LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Analytical Paper III
Submitted to Dr. Rick Garner, in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the completion of the course,
DSMN 630-B02
Small Group Ministries
by
Luvie D. Lesane
February 10, 2018
Table of Contents
Introduction .....................................................................................................................................3
Steps for Creating a Group..............................................................................................................3
The Group Covenant........................................................................................................................6
Types of Groups...............................................................................................................................8
Bibliography 10
Introduction
Beginning a new group and leading a group can be wonderfully exciting however
challenging for apprentice leader. We may have somewhat of an idea in how to lead a small
group, it is still a huge learning experience and task at hand. Small group ministry is a group of
individuals within a community of people with different qualities and demographical
backgrounds. Like other various ministries, we have to spend large amounts time planning and
preparing for the small groups ministry. We may contemplate whether we have enough people to
actually join our group of these different demographical areas, the numbers of people willing to
signed up to attend small groups. What type of people may show up for small group?
A leader must understand the Bible level of those in the group. Bible intake is vital as a
spiritual discipline but the levels of those you are discipling must be considered. There are
individuals that are familiar with the Bible and there are those that know very little about the
Bible world about the Bible. This is where we the small group leader will need to understand the
most and this areas is vital in discipling a new believer. Daily Bible reading is a pertinent habit to
form in growing spiritually with God and His Savior Jesus Christ. It draws one into relationship.
It helps us the believer to think biblically and critically of the world that is around us. Martin
Luther once said but verbatim we must preach the Gospel to oneself every day.” We must feed on
the word of God daily to get to know Him. The purpose of small groups is to mature believers in
Christ to go and proclaim the Gospel to the world and disciple it one disciple at a time.
Steps for Creating a Small Group
What is needed to start a small group ministry in our church? Jeffrey Arnold states, we
need two important things: a gathering of group of God’s people and building a group
covenant.”1 Jesus the leader of our lives was very fervent in his prayer life. The Bible states, “In
these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.”
(Luke 6:12, ESV) Jesus prayed all night and then he chose his twelve. Arnold states, “The place
to start when attempting to gather a group is on your knees.” Jesus gave us this example so in
2
following him we should follow his habits. Arnold states, “If Jesus sought God’s help in pulling a
group together how much more do we need God’s guidance?” As leaders we must always seek
3
the will of God in the affairs of the church as well as our lives. We must develop ourselves to be
faithful in our prayer lives. We must develop the habits that Jesus displayed in our prayer lives.
Rod Dempsey states, from E. M. Bounds “The more praying there is in the world the better the
world will be, the mightier the forces against evil…”
4
In order to have a relationship to the Father it starts with prayer. Jesus longed to be in
prayer with the Father. There were times he went alone with praying to the Father. The disciples
had to go find him at times. As leaders of God’s people we have to be careful in leading God’s
people and prayer is the way to hear the Spirit guide His people. This is the example of Christ’s
disciples it was evident in Paul’s ministry as the Holy Spirit led him through the known world
and areas not to go in. Leaders need God’s help in leading His people.
The leader should be the one who chooses his/her members as this is what Christ did. The
mission of God is to proclaim the Gospel to every living creature to the ends of the earth. Jesus
revealed this as the good news of the kingdom of heaven. When putting a small group together
from scratch, Arnold states, “you must discern whom to invite, while keeping in mind who
1 Jeffrey Arnold, The Big Book on Small Groups (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2004), 63--65
2 Ibid., 63
3 Ibid.
4 Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups (Lynchburg, VA:
Liberty Press, 2015).
would make a good apprentice leader and host or hostess of the group.” In some churches the
5
particular churches do the assigned groups but it is best to grow small group’s one group at a
time. This is important for the community as the community must strive to be a close knit
community. This is made possible by the commitment of the group.
The next topic of discussion is the covenant of the group. Arnold states most churches do
not have a covenant, and newcomers are somehow supposed to figure out their roles and function
of the group.” This can be very confusing for most and this deters any form of intimacy that the
6
group needs. Covenants are a contract. When group members join they need to know what they
are getting. In business, the cooperating businesses can rescind the contract if certain
stipulations are not being met. In the church people need to know what they are getting and in
return they should expect to be disciple of Christ.
There are five basic practices called 5Ws that small group leader and its group members
should take in mind. This helps ensures they are prepared for the weekly meeting times, and they
are followed by: Welcome, Worship. Word. Work, and Witness. First things first we must set the
atmosphere for worship and being welcomed is where it starts. The atmosphere must be readied
and conducive for worship. Second worship is important for father Abraham took his son to
worship not knowing his dad was about to attempt to take his life. So worship is a serious matter.
The small group leader can plan worship activities to help get the group ready to learn about the
mission of God of God to disciple the earth. This can be done through singing, dancing, or being
silent. Third, we can use Bible intake as a way to show the group how to interpret and determine
scripture and its context. Fourth, understanding the levels of those in the group, as some do not
have a strong biblical background to grasp from and maybe the Bible is new to them. We can do
5 Arnold., 64
6 Ibid., 66
activities that everyone can do in the group regardless of experience. Icebreakers are good
examples that can be used, hosting and providing refreshments would be another way that all can
be involved in the group Lastly be prepared to help people in the group be witness their faith to .
other people. These 5Ws help small group ministry leaders see the big picture for the group and
its future for the people of God.
The Group Covenant
Group covenant gives the group a purpose and the direction for the community of faith
where they need to go. Their expectations are to mature spiritually in our Lord and Savior.
Arnold states, “Covenants stipulate the mutual expectations and responsibilities involved when
we participate in a transaction or relationship between at least two parties.” The covenant adds
7
commitment and accountability to those in the group. You are agreeing we have one another’s
best interest at hand. We rely on one another and we can hold one another accountable. Now that
we have the mission of God, let’s get busy building and loving one another in Christ. First
thing’s first in anything the early church communicated with one another through word of mouth
and communication was key in this process of warning and mobilization efforts in proclaiming
the message of Christ. Arnold states, in negotiable matters of group life, some matters are to be
non-negotiable, including those that contribute to group health, one individual unwilling to
comply with a particular item has the ability to call that group to reconsider and change that
item.8 Dempsey and Early state, it is wise to develop a concise and comprehensive plan that
suggest the covenant should be built on Priority, prayer, outreach, growth, openness,
multiplication, availability, confidentiality, accountability, and love.” . Members have to come to
9
7 Ibid., 67
8 Ibid.
9 Dempsey and Earley
the understanding they are serving the Creator of the cosmos and his mission is important above
everything in the life. God mission is priority over what the group desires. Dempsey and
Early state, covenant of priority, each member will make attendance at and involvement
in this group a high priority in my schedule.” Members have to understand that they are
10
serving God within the group and there should be a great emphasis placed on the group’s life. In
the earlier small groups I participated in, its members did not prioritize the group and many of
the members did not attend regularly and eventually my pastor postponed all future gathering
until further noticed. In small groups everyone has to get on the same page and part of their
spiritual maturity relies on the group doing what is best for the group. The group must
accomplish the goal of spiritually maturing its group members to be a disciple of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Prayer, committing to pray regularly and fervent as our Lord Jesus Christ did for his
disciples in praying and demonstrated to his Father. Committing to pray for those in the group
bring closeness and intimacy within the group and builds continuity for its members. Outreach,
is sharing your faith with others and to help meet the needs of your fellow brothers and sisters.
One of the ways to grow the groups or to create other small group ministry is reach out to those
who are not in the group. Growth is where the members seek to be spiritually matured and their
personal growth in quality as well as quantity. Openness, members commit to share their
experience with Christ, their joy and their struggles. This is also a place where we learn to love
one another and trust one another with the group members. This element involves developing a
deep and trusting relationship with the members of a group. Multiplication of group members is
the Gospel. Mature believers tell people about their God. Disciples make disciples. Availability is
the call of the Gospel we all have to be available. We are to bring everything we have available
for small group and share it. The Bible states, “And all the believers met together in one place
10 Ibid.
and shared everything they had.” (Acts 2:44 NLT) Confidentially, nothing is to be shared outside
the group. What is said in the group, stays in the group. Privacy is sacred in the small group
ministry of each and every member. Accountability is vital to the group as everyone is held
accountable to Christ. Finally there is love. In everything we must love one another as Christ said
we are to love one another deeply.
Types of Group
There are many groups of many types and size. They all have a unique and possibly the
same direction but direction is a must or it’s just a civics club. Arnold list several group in use
today within the church. Arnold lists several types of small group. This includes the following
cell group, discipleship group, ministry group, special needs groups, affinity group, and house
church group.
Arnold states, “cell group involves a broad focus, they typically gathers for the purpose
for community building, personal and corporate growth, and ultimately, multiplication.”11 Cell
groups are more common people want a sense to be able to belong to something and the love
they receive being a part of something that builds them personal and corporately and ultimately
serving God. Second, there is the discipleship group, tends to be small and focused on personal
and spiritual growth; ministry oriented only in the sense that those that have been disciple are
free to go forth and minister because they have ben empowered in their relationship to God and
others.”12 The members of this type of group are serious about their faith and their relationship to
God. Their setting is intimate and purposeful. They desire is to grow in Christ spiritually. Third,
ministry group is this type of group focuses on individual care, community building; God’s
mission, evangelism, and the mission of God. This group does not focus on group growth and
11 Ibid., 77
12 Ibid.
can lead to a task oriented group. Fourth special needs group, the church is viewed as hospital,
helping people to become whole in relation to self, others and God.” Their focus is individual
13
care and healing, and outreach to others. The fifth is the affinity group, this is the group that uses
factors like demographics of people with common interest and characteristics. This is a group
that involves a specific demographic of people who possess a common interest or characteristic.
Youth groups, children ministries, men and women groups. They have one thing in common their
focus is to help each member. For me, this could lead to this group becoming a clique. Finally, a
house church functions a group of members of a community doing community service in a home
setting. This group is more organic with the focus on the house growing spiritually in Christ and
have an intimate relationship to their Creator. This is a discipleship group with a focus on the
group maturing in Christ. The focus is the group that we all grow in Christ.
My church has small groups on pause for a moment. It is beginning again soon and I plan
to be a part of its planning. The type of small group’s ministry I plan to assist my pastor with is
the house church group. It closely resembles the early church and as the community grows
everyone spiritually grows in Christ. This focus on the evangelism and the group life of the
church. That is how I would like to be the church.
Bibliography
Arnold, Jeffrey. The Big Book on Small Groups. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2004.
Dempsey, Rod. Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups. Lynchburg: Liberty
University Press, 2015.
13 Ibid., 78-79
