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HISTORY OF THE CELL MOVEMENT

    By  

Joel Comiskey

 

A Ph.D. Tutorial

Presented to Dr. Paul Pierson

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the Degree

Doctor of Philosophy In Intercultural Studies

The School of World Mission

FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

 

 

 

 

 

August   1996

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS...................................................................................................

LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................

How the Tutorial Fits into the Dissertation..........................................................................

Purpose.............................................................................................................................

Goals................................................................................................................................

Problem Statement............................................................................................................

Research Questions...........................................................................................................

Delimitations......................................................................................................................

Definitions.........................................................................................................................

Cell-Based Church........................................................................................................

House Church...............................................................................................................

Moravians.....................................................................................................................

Small Group..................................................................................................................

Broader Definition For This Paper..............................................................................

Larger Size For This Paper........................................................................................

Pietism........................................................................................................................

Assumptions....................................................................................................................

Overview Of This Tutorial................................................................................................

CHAPTER 2  SMALL GROUPS IN BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE.....................................

Small Groups In The Old Testament.................................................................................

Small Group Concepts.................................................................................................

Jethro’s Advice To Moses...........................................................................................

Principle Utilized In The Cell Church Today.............................................................

Levels of Leadership Assures Pastoral Care.............................................................

Jethro Model Maximizes  Church Organization.........................................................

Small Groups In The New Testament...............................................................................

Christ And Small Groups.............................................................................................

The House Church  In The New Testament..................................................................

Biblical Examples.....................................................................................................

Archaeological Examples.........................................................................................

The Intimate Atmosphere Of The Home Gatherings..................................................

The Relationship  Among  The House Churches...........................................................

Biblical Examples.....................................................................................................

Scholarly Debate.....................................................................................................

The Emphasis On Cell And Celebration.......................................................................

Necessity Of Small Groups Due To Church Size......................................................

Necessity Of Small Groups Due To Persecution.......................................................

House Churches Today...............................................................................................

Restricted Area House Churches.............................................................................

Dangers Of Isolation And Lack of Accountability.....................................................

Loose Connection Among House Churches.............................................................

The Body Of Christ Motif............................................................................................

Exercise Of The Gifts...............................................................................................

Ministry To One Another.........................................................................................

The People Of God Motif............................................................................................

CHAPTER 3  SMALL GROUPS   BEFORE THE REFORMATION................................

The Demise Of The House Church...................................................................................

Distinction Between Clergy And Laity..........................................................................

The Need For Authority..........................................................................................

Apostolic Succession...............................................................................................

A Widening Gap......................................................................................................

Inadequate Ministry Structure..................................................................................

Centralized Ministry Versus Decentralized................................................................

Lessons  For Present Day Ministry...........................................................................

The Legalization Of Christianity....................................................................................

Ornate Structures Replace Simple Ones...................................................................

Laxity Leads Toward Secularism.............................................................................

Small Groups Among the Clergy......................................................................................

The Rise Of Monastic Orders..........................................................................................

From Isolation To Community......................................................................................

Evangelistic Emphasis..................................................................................................

Monastic Evangelism In Ireland................................................................................

Monastic Evangelism In England..............................................................................

Monastic Evangelism To The Rest Of The Continent................................................

Small Groups In The Middle Ages...................................................................................

Monastic Small Groups Continue.................................................................................

Sectarian Groups Emphasize Small Group Structure.....................................................

An Examination of Small Groups Before the Reformation..................................................

Small groups in Monasticism........................................................................................

Similarities Among Small Groups..............................................................................

Differences Among Small Groups.............................................................................

Small Groups Among Other Pre-Reformation Movements............................................

Summary of Examination..............................................................................................

CHAPTER 4  SMALL GROUPS DURING THE TIME OF THE REFORMATION.........

Pre-Reformation Protests.................................................................................................

Martin Luther’s Protests..................................................................................................