Introduction
Right now, every person we meet in this world is seeking one thing above all, and that is
a genuine relationship; this is only natural because we were not made to go through life alone.
Even when we consider the world we live in, human beings have not been more connected and
still more disconnected than ever before. When God created Adam, he said it was good, but he
also said it was not good for him to be alone, and so he created Eve. Furthermore, when we look
at our Creator, we see that there is a relationship that is taking place in the Godhead between The
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This proves to us that as human beings; we crave relationship and
connection. This is one of reasons why in the church we have small groups or life groups as some
would call them.
Now, small groups are nothing new, however they are need now more than ever. When
we look at scripture, we can see that Jesus modeled for us the important and purpose of the small
group model. There is a profound need for small groups in the world today, but even more so in
the church; this is because through small group new converts and lukewarm saints alike can
grow, develop strong relationships, and being to live out their Christian life with purpose. The
purpose of this small groups training manual is to help the concerns leading a group, as well as
understanding the importance leading small groups to fulfill their primary purposes. Small
groups have two main purposes, relationship, and discipleship. God created human beings to be
in relationship with Him and each other, it is through these relationships we experience the full
life He intends for us. By building relationships in small groups, we can begin to grow disciples
that will go and fulfil their God given purpose.
Motivation for Small Groups
Why small groups? Well, the answer is a lot simpler that we might think. For one it is not
to make friends, even though that can happen; and it is not to make the church smaller. Rather it
is to build a community that is centered on Jesus Christ and his mission. House puts it this way,
“The purpose of such community is to display the love of God for the world. We see this design
just a few verses earlier in Ephesians 2 when Paul explains why we have been made alive in
Christ. He says that it was “so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of
his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” This is the purpose of community. We have been
saved so that we would express the gospel of Jesus Christ. Living together in community,
reconciled and united by the cross, is a physical demonstration of the grace of God.”1
Now small groups aren’t new to the church, and many churches have used this model to
build community. However, the effectiveness of the groups ae always in question. Small group
ministries are intended to help people grow by connecting upward with God, inward with each
other, and outward sharing the gospel with the world. This should be the motivation for small
groups, as House puts it, “We have community groups because we have seen the glory of God
and we have been given the grace to live our lives to exalt the Christ. We have community
groups because we have been reconciled to God and one another. We once were not a people but
now we are a people of God’s own possession. We have community groups as a proclamation of
the goodness of our God and testimony to the completed work of the cross. This is the foundation
for gospel-saturated community that will overflow with life.”2
1 Brad House, Community: Taking Your Small Group off Life Support (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011), 34.
2 Brad House, Community: Taking Your Small Group off Life Support (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011), 43.
Biblical Foundations for Small Groups
The most important part of an effective small group is the relationship with God. It is the
responsibility of the leader to connect the group upward. By doing so, the group is establishing a
foundation in which to build an effective, lasting group. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus told Peter, upon
this rock, I will build my church. Jesus Christ is the example we follow and the foundation on
which we build as the church, if we build on anything else failure is inevitable. According to
Comiskey, “In order for our groups to succeed, the leader must know God personally and then
help those involved come to know God personally.”3
A personal relationship with God, leads us to build relationships with each other.
Dempsey states, “The heart cry of every human is an overwhelming need for community. The
healthy Christian lifestyle seeks to meet this need. Christian community is essential to us because
we were created to work together.”4 When we look at pause epistles to the churches, we see the
phrase ‘the body of Christ’ being repeated many times. This is how Paul describes the people of
God, as one body, and in order for us to be one we have to cultivate strong relationships with
each other. In 1 Corinthians 12:21 Paul wrote, “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need
you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’”5 one Paul is saying here is that we
need each other; and small groups are away for us to connect, build, and encourage each other.
Goals for Small Groups
The goal for small groups is to provide people with a safe place to connect, build, and
encourage each other. Dempsey wrote, “Our hunger for relationships is an identifying mark of
3 Comiskey, Joel. Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church, 37.
4 Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups (Wordsearch, 2018), 23.
5 Ibid 23.
our humanity. Small group experts Bill Donahue and Russ Robinson write, “God chose to embed
in us a distinct kind of DNA. God created us all with a ‘communal gene,’ an inborn, intentional,
inescapable part of what it means to be human.”6 Our humanity drives us to seek community
because God made us that way. Small groups give us the best way to satisfy our need for
community, and a place to connect with others, do life together, and grow in faith.
In addition to community, the goal of small groups is discipleship. Small groups help to
provide a place where we can grow in our spiritual relationship with God. There is nothing more
important than this. In small groups fellowship with one another is a byproduct of people coming
together come on however if we are not intentional in growing spiritually and seeking God we
most likely will not see much growth if any at all. The goal is for the people to reclaim their
identity in Christ. House states, “When God says he is going to make man in his image, he
informs us of our intended identity. We are image bearers of God. We exist as a living reflection
of God, who exists in eternal community.”7 we cannot be image bearers in isolation, therefore in
order to walk in a God given identity we have to grow spiritually and in relation with each other.
Types of Small Groups
6 Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups (Wordsearch, 2018), 24.
7 Brad House, Community: Taking Your Small Group off Life Support (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011), 35.
The group I desire to start would be considered a cell group, because the main focus will
be Bible study, prayer, and evangelism. At my church my desire is to build community amongst
men young and old while growing in the fear of the Lord. As stated, the main member profile
would be men all ages with a desire to build community and to sharpen each other in the faith.
My desire is to submit a request to the Presbytery along with the name of the curriculum I would
use in the group for review. The group would meet once a week for 12 weeks, with a four-week
intermission between each 12-week session.
Another group I desire to lead is a ministry group. The focus of this group is to do
ministry such as evangelism. This group would be open to specific people by invite only and
would follow a Bible study curriculum that is tailored specifically to meet the needs of the group,
and also require members to do personal evangelism as well as group evangelism. Currently my
church does not have a evangelism or outreach team, and my desire is to bring together a group
of people whose heart is burning for souls and for evangelism outreach so we can grow together
and reach those God has called us to reach.
Leading Small Groups
The groups will shadow the Five W’s: Welcome, Worship, Word, Work, and Witness,
which re guarantee to help us build healthy small groups. Following these, will also help us to
accomplish our goal of connecting people upward, inward, and outward. Leaders will do their
best to pray and prepare before each group session, so that they ae ready to guide the group
through the session, to achieve the goal for that day. The group will also be structured in a way as
to meet the goals of connecting the people upward, inward, and outward. To connect the group
upward, worship and prayer will be apart of the culture of the group. This also ensures that the
group remains centered on Christ. To connect the group inward time will also be given to
fellowship and breaking off bread Pete, this is to ensure that we build community with each
member of the group while individually we discover ourselves and ground ourselves in our
identity in Christ. To connect the group out word there will be time for encouraging each other as
well as evangelism as a group and as individuals. In our groups we will also follow S.O.A.P. to
ensure we are connecting upward. We will allot time for Scripture as well as make Observations
about this scripture. After which, we will seek Application of this scripture so as to be transform
by it, and Prayer to God for the scripture to speak to us.
The outline for our small groups will include all, to help in the success of the goal and the
flow as well. I have listed below an outline of the small group meeting flow, that will be
followed by the groups I will lead and those I have trained to lead other groups. This is just a
guide, and there is room for flexibility. However, all groups would only be 2 hours maximum.
10:00-10:15am – Coffee and Fellowship Time
10:15-10:30am – Open Prayer/Icebreakers
10:30-11:00am – Prayer and Worship
11:00-11:20am – Bible Study video
11:20-12:00pm – Bible Study/Discussion/Closing Prayer
Growing Small Groups
As our small group beings to grow, and people are being equipped and show signs of maturity;
we will seek out ways to use those who are ready to go and do the work God has called them to
do. Furthermore, we will seek to bring new members into the group Through invitations and
evangelism. from the very first day of the group the foundation will be set for the group to know
that the goal is to equip the group to be leaders themselves. Arnold states that we must,
“Communicate the intention to birth from the first day a group meets. In the first covenant (see
chapter four) that you provide new groups, clearly articulate that the purpose of this group is to
multiply. Identify the leader and apprentice, and explain how multiplication will work.”8 Going
forward we will also develop a plan to train leaders and assistance to lead small groups. Arnold
also states that we should, “Develop a plan to train leaders and apprentice leaders. The Big Book
on Small Groups is a training guide and could prove helpful whether the training occurs in a
classroom setting, with a coach, or simply as one leader trains another.”9
Now from there it's all about timing, identifying the right time to launch new groups with new
leaders, and new converts. Also, we must take into consideration the leaders that we have, we
will have to see if they are ready to lead groups based on their availability, maturity, and
preparedness. The goal is always to multiply the groups until every member of the church has
gone through groups and support the groups in some way. Also, the goal is to train people up to
be Christ centered and not self-centered, people who will take the Great Commission and go
after those who God is calling unto himself.
8 Jeffrey Arnold, The Big Book on Small Groups (Revised Edition) (InterVarsity Press, 2017), 212.
9 Ibid 212.
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