Church in Many Houses: Reaching Your Community Through Cell-Based Ministry

Although the largest churches in the world are cell-based, many have questioned whether the model will work in North America. The Church in Many Houses: Reaching Your Community Through Cell-Based Ministry makes the case that the ell model will work --- if key assumptions about spiritual growth and the nature of the church are re-examined and renewed. By drawing on scripture, research and insights gained through personal experience as the pastor of a growing cell church, Steve Cordle identifies five pivotal philosophical shits necessary for the cell approach to work. These are: * from programs to relationships * from member to disciple-maker * from educating to equipping * from "come and see" to "go and show" * from church with cells to church is cell Imposing a cell structure upon a congregation that has not yet made these philosophical shifts will likely lead to failure. But when people adopt these biblical mindset changes, the cell approach seems natural and will result in great unity and effectiveness.

Steve Cordle is the senior and founding pastor of Crossroads United Methodist Church in Oakdale (suburban Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania. Crossroads Church is a growing, cell-based, multi-campus congregation. Cordle has led seminars on cell group ministry both in the United States and Europe, and consults with other pastors who are seeking to establish cell-based congregations. He is the author of The Church in Many Houses (Abingdon), and was a contributor to the Study Guide for Joel Comiskey’s book Home Cell Group Explosion. Steve serves on the Board of Cell Church Solutions. Cordle is a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary (M. Div) and United Theological Seminary (D. Min). Steve and his wife Linda are parents of Joshua (who is married to Christina), Jonathan, and Daniel.