Small Group Training Manual: Foundation Assignment
Rebecca Xiong
DSMN 630: Small Group Ministries
September 29, 2024
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Contents
Motivations for Developing Small Groups..................................................................................1
Biblical Foundations for Groups..................................................................................................2
Goals and Dreams for Small Groups...........................................................................................4
Types of Groups...................................................................................................................4
Leading Small Groups..........................................................................................................5
Small Group Ministries.................................................................................................................7
Conclusion......................................................................................................................................9
Bibliography.................................................................................................................................1
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The following manual will discuss the foundational aspects of small groups starting from
its original start to the growing route. The manual will be key to small groups becoming an
effective form of ministry that leaders can look upon to experience and produce quality groups
that will become healthy, growing, and multiplying.
Motivations for Developing Small Groups
To begin developing small groups, it starts with understanding the why. We are
relational beings because we are made in the image of a relational God.1 A community that was
also there from the start, was the Trinity. The trinity dwells in perfect unity and community, for
God is not a lone individualist.2 To not be in community with one another, would mean not
following in God’s commandments, and fulfilling His desires of so. Dietrich Bonhoeffer says the
physical presence of other Christians is a source of comparable joy and strength to the believer.3
Small groups in the church are crucial for community building because they not only grow
individuals but are also an effective way for disciples to be made. Bill Donahue writes,
relationships help the body to grow toward maturity in Christ, your group’s mission must focus
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.4
Developing a small group ministry in one’s local church will help to produce disciples for
God’s kingdom and glory. Having a small group ministry will grow individuals in their faith and
1 Joel Comisky, Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church (Moreno Valley, CA: CCS Publishing,
2012), 44.
2 Comisky, Biblical Foundations, 43.
3 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (New York City, NY: Harper & Row Publishers, 1954), 19.
4 Bill Donahue, Leading Life-Changing Small Groups (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012), 27.
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in their knowledge of the God and the Word. True Christian community (koinonia) becomes
both the basis and the goal of evangelism. The community is the only effective school for
discipleship.5 With the goal of discipleship in mind, it is also necessary that these small groups
that are being produced are healthy. When small groups flourish, they will produce fruit and
become a reflection of God’s body, the Church, and become groups who produce more groups,
or disciples who make disciples. As a leader, a person should be intentional in serving God’s
community in this perspective. By loving God, you can love one another, and love thy neighbors
as Jesus commands in Mark 12:30-31, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’@The second is
this:@‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment@greater than
these” (English Standard Version). What joy would it be to see the men and women in the local
church developing into men and women of faith through healthy multiplying small groups.
Biblical Foundations for Groups
Understanding small groups and having a basis for it, begins with Scripture. It is crucial
to see the points of God’s design from beginning to end. Genesis 2:18 says, Then the Lord God
said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make a helper fit for him.” Prior to this,
God had already created the lands of the Earth filled with living creatures, but God still saw the
need for a living community. Through the family of Adam and Eve, God wanted to display the
community that exists within his triune nature.6 Furthermore, in the ministries of Jesus, His
twelve disciples can be viewed as a small group. They were believers gathered together to learn
under the leadership of Jesus and act in His door-to-door, home ministries. The Jesus strategy of
5 Donahue, Life-Changing Small Groups, 25.
6 Comisky, Biblical Foundations, 51.
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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.7
It is also important when building up small groups to have a biblical foundation and
passages chosen to help set the idea for what kind of small group one would have. Primary
passages Rebecca would choose, would include Matthew 28:19-20, Proverbs 27:17, and Acts
2:42-47; all three of these passages give the why, what, and how of small groups. Matthew
28:19-20 says, go therefore and@make disciples of@all nations,@baptizing them@in@the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,%teaching them@to observe all that@I have commanded
you. And behold,@I am with you always, to@the end of the age. Proverbs 27:17, iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another. Lastly, Acts 2:42-47,
And@they devoted themselves to the apostles'@teaching and the@fellowship, to@the breaking
of bread and the prayers.@And awe@came upon every soul, and@many wonders and signs
were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and@had all
things in common.%And@they were selling their possessions and belongings and
distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.@And day by day,@attending the
temple@together and@breaking bread in their homes, they received their food@with glad and
generous hearts,@praising God and@having favor with all the people. And the Lord@added
to their number@day by day those who@were being saved.
Matthew 28:19-20, gives us Jesus’ commandments to make disciples, which should be a goal for
small groups, Proverbs 27:17, speaks to the care and encouragement that should be occurring
during the meetings and because of the small groups. It should be a reminder for the fellow
members to encourage one another to push towards Christ, refining and building them up. Acts
2:42-47, speaks to the forming and duration of small groups. These verses help to identify what
living life together looks like, giving a detailed view of the community. Finding passages to start
the foundational work of small groups is key to understanding small groups and God’s design
7 Comisky, Biblical Foundations, 61.
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and purpose for them because community is at the core of the church, essential to both
evangelism and discipleship.8
Goals and Dreams for Small Groups
Types of Groups
There are many different types of small groups someone can lead, the following are, cell
groups (also known as care group or home group), discipleship group, ministry group, special-
needs group, affinity group, and house church.9 It is necessary to understand what type of church
a person has and what small group identifies best for the nature of the church. A cell group can
be defined as a group that focuses on building a community, personal and corporate growth, and
ultimately multiplication.10 A discipleship group is described as a small membered group with a
focus on personal and spiritual growth. It is ministry-oriented only in that those who have been
“discipled” go forth and minister.11 A ministry group focuses on ministry, evangelism, and
mission; it is a focus on individual care, community building mission, possibly stud, worship, or
prayer ministries, and evangelism.12 A special-needs group helps people become whole in
relation to self, others and God. They place primary emphasis on this kind of relational and
emotional healing.13 Affinity groups are a small group that has common interests and or
characteristics. There is a focus on individual care, community building, bible study, worship
8 Donahue, Life-Changing Small Groups, 25.
9 Jeffrey Arnold, The Big Book on Small Group (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004), 76-80.
10 Arnold, Big Book on Small Group, 76.
11 Arnold, Big Book on Small Group, 77.
12 Arnold, Big Book on Small Group, 78.
13 Ibid.
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and prayer, and evangelism and mission.14 Lastly, a house church can be described as a small
group that functions like a church but is held in a home. The strengths are that a well-planned
member-involving worship service can be valuable for stimulating Christian growth.15
Particularly for Rebecca, she wants to develop either a cell-group or an affinity group.
Due to her church lacking in small group ministries, she sees the need for there to be a
coordinator who will help oversee the groups, and then to start small and build up the ministry. It
would begin with choosing members who are willing to be in a small group, but are also willing
to grow under leadership, as noted by Jeffrey Arnold.16 In her local church, Rebecca sees the
need for women leadership to pave a way for the younger generation. She hopes to develop cell
or affinity groups that focus on women of the different ages ranges that will focus on growing
their faith and learning more about their identity in Christ and their roles in the church as a
woman, all the while building up their friendship and sisterhood.
Leading Small Groups
Leading small groups begins with a clear mission and purpose. Whether this be a mission
statement or a group covenant, this aids the pathway for small groups to begin, assuring that the
members are aligned and aware of their rules and expectations to follow. This also becomes the
formal agreement of promises and responsibilities that the members will uphold to reach the
goals and purpose of the small group because it provides a healthy form of communication. As
the development of the small group grows, the covenant adapts to the consensus of the group; it
changes to the group’s purpose, identity, and help hold individuals accountable to the group.17
14 Arnold, Big Book on Small Group, 79.
15 Arnold, Big Book on Small Group, 80.
16 Arnold, Big Book on Small Group, 63.
17 Arnold, Big Book on Small Group, 67.
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The identity of a small group starts with who is in the small group. As the small group decides
their members, it needs to be determined what their goals are, what type of group are they
striving to be. Crafting all ideas from the members together, will help open the members and thus
create a covenant or mission statement.
To lead healthy and growing small groups, small groups should be incorporating five
basic practices into their weekly meetings: welcome, worship, word, work, and witness.18 Ed
Stetzer and Eric Geiger says encouragement from a community of Christ followers keeps us soft
before the Lord. Without community we are likely to grow cold in our walk with the Lord.19
When worship is included in small groups, it is the small group showing their submission of
God’s great power and worth, and the desire to pour that out into a song, praises, or other forms.
Psalm chapter ninety-five verses six says, oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel
before the Lord, our Maker! The Bible speaks on the reverence the people of God should have
towards Him. To practice the word, is to have bible study and discussion of God’s Word and
applying it to the daily lives of the members. When reading the bible during small groups, it
helps to see God’s calling for His people, so that they can be transformed into His image, to help
them be better equipped to make a difference in the world.20 The works in small groups, speaks
on the service given to the group and its members, and through the group unto others.21 In a small
group, there can be different roles that the members play to serve – they can be in the role of the
leader, the apprentice, the host, fellowship coordinator and more, all these are parts of service
that are needed and effective in God’s ministry. The idea of ministry is simply serving other to
18 Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups (Virginia: Liberty
University Press, 2016), 35.
19 Ed Stetzer and Eric Geiger, Transformational Groups (Tennessee: B&H Publishing Group, 2014), 141.
20 Dempsey and Earley, Leading Small Groups, 48.
21 Dempsey and Earley, Leading Small Groups, 52.
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equip and empower them to serve King Jesus.22 Lastly, the practice of witnessing in small groups
is to reach people outside of their small group, reaching the unreached. When these practices are
rolled out into the small group’s ministries, they can become effective.
Small Group Ministries
To begin developing a small group ministry, Rebecca wants to begin with edifying her
knowledge and deepening her relationship with God. She sees the need for a group leader or
coordinator to have their own personal growth and understanding of why small groups first. It is
important to have a small group that will grow in healthy ways that is honoring to God but is
edifying for the individuals as well. Dempsey and Earley note eight healthy habits for a leader to
practice and have as: dream of leading a healthy, growing small group, praying for members
daily, inviting new people, contacting members regularly, preparing for the group meeting,
mentoring an apprentice, planning group activities, and being committed to their personal
growth.23 When leaders have the eight habits fully in practice, this can be the difference maker
between an effective leader and an ineffective leader.
Specifically, as a leader, Rebecca believes the most important habits to practice are
prayer, mentoring an apprentice, and preparation. Prayer is what connects God and man and
when a leader prays for their small group, it is inviting the Holy Spirit to work within the
individual and the members, asking that God be present and intercede as needed. Mark 11:4 says
therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be
yours, revealing God’s power and nature. Prayer is the most important activity for a small group
leader.24
22 Dempsey and Earley, Leading Small Groups, 53.
23 Dempsey and Earley, Leading Small Groups, 113.
24 Dempsey and Earley, Leading Small Groups, 119.
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When a small group leader has an apprentice, this will help to further the growth of small
groups in the church. Small groups ministry and in all ministries, it is not meant to be led alone.
The ministry of group life flourishes when the churches emphasize the ongoing development of
leaders in the body.25 To mentor an apprentice is to choose another member out of the group who
will shadow alongside to learn the ropes of small groups and will one day take the role of being a
small group leader themselves. Effective mentoring involves giving away your current ministry
in order to let other minister while you teach them and watch them learn and gain confidence.26
As a leader, it is best to be fully prepared when the small group meets. When a leader
takes the time to prepare for the meeting it will reflect in that time and would be appreciated by
the members. More often than one would think, people can easily notice if someone is prepared
or not, especially in such a special time as small groups. Dempsey and Earley bring up three
preparation keys for each meeting/week: preparing yourself, preparing the atmosphere, and
preparing the agenda.27 Another design that can be useful for effective meetings, comes from Bill
Donahue, in which he approaches with a four part guide: head, heart, hands, and homework.28
The desired outcomes from the guide should result in knowledge, what the group should know,
how the leader wants them to feel, what can they do with the information given, and lastly, what
can the group do afterwards. Preparation is vital as a leader; it sets the foundation and makes for
a successful meeting time. Following these practices, Rebecca believes that these are the
makings of a growing and effective small group and in turn can make a successful small group
ministry in the local church.
25 Donahue, Life-Changing Small Groups, 75.
26 Dempsey and Earley, Leading Small Groups, 141.
27 Dempsey and Earley, Leading Small Groups, 134.
28 Donahue, Life Changing Small Groups, 106.
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Conclusion
Small group ministries are not a one type fits all. There are different groups to take note
of that can come into play in the church. However, following along the manual will help to bring
effective small groups that make disciples who make disciples. To live in community is to live in
God’s call for His people and that should be a desired goal for believers all around. It begins
with the leadership, and a good leader will bring results of a healthy, growing, and multiplying
small group.
Bibliography
Arnold, Jeffrey. The Big Book on Small Group. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2012.
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.
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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, MI: Zondervan, 2012.
Stetzer, Ed and Eric Geiger. Transformational Groups. Tennessee: B&H Publishing, 2014.
