Creating Christian Communities: The Structure and Strategy of a Simple Cell-Based Church System

Diefenderfer describes his book, written over several years as a church planter, as a "road map" for those with the God-given desire to create a working cell-based church. The writer has made every attempt to maintain a simple readability in his text, in both format and language. He provides clear definitions throughout in order to maintain his meaning for the reader, and he uses an interview transcript format, dot points and lists, anecdotes and orderly explanations as appropriate for each teaching point, all broken down into 27 chapters.

Commencing with an explanation of the vision God gave him for this church system many years before, Diefenderfer relates how he came to develop the structure into its current form. He then goes into detail as to how the vision of the church and the day-to-day actions of its members conform and support this structure. He lists and explains the benefits of cell-based church over the Program Based Design, and spends some time on the leadership map and on how important this is to maintaining correct teaching. The division between ministries within the church and programs, and their differences and similarities, is thoroughly covered. Diefenderfer frequently supports his beliefs and statements with scripture, and seems deeply concerned that people rediscover relational living. To Diefenderfer, cell groups within a cell-based church answer this need in a way that conforms to a biblical definition of the body of Christ.

This book successfully covers similar ground of other books about the cell church but does so in less than half the pages with a far simpler and more readable style. Diefenderfer believes that balance is important, and states, "cell-based church exists to complement the existing typical PBD church" (p59). He acknowledges that balance can occur in either design, and stresses, while focusing on the benefits of cells, that balance between worship, instruction, fellowship and evangelism is the key issue.

Diefenderfer has presented a view of cell-based church that promotes the system as a viable and simple alternative to traditional church structure, and he has done it in a non-threatening and easily understandable fashion.