River of Life Christian Fellowship

Service Times

 

Sunday
Intercessory Prayer 9:00 am
Worship Service 10:30 am
Children's Church 10:30 am
Youth 10:30 am

 

Monday
1st& 3rd Monday
Intercessory Prayer 7:00 pm

Wednesday
Mid-Week Service 7:30 pm


Thursday
1st Thursday of Every Month
Cell Groups 7:00 pm

cell groups

 

Have you ever wondered:

    • What Are Cells?
    • What Does the Bible Say About Cells?
    • Why Cells?
    • How Do Cells Work?
    • What are the Benefits?

River of Life Christian Fellowship’s Cell Home Groups will be held on the first Thursday of the month. If you have any questions, please contact us at (510) 869-5239.

What Are Cells?

You may be asking yourself, "What are cells?"

In the human body, the smallest unit is the cell. All the parts of each cell work together to grow, maintain health, and make more cells.

For River of Life Christian Fellowship, cells are the smallest unit of our church. River of Life members meet together in small groups to pray for one another, worship, learn about God's word, share their needs, and support each other. That is how they grow in Christ, maintain spiritual health, and meet the practical needs of its members. Cells are a place to build relationships. More than just a Bible study, a cell group supports its members, keeps its members accountable, and places members under the authority of the church.

What Does the Bible Say About Cells?

Acts 2:46 (NKJV), "So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart."
Acts 5:42 (NKJV), "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ."

The early church met in the temple (large groups) and from house to house (small groups) on a daily basis. In America, two extremes believe in having just one type of meeting, but the Bible tells us we need both.

Ephesians 4:11-12 (NKJV), "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

The job of the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher is to equip the saints so that the saints can do the work of the ministry. In small groups, the saints regularly get the opportunity to do the work of the ministry: praying for those who are sick, telling people about the Gospel, teaching the Word of God, and helping those in need.

Why Cells?

Because of our size, it is difficult to disciple all of our church members during services, and River of Life Christian Fellowship continues to grow. Members can feel insignificant in a crowded auditorium and some wonder if anyone would miss them if they stopped coming. Cell groups help solve this problem by giving every church member an opportunity to meet with a small group. The members of a cell group receive discipleship, mentoring, accountability, and relationships are built
between the members.

Cell group members can ask questions and get answers about the lesson, about what they have been studying in the Bible, or about issues they are going through. As people share their needs, the other members can help meet those needs in practical ways. Cell groups also give each member an opportunity to grow spiritually through ministering and praying for one another.

Cells are also evangelistic. Un-churched individuals are more willing to come to cell meetings because a cell member's home is less threatening than a church service. River of Life Christian Fellowship Cell Leaders and members lead people to Jesus in River of Life Christian Fellowship Cell Groups. In addition, cell groups help preserve the harvest by getting new converts involved, mentored, and growing spiritually.

How Do Cells Work?

River of Life Christian Fellowship uses a blended cell model, which we call River of Life Christian Fellowship Small Cell Group. A small cell group has no more than twelve members or twelve couples. The small cell group: enables fast cell growth, trains new leaders, and disciples every member. The aim of the small cell group is to minister to everyone and to have everyone become a minister.

Cell leaders are members of River of Life Christian Fellowship who volunteer and are trained as apprentices in an established cell group. Members are encouraged to become leaders of their own cell group while continuing to attend the cell group they are already in. In this way, a structure of authority is created.

There are zip code cell groups for people who want to attend a cell group close to home. All of River of Life Christian Fellowship’s cell groups meet once a month. Meetings take place in group members' homes, apartments, businesses, restaurants, schools, host homes, and government housing.

What Are the Benefits?

Ephesians 4:13-16 says:

  • You will not be tossed about by every wind of doctrine and deceived.
  • You will have people speaking the truth in love to you and you will grow spiritually.
  • You will be joined and knit together in the Body of Christ and doing your share, which will cause growth in the Body of Christ.