A frequently unrecognized advantage of this group size over a home cell of, say, 8 to 12, is that every member does not have to be particularly fond of every other member for the group to function. It should also be noted that churches of around 40, give or take, were the rule in New Testament times. Churches met for weekly times of worship and fellowship in private homes. Each one was led by one or more elders. Sometimes we superimpose our own church experience on something like “the church of God