Biblical Foundations Assignment
Rebecca Xiong
DSMN 630: Small Group Ministries
September 1, 2024
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Contents
Summaries……………………………………………………………………………………......1
Biblical Foundation for the Cell Based Church………………….......................................1
Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups ……………………….....………3
Primary Passages………………………………………………………………………….…......4
Principles………………………………………………………………………….............5
Church Structure………………………………………………………………………………..6
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………….7
Bibliography………………….……………………………………………………………….....8
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The foundation of small group ministries starts with the Word of God; it is understanding
who God is, the calling for His people to be in community with one another, and why. Authors
Joel Comiskey and Rod Dempsey with Dave Earley talk about these necessary core topics in
their books, Biblical Foundation for the Cell-Based Church and Leading Healthy, Growing,
Multiplying Small Groups.
Summaries
Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church
In chapters two to four of the following book, Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based
Church,1 Joel Comiskey helps to define who God is, God’s people as a family, and the ministry
of Jesus. The idea of a Triune God was a concept that was hard to grasp and many early church
fathers wrestled with the biblical evidence about God and his character.2 The author goes more in
depth of who the Trinity is, especially in Scripture. To say that God is triune, is to understand
and believe that God Himself, is three in one. In Scripture it is written, “and when Jesus was
baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him,
and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a
voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew
3:16-17, English Standard Version). One can see from these verses, it reveals the appearance of
all three, yet, remaining as full God. Comisky relates the Trinity to believers noting the unity and
community between the three and the yearn to live community oriented too.3 A point in this
1 Joel Comiskey, Biblical Foundations for the Cell Based Church (Moreno Valley, CA: CCS Publishing, 2012) 1.
2 Comiskey, Biblical Foundations, 38.
3 Comiskey, Biblical Foundations, 43.
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chapter Comiskey brings, is the relationships must be vital because they are essential to God.4
This point in the chapter particularly stands out because in this day and age, often in the church
are people in cliques and their own groupings, but often forget that the Church should be in
community with one another as a whole. He continues in this chapter to focus on the work of the
Trinity in the individual, noting that moving from a life of individualism toward one of
community requires a powerful inner transformation.5 His focus of the individual is to allow the
work of the Trinity in the person, so that they would be molded into men and women of God
according to His purpose, to live in full unity.
Comisky continues in chapter three to discuss the call of community as God’s family.
Noting the first family, Adam and Eve, one can see how God also created community – when he
created Adam, he also created Eve, showing completion in their family. Throughout Scripture,
there are many examples of families and God’s continued blessing on each family through
promises of lineage. Comisky focuses on the families and their failures of the Old Testament, but
brings in the reminder of hope that came with Jesus and the rebuilding of a new community and
family. The Jesus strategy of house to house ministry and the early house church environment
combined to create the atmosphere from which the theological doctrine of the family of God
emerged.6 The household and family of God are a main focal point of small group ministries; it
centers on being a child of God all while being the Church. The image of the house is molded
together with the family of God.7 Whereas a family is created, so there is also the leadership that
4 Comiskey, Biblical Foundations, 44.
5 Comiskey, Biblical Foundations, 47.
6 Comiskey, Biblical Foundations, 62.
7 Comiskey, Biblical Foundations, 65.
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comes with. Comisky continues his chapter with a focus on leadership instruction and
hospitality. He states, a well functioning household can only exist upon the foundation of a
healthy, intact family.8 Hospitality stems from God’s love that is poured out onto others through
acts of service in their homes.
Chapter four of Comiskey’s book focuses on the ministry of Jesus – the way he
challenged people with clear teachings and authority. Jesus himself, reflects community through
his 12 disciples – by living with twelve men, God in human flesh made a clear statement about
the way community develops.9 A point Comisky makes that reflects the idea of community, is
that he notes Jesus do not merely gather his disciples on a weekly basis to meet, but rather he
lived life with them, broke bread and spoke truth together all the while of teaching of them.
Comiskey summarizes the work of Jesus and his expansion as house-to-house ministry utilizing
the most natural and practical structure.10
Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups
In chapters five and six of Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups authors
Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, focus on the biblical foundations of small groups.11 Specifically
in chapter five, they focus on the Christian community – the desire and need for one another to
help grow, encourage, and sharpen in a healthy environment. To be a small group leader brings
great honor, it is getting to be the person who leads others towards Christ, allowing the Spirit to
work within the leader and the small group itself. Dempsey writes, value the opportunity and
8 Comiskey, Biblical Foundations, 68.
9 Comiskey, Biblical Foundations, 77.
10 Comiskey, Biblical Foundations, 83.
11 Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley. Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups (Virginia: Liberty
University Press, 2016), 1.
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prioritize it in your schedule.12 In summary of chapter six, the authors’ focal point is of the
ministry of Jesus as a small group leader. The work of Jesus Christ in his ministries becomes an
example for believers to follow. Involvement in small group life and leadership was a primary
spiritual discipline in the life of Jesus Christ.13 Matthew 28:19-20 is a reminder to believers of
the Great Commission that Jesus gave, to make disciples of all nations and that weighs central to
the necessary need for small groups. Dempsey and Earley say it best, as a small group leader,
you are following in the very footsteps of Jesus Christ.14
Primary Passages
Primary passages that would be chosen that help to form a small group ministry would be
Matthew 28:19-20, Proverbs 27:17, Acts 2:42-47. Matthew 28:19-20 says, go therefore
andGmake disciples ofGall nations,Gbaptizing themGinGthe name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit,!teaching themGto observe all thatGI have commanded you. And behold,GI am with
you always, toGthe end of the age. Proverbs 27:17, iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens
another. Lastly, Acts 2:42-47,
AndGthey devoted themselves to the apostles'Gteaching and theGfellowship, toGthe breaking
of bread and the prayers.GAnd aweGcame upon every soul, andGmany wonders and signs
were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together andGhad all
things in common.!AndGthey were selling their possessions and belongings and
distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.GAnd day by day,Gattending the
templeGtogether andGbreaking bread in their homes, they received their foodGwith glad and
generous hearts,Gpraising God andGhaving favor with all the people. And the LordGadded
to their numberGday by day those whoGwere being saved.
Principles
12 Dempsey and Earley, Leading Small Groups, 24.
13 Dempsey and Earley, Leading Small Groups, 26.
14 Dempsey and Earley, Leading Small Groups, 27.
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Matthew 28:19-20 is the clear commandment of Jesus to make disciples to share and
bring the Good News to those all around the world. Dietrich Bonhoeffer says in his book, Life
Together, Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. A Christian
needs others because of Jesus Christ just as a Christian comes to others only through Jesus
Christ.15 The commandment is clear – Jesus wants his believers to make disciples who make
disciples. Disciples are created through the works of small groups as it provides opportunities for
the believers to learn from each other as they apply the gospel within the intimacy of
relationships.16
Proverbs 27:17 speaks to the care and encouragement that comes from a community of
believers. It is a reminder to believers that words and behaviors have an effect; as a community,
as a small group, they are to refine and build up others. To form a small group, its purpose is to
grow and develop with fellow believers to wrestle through life together, study the Word of God,
bring accountability, and more. Bonhoeffer says the physical presence of other Christians is a
source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer.17
Acts 2:42-47 speaks to the community – the formation and duration of small groups.
These verses help to identify what a small group looks like and how to operate it should be a
production of pushing one another to grow in their faith with Christ, to further excel who they
are as brothers and sisters. It reflects the community of being under the Word of God, living life
together sharing homes and meals, through prayers and praises. Bill Donahue writes,
relationships help the body to grow toward maturity in Christ, your group’s mission must focus
15 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (San Fransisco, CA: Harper San Fransisco, 1954), 21.
16 William Boekestein, “10 Benefits of church Small Groups” (2018): 1.
https://corechristianity.com/resources/articles/10-benefits-of-church-small-groups.
17 Bonhoeffer, Life Together, 19.
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on making disciples in the context of community. Whether your group is made up of spiritual
seekers or newer followers of Christ or lifelong Christians, consider your missions to be the
spiritual formation of disciples.18
Church Structure
At the local level, the author, Rebecca’s church setting would be categorized and viewed
as traditional with some attractional. The church is lead by a senior pastor where a lot of the
discipleship stems from the main messages and is intended to reach the congregation, however
growth is slow. She notes that change does not happen very often due to the mixture of culture
(being immigrants mixed with second and third generation) and the church. Leadership is often
led by the older generation, which also correlates to the mixture of culture and church. In terms
of spiritual formation, like discipleship, a lot of it will occur during the service from the sermons.
Following the church structure, the church would still identify under “with” small groups,
or traditional. The church has a small number of small groups within. Being new to the church
(within two years), she has noticed that there is not a yearn for small group ministries, and those
in small groups are members that have been in the same small groups for many years with few
member changes. She is currently involved in the next generation ministries where they meet the
first three Fridays of every month. On the second Friday, they have small groups, however, the
small groups are always at random and split amongst whoever is there. While small group
ministries are being developed slowly, there is still a lack of true small group work that is
biblically being followed and honored.
Conclusion
18 Bill Donahue, Leading Life-Changing Small Groups (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012) 27.
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To begin small group ministries, it starts with a strong biblical foundation. With the goal
of discipleship in mind, small group ministries can be effective for leaders and its members
bringing them closer in their relationship with God, to engage in the community (the Church),
and to walk in obedience of God’s purpose and calling.
Bibliography
Boekestein, William. “10 Benefits of church Small Groups” (2018): 1.
https://corechristianity.com/resources/articles/10-benefits-of-church-small-groups.
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Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together. San Fransisco, CA: Harper Collins Publishers, 1954.
Comiskey, Joel. Biblical Foundations for the Cell Based Church. Moreno Valley, CA: CCS
Publishing, 2012.
Dempsey, Rod, and Dave Earley. Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups.
Virginia: Liberty University Press, 2016.
Donahue, Bill. Leading Life-Changing Small Groups. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan,
2012.
