Planting serves as a comprehensive resource that will guide you to think strategically, plan carefully, and prepare thoroughly to birth a healthy, growing, and reproducing congregation. Each chapter includes recommended resources, discussion questions, and follow-through exercises.

With nearly fifty years combined global church-planting experience, Craig Ott and Gene Wilson are well qualified to write a comprehensive, up-to-date guide for cross-cultural church planting. Combining substantive biblical principles and missiological understanding with practical insights, this book walks readers through the various models and development phases of church planting. Advocating methods that lead to church multiplication, the authors emphasize the role of the missionary church planter. They offer helpful reflection on current trends and provide best practices gathered from research and empirical findings around the globe. The book takes up a number of special issues not addressed in most church planting books, such as use of short-term teams, partnerships, and wise use of resources. Full of case studies and real examples from around the world, this practical text will benefit students, church planters, missionaries, and missional church readers.

This book explores how God has used small groups throughout church history, specifically focusing on the early church to the present time. God not only established the early church as a house to house movement, but he also has used small groups throughout church history. This book chronicles the small group or cell movement from Jesus all the way to the modern day cell explosion. Themes include: -Small Groups In Biblical History -Small Groups In Early Christian History -Small Groups and Monasticism -Small Groups During the Pre-Reformation Period -Luther and Small Groups -Martin Bucer and Small Groups -The Anabaptist Movement -Puritan Conventicles -Pietism -The Moravians -The Methodists -Modern House Churches -Small Groups in North America -The Modern Day Cell Church This book will both critique the strengths and weaknesses of these historical movements and apply principles to today's church. You will grow in appreciation and understanding of key small group principles from those pioneers who have paved the way. You will also learn to value those movers and shakers who faced far greater odds to implement small groups than the difficulties confronted today. Many have struggled with the same things you're wrestling with now. And just like they found solutions in the face of persecution and trial, God will help you to persevere, find solutions, and ultimately bear abundant fruit for his kingdom and glory.

In this ground-breaking book, Joel Comiskey challenges pastors and leaders to move from simply educating children to forming them into disciples who make disciples. Comiskey lays out the Biblical base for children's ministry and then encourages pastors and leaders to formulate their own vision and philosophy for ministry to children based on the Biblical text. Comiskey highlights how to disciple children in both the large group and the small group. He quickly moves into practical examples of intergenerational cell groups and how effective cell churches have implemented this type of group. He then writes about children only cell groups, citing many practical examples from some of the most effective cell churches in the world. Comiskey covers equipping for children, how to equip the parents, and mistakes in working with children in the cell church. This is a must read book for all those wanting to minister to children both in large and small groups.

Facilitate highlights the key dynamics of small groups that will give a leader confidence to minister to those in the group. Facilitate teaches a leader how to listen well, ask questions, train others, involve people, and prepare for the meeting. This book shows a potential leader how to develop new leaders to continue the discipleship process. It is excellent to use both in a Sunday school class and one on one. This book has eight lessons, full of practical questions and applications. You will learn how to: Prepare spiritually for the power of God to flow in the meetingStructure the meeting in a dynamic and effective wayEncourage attendees to participate and share their experiencesSuggest interesting topics and questionsListen carefully and detect problems in the group By putting into practice the ideas and suggestions in this book, any leader of a cell group will find it easy to achieve an exciting atmosphere in the meetings and ensure that attendees want to come back and even bring new people with them.

You can also call: 1-888-344-2355 (Joel Comiskey Group). Jesus lived with His disciples for three years and taught them essential life lessons as a group. After three years, he commanded them to "go and do likewise" (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus discipled His followers through relationships-and He wants us to do the same. We in the west, on the other hand, prepare lone-ranger disciples based on our culture of individualism. This book will detail how our culture of individualism has now turned into isolationism and that social relationships are at an all-time low. The church of Jesus Christ has also been negatively impacted through a brand of individualism that fails to truly make disciples. This book will encourage Christ-followers to allow God to mold them through the natural relationships of life: family, friends, work relationships, church, cells, etc. It will explain how God uses the relationships in our lives to mold and shape us into His disciples. The book will cover such themes as: --New Testament Community --The Problem of Isolation --Relationship with God --Relationship with those closest to you (spouse, family --Relationship with friends and work associates --Relationships through small group ministry --Relationships in the local church --Relationships with the un-churched This book will demonstrate how God uses relationships to mold and shape followers of Jesus. My hope is that God will use this book to help readers see that He is using the natural relationships in their lives to mold and shape them into followers of Jesus.