Cell group

As home groups, small groups of Christians are called, who meet regularly for common prayer, Bible study, discussion and singing in private homes. In addition to home group and the names in small groups, home cell, cell group or home group, sometimes house church are common.

• 3.1 Demarcation for House Town
• 3.2 mini-groups
• 3.3 Pastorates
• 3.4 G12

Organization

Home groups are mostly organized as subgroups of a larger community and provide an additional offer to the weekly worship dar. However, this does not necessarily mean that everyone is also a member of the same commune. There are, for example, home groups, which are offered by inter-communal organizations such as the groups of students of higher education SMD. Home groups which belong to any community or inter-communal organization, also known as house churches, especially if the members belong to any other community.

A home group usually includes five to twelve people (as many as will fit in a living room ). Home groups because of their casual atmosphere and the intense, friendly relations that may arise therein, appreciated. In contrast to the worship of the home group offers each participant the opportunity to actively participate with their own contributions, to discuss and resolve personal issues. In the meeting of brothers and sisters in the spirit and the strict terms of the gospel, it comes in prayer, song and life to intense religious experience that affects both the personal being of the members and to which the community is positive ( stimulating ).

Home groups provide the opportunity to learn more about the Christian faith. Friends and acquaintances are invited to participate in Bible studies and discussion groups. In this way, the home groups should gradually grow and divide once they have become too big. This process is somewhat similar to the biological cell division, which is why home groups are also called cell groups or as a home cell. However, this type of distribution is not the main motivation of the home circle, but it is a way to meet other people and discuss in a small group about biblical content.

Often Christians come together in a house circuit in approximately the same age, marital status, and the same with the same interests and preferences. He gives space to think in a small circle independently of the Bible. This can occasionally be sectarian tendencies in home groups, and that is why are some pastors and parish lines home groups critical of. For most home groups, however, this concern is unfounded. It can nevertheless also increase the attractiveness of a community when it has to offer for people with different interests each matching home groups.

Home groups in specific communities

Home groups in Methodism

Methodism based in its initial organization under John Wesley also on a kind of home groups that have been designated as a class.

Above all, these classes of instruction and promoting community served. The "Together on the way to be " should serve to implement in daily life what faith teaches. Faith should be reflected not only in the church but in everyday life, even and especially in fighting the desires and temptations. Mutually holding, supporting and supportive, this movement of house groups was a fundamental pillar for the rapid spread of the English Reformation in England, the English colonies and after independence in America.

It is this religious classes were that German emigrants impressed in such a way that the immigrants brought this kind of devotion returned to Germany and so strengthened Methodism in Germany.

Home groups in pietism

An essential role played house parties in pietism, where they were called conventicles, to practice the practical pietatis ( piety practice) in everyday life. In Neupietismus they were often referred to as Bible study, in southern Germany simply as hour (read: Schdund ). Hence the term hours for active people pietists, who became the Russian Stundists developed. In southern Germany and Switzerland pious men are also referred to disparagingly as Stündeler.

Related and alternative forms

Demarcation from the house church

The basic concept of the home circle be identified as an integral part of church and mission work must the concept of house church. While the classic house group usually is a joint offer of a local church, the house church sees itself as an independent municipality.

Mini groups

In the model developed by Neil Cole concept of small groups, two to four people meet weekly in same-sex groups. Key elements of mini groups are mutual confession of guilt, often on the basis of a questionnaire, prayer for one another and for friends and reading Bible passages larger ( 25-30 chapter) during the week. The concept is focused on growth by cell division: Once a mini-group has 4 members, it divides after some time into two groups of two. Some communities combine small groups with household circuits by several mini groups together form a home group, and alternately meet as small groups and house circuit ..

Pastorates

The Holy Trinity Brompton Church, an Anglican church, from which also the Alpha course originated, has developed a concept called Pastorates. Several home groups together form a Pastorate, comprising a total of about 20-35 people. The Pastorate place every 14 days in a private apartment instead with plenty of space. In the week in between to meet the individual home groups that make up the pastorate, at separate locations.

The sequence of a Pastorates is based on the Alpha course evening: After dinner the thematic section begins with a brief worship time. Then one of the participants holds a 30 - minute presentation. Finally exchanges will take place and prayer in the individual home groups. Since all program points are created by the participants, Pastorates a great way to discover spiritual gifts and to train and try out various tasks in a manageable framework for the participants.

The Pastorates represent an intermediate form between home groups and Sunday worship dar. often arise from Pastorates also the establishment of new independent communities. The concept of Pastorates is now used by other communities, mainly within the Anglican Church.

G12

In the Cesar Castellanos, the pastor of a megachurch Colombian (very large church ), developed concept of G12- G12 groups, a group of guide accompanies ( discipling English) as a mentor. After some time the 12 members forming their own G12- groups, but remain part of the original group. This results in a pyramidal structure. In German-speaking countries, the G12 concept was used mainly in the municipalities of the International Christian Fellowship.