I can remember the hours that Steve Roy and I spent four years ago dreaming and planning and praying about the ministry of home cell groups at Bethlehem. We were captivated by two biblical principles.

The One Another Principle

When and where and how is a church of 1,000 members supposed to fulfill the “one another commandments” of the New Testament?

… love one another with brotherly affection … with honor preferring one another … be of the same mind to one another … accept one another … admonish one another … greet one another … wait for one another … have the same care for one another … serve one another … bear one another’s burdens … forbear one another … be kind to one another … forgive one another … submit to one another … comfort one another … edify one another … exhort one another daily … consider how to stir up one another to love and good works … confess your faults one to another … pray for one another … have compassion for one another … practice hospitality to one another … minister to one another …

The House to House Principle

In Acts it says that the early Christians had big gatherings and small gatherings.

For example Acts 2:46, “Day by day attending the temple together (big gathering) and breaking bread in their homes (small gathering), they partook of food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.”

Another example is Acts 20:20 (note the numbers!!). Paul says to the Ephesian elders, “I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public (big gathering) and from house to house (small gathering).”

This is where we got the name of our home cell group ministry, “The 20:20 Vision.”

The Special Excitement of Year Five

Three things make this fifth year exciting.

1) For the first time the discussion material of the home groups will be the same as the Sunday morning sermons. What you hear about Battling Unbelief on Sunday will be discussed and fleshed out in the 20:20 groups every other week. This is going to be a great experience of unified study for us and has the potential of revolutionizing our church.

2) David Livingston is now overseeing this home cell group ministry. It will be a special privilege of the leaders of the 20:20 groups to be with David every other week to study these matters of spiritual warfare. And I know that David’s depth and wisdom and faith will spread out all through the groups through the leaders he trains.

3) The number of groups available is more than we have ever had.

Be praying about your participation. This Sunday (September 18) will be the sign up Sunday in the morning services..

Learning to practice the “one another principle” with you,

Pastor John