cell group = how we do church 'round here

I was chatting it up with one of our cell leaders who was feeling a bit discouraged about their cell group. It seems they weren't able to get everyone to pay attention to them during the teaching portion, and to stop joking and messing around with each other to focus on the corporate Scripture reading. It wasn't until they arrived at the closing prayertime (when everyone gets to share a prayer request and/or talk about where God is showing up tangibly in their everyday lives) that the tone of the room shifted and all present became a part of and invested in, the meeting.

We talked a bit about this phenomenon, and we ended up asking ourselves:

"What do we expect cell group to look like? School? Bible study? Theological debate? (and therefore with everyone acting accordingly?)

Then we wondered, What does God desire cell group to look like?

What is He asking us to do with that time and those people for a couple hours on a Saturday afternoon, or a Tuesday night or Sunday morning?

Hmm...

What if I just started doing what He required during that time - Would I be satisfied? Even if it seemed like it wasn't 'enough' (spiritual enough, intellectual enough, profound enough, etc.) by my standards to be considered 'church'?

Given that conversation, when I read the Scripture below I was kindled. It's from the Message paraphrase: (but don't hold that against it!)

Amos 5:21-24

"I can't stand your religious meetings.
I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions.
I want nothing to do with your religion projects,
your pretentious slogans and goals.
I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes,
your public relations and image making.
I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
When was the last time you sang to me?

It sounds like He's asking for something different than what they were giving...something simpler and more intimate (lookout RZ)

What if, when we get together as the body of Christ we make it too complicated - attaching expectations and grand ideas onto what is meant to be a homey and humble Upper Room style fellowship?

Could it really be as straightforward as sharing with those around us about Him, and what He's like, and what He's up to in our lives?
Don't go readin' me wrong now, not chaos with no beginning, middle or end, but more like everybody gets a say, everybody has a chance to share how they've been touched by God and go and grow from there.

Do I have enough faith for that?
Or more importantly, am I humble enough to let it happen through me?

HD