Training Manuel for Small Groups
Heather Cumby
DSMN630: Small Group Ministries
May 2024
Contents
Motivation………………………..…………………………………….………………………….2
Dreams and Goals.……………..…….…………..…..………………..……………..……………3
Type of Groups……………………………...……….….……..……….…………..……………..4
How to Develop Leaders …………………………………………………………………………5
How to Lead……………………………………………………………………………………….6
Growth and Development
Steps for Creating
Group Outline
How to Grow……………………………………………………………………………………..10
Importance of Growth
Top Strategies
Top Challenges
How to Multiply………………………………………………………………………………….13
How to Develop and Transition………………………………………………………………….14
Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………..16
Motivation
1
Anyone can gather a group of people and hang out every week. Some families gather
every weekend for dinner. Gathering a small group of believers together every week should not
be an issue. The gathering part is not a frightening step. It is the leader. So many things can go
wrong that it is hard to focus on what could go right. To eliminate fear, a leader has to have a
motive. Why should the group be started? Who will attend? What should be taught? Motivation
is the fuel that keeps the fire burning when things get tough.
There are many ways that a person can get and stay motivated in a small group. First, get
a journal. The journal can be used for prayers and ideas about the small group. Always start a
mission for God in prayer. Write down prayer requests for the developed group and when God
answers the prayers. Also, write down any theme, specific target area, or task you want to
accomplish. Once the group outline is all worked out, the next thing to do is make a vision board.
The vision board should explain why the group is vital to the leader. Vision boards are inspiring
when someone feels discouraged trying to obtain a goal.
Another way to gain motivation is to read books about developing small groups. The
more knowledge a person has about a subject, the more confident they feel and the more
successful they will become. Along the same lines as reading, a leader can reach out to other
successful team leaders to gain insight on tips and challenges. Although a person can read
information in a book, personal experience is always more applicable. Finally, the last way to
stay motivated is to remember why the group is being started in the first place.
When developing a small group, things will happen that will make a leader not go
through with it. Like starting a business, jumping in without a mission statement or an idea of
how to succeed will cause the company to fail. The same applies to small groups. Motivation
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comes with courage. Courage comes from knowledge and experience. Use available resources
and stay in prayer. The group will develop the way God intended for it, too.
Dreams and Goals
A person can not go through life without having dreams and goals. Though the words are
used interchangeably, they have two different meanings. Dreams are often ideas that are not
easily obtainable. At the same time, goals can be achieved with the right strategy. Dreams can
become goals. For example, it may seem like a dream if a person wants to obtain a doctorate.
However, it can be done with the proper steps and hard work. Starting a small group is a dream,
especially when getting started.
Small groups start as dreams. The question is whether the dream is personal or the will of
God. Pride often gets in the way of God’s work, especially when bringing people to Christ. It is
easy to give personal credit when a person comes to Christ or when a small group is doing
exceptionally well. However, all the credit goes to God, not to pride. Once it is determined that
the dream of developing is God’s will, it is time to make it a reality.
Strategic planning is the process that helps a business succeed; it can also be used
personally. It is based on a mission and goals while considering possible challenges and how to
handle them. The mission must indicate what the leader plans for the group. The easy way to
devise a mission statement is to answer what the group will do, who it is for, how it will be
accomplished, and what it will achieve. Here is an example of a mission statement: “Our mission
at small group name is to provide unwavering love, support, and acceptance to individuals who
have lost their way due to chronic illness or disease. With a strong belief in the power of God’s
love, we strive to show them that they are still valued and cherished members of the church
community. Through compassionate care, understanding, and guidance, we aim to restore hope
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and inspire individuals to reconnect with their faith, rediscover their purpose, and embrace their
rightful place in the church family. Together, we will create a nurturing environment where
everyone can find solace, healing, and the strength to overcome challenges. At small group
name, we are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those who often feel forgotten,
reminding them that God's love knows no boundaries and that they are truly seen, heard, and
loved.” Once the mission statement is complete, it is time to outline goals.
Goals are tangible ways to carry out the group's mission and must be measurable. When
setting goals, it is easier to look ahead and work backward. Start with a five-year goal. Where
should the group be in five years? After that, break the goal down into yearly and monthly goals.
If the goal is that the group should have expanded into three groups in five years, smaller goals
should reflect that goal. If the goal is to have ten non-believers saved in five years, then there
should be goals that lead up to that. For example, there needs to be two non-believers saved
every year. Then, take it even smaller. They know that one person will show interest for every
ten people spoken to. Then, there needs to be a monthly goal of inviting ten people to the group.
Statistically, one person will buy the product from every hundred people talked to. In this case,
convert to Christ. Goals are ever-changing. However, they should always line up with the
mission. Keep dreams, missions, and goals written in the journal to keep track of them.
Type of Group
Now that everything is progressing, it is time to figure out what type of small group
should be. The type of group should align with the group's mission and goals. There are six
types: cell groups, discipleship groups, ministry groups, special-needs groups, affinity groups,
and house church. Regardless of what group a small group is, it should always be an outward
group. It will always invite new people in and reach out to the community.
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Cell groups are for members who are part of the church. They focus on individual
growth, biblical studies, and gospel spreading. Discipleship groups are for members who seek a
deep commitment and are very serious about their faith. They also focus on individual
development and biblical studies. Ministry groups are committees that concentrate on missions,
gospel spreading, and personal growth. Special-needs groups are groups that target any area that
is crippling to people in the community. Examples would be groups for people who have eating
disorders, chronic illnesses, or addiction problems. The group focuses on individual growth and
healing, searching for the broken to show them they still have a purpose and are loved. Affinity
group has members of the same race, sex, or lifestyle come together. The group focuses on
personal development, biblical studies, and gospel spreading. Examples of this group could be a
moms group or a widows group. The last group is a home church group. Like a cell group, this
group is open to anyone looking to grow their relationship with Christ.
Determining the type of group will determine the kind of people who join it. However, it
will not change the growth opportunity or the spread of the Gospel. Praying about the type of
group, mission, and goals is mandatory. A group that starts in prayer and stays in worship will be
successful. If a group begins as one group, it can constantly shift into another type of group. This
can happen when a group expands and multiplies.
How to Develop a Leader
When you think of "leadership, "what is the first thing that pops into your mind?1
Leadership is when a person leads a group of people. The leader holds a leadership position. This
definition differs from the five examples in the book. While everyone may have their definition
of leadership, the text boils it down to one word: "influence." Thanks to social media, tons of
"influencers" are out there. How do you know which one to follow?
1 Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups (Wordsearch, 2018), 65.
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The same question can be asked in small groups. How do you know which group is right
for you? In Chapter 3 of The Big Book on Small Groups, Arnold provides information on what a
leader looks like and the traits and skills of a small group leader. A good leader should make
everyone feel welcome and included.
A small group has three leadership positions. First is the Group leader position. This is
the person who oversees the whole operation. They are in charge of the growth and development
of disciples. The next position is the Apprentice. Refer to this position as the assistant. However,
one could view it as a "student teacher" situation, where the apprentice studies under the leader.
The last position is the group host. The group host is the "Walmart greeter. They are the ones
who make everyone feel welcome. The right leadership team can be a powerful force for
drawing unbelievers to the cross and aiding believers in growing in Christ.2
How to Lead
Leading a small group is similar to leading a family. As a parent, the task is to nurture
children so they can live independently and have a family. Leading a small group is the same,
except the leader spiritually nurtures the members so they can go out and have a small group. It
is important to remember that leading a small group is to lead a group that is always a revolving
door, people in and people out.
Leading a group means doing things with others. Instead, it means delegating jobs and
assigning positions. Spiritually nurturing people includes helping individuals find their spiritual
gifts. In a group, there are roles. There is the leader, the apprentice, the host or hostess, and other
roles that can be given out to members, like prayer leader, event coordinator, etc. Giving
everyone a role will keep them engaged and have a purpose.
2 Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups. 67.
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However, a leader must have group members before a leader can hand out roles. Getting
members is the same way a person will sell an item in a business. The leader has to sell the group
by advertising. No, a leader does not have to pay for advertising. The leader can use free
advertising. Free advertising includes reaching out to close family and friends, putting the group
in the brochure or on the bulletin board at church, and even making a social media page for the
group. If you build it, they will come, and once they get into the group, they will grow as
members share it. Remember, the leader does not do everything on its own. It takes a village.
Growth and Development
Growth and development happen slowly. A group can not run before it can crawl, and
growth is not linear. This process step can cause a leader to get discouraged and terminate a
group. The growth and development of a small group are similar to that of a business. A small
group is a business. The CEO is God, the president is the leader, the manager is the apprentice,
the assistant is the host or hostess, and the employees are the other members. The product that is
being sold is Christ. Now that competition and other businesses sell the same product, how can
this group stand out?
Growth will start to slow since the leader will reach out to those close to them. However,
slow and steady wins the race. Beginning with a few people will allow a group to develop a
covenant that will state what the group is about and basic guidelines for the members. The
covenant will help members stay accountable and to help minimize any problems. Developing a
group will always have its challenges. These challenges do not mean that it is time to quit. It
means it is time to adjust the covenant and solve the problems. Part of growth and development
is problem-solving.
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The growth and development of the group should align with biblical scripture. There is
the scripture about false teaching (2 Tim 4:3-4, Acts 20:28-30). As leaders, we should be correct
in the biblical teachings. Nurturing the growth of members allows for proper and correct
nutrition. The wrong nutrition can cause issues and possibly the spiritual death of the member.
There is also the scripture of bearing fruit (John 15:16), which is about spiritually developing
people so that they will go forth and bear fruit. They will multiply. If the growth and
development do not align with this, the group will grow stagnant, and the members will not
multiply. Growth and development can be measured by the goals being met.
How to Lead
Steps for Creating a Small Group
Creating anything takes time and patience. Nothing happens overnight. The same mindset
should be taken when developing a small group. The first step to any task is to pray about it.
Leading a small group can be difficult. You may find yourself preparing to start a first group and
realize how scared you are.3 Leaders must seek guidance from God, just like with every aspect of
life. As a first-time leader, fear may be stopping a group's development. However, a leader must
remember that God did not give us a spirit of timidity (2 Tim. 1:7). While praying, a leader
should research, consult others, and start planning the group dynamics. Strategic planning is
what a leader should do to make the group successful.
Once a leader has the plan down, God gives the green light to move forward. Then, the
leader can start looking for members. The place to start when attempting to gather a group is on
your knees.4 The leader is again praying for this step of the process. Since the question “What
kind of group will you lead?” is answered in the strategic plan, the next question is where I will
3 Jeffrey Arnold, The Big Book on Small Groups (Revised Edition) (InterVarsity Press, 2017), 62.
4 Jeffrey Arnold, The Big Book on Small Groups (Revised Edition), 63.
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find my members. The most accessible place to start is in the circle of influence. Once
individuals have accepted your invitation, the real work of ministry begins.5 The third step is
building a covenant. The covenant is an agreement between the members on how the group
should run and how to hold members accountable. The first covenant will be the trial run, and
then after that, the group will move on to a more permanent covenant.
Once the group is formed, the group is at stage one: Just getting started. After the group
established its boundaries and purpose and resolved its issues, it moved to stage two: Mature.
Step one can take as long as it needs. However, a re-evaluation should be done every six weeks.
Eventually, all good things must come to an end. When a group is ready to retire, it has entered
stage three: Later. This can happen for numerous reasons, such as members moving. Throughout
the entire process, the leader must pray as its members. Joel Comiskey has made a study of
thriving small-group leaders. He discovered that groups that multiplied regularly were led by
leaders who prayed an average of an hour daily.6
Group Outline
Once a group is ready for its first meeting, an outline of the weekly meeting should be
created. The five W’s should be the essential practice in every small group. The five W’s are
welcome, worship, word, work, and witness. Here is a sample outline using the five W’s.
7:00 pm: Welcome: Have the host(s) greet members as they enter the door and instruct them to
enjoy refreshments while the others arrive. Icebreaker games can be played here.
7:10 pm: Worship: Put on some Christian music to cue people to come together at a designated
meeting space (Kitchen table, Living Room, Florida Room, etc.). Keep the music going in the
background, and use the time to go through the prayer journal. They jot down prayer requests
5 Jeffrey Arnold, The Big Book on Small Groups (Revised Edition), 65.
6 Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups (Wordsearch, 2018), 87.
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and write them down when they are answered. Then, have a prayer. (Two members should have
jobs here: the journalist and the person leading prayer.)
7:15 pm: Word: Bible Study and Application. Most groups go in together and purchase books for
the group. This allows everyone to have weekly studies to discuss during this time and answer
any questions.
7:40 pm: Work: This would be when group members pray for one another. Larger groups will be
broken down into smaller groups for this task. It makes people feel more comfortable. This time
could also be used to plan a more significant outing later in the month. These outings could be
visitations or helping others.
7:50 pm: Witness: Evangelism and the Great Commission are the purposes of being a Christian.
At this point, we will discuss how invitations in the community are going and evangelism ideas
like making goodie bags for the homeless or bookbags for school supplies for needy children.
They are closing prayer.
How to Grow
Importance of Growing a Small Group
If a person does something exciting or goes and eats at a new restaurant and loves it, what
will that person do? Will they keep it for themselves or tell everyone about the fun and loving
experience? An open group allows members to go out and talk about the fun that they have in the
group. While the people might not join the exact group, it may interest them in searching for a
small group in their church. Small groups need to be open groups. Open to new people
consistently coming into the Christian community where they can see and hear about Christ
among friends.7 As a leader, the door of the small group should be a revolving door. People
7 Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups (Wordsearch, 2018), 111.
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leaving who will further their nurturing, people starting their groups, and new people coming
through the door to learn.
The most effective and healthy groups maintain an emphasis on multiplying leaders and
forming new groups from the existing group.8 Growing a group means that there will be the
ability to meet and greet new people, which is part of the regular rhythm of life. According to the
Verge Network, there are 25 ways to meet new people and expand the group in the community.
A few of these ways coincide with Early and Dempsey’s theory that “God enjoys a good party.”
God does. In Acts 2:14-42, Peter and the apostles had a party, and at the end of the party, a sum
of 3,000 were baptized and added to the church. However, food is the best way to a person's
heart in many cultures. Jesus had food with many sinners, and they changed their ways, so we
should do the same. Whether in small one-on-one meetings or big parties.
The growth of a small group follows what Christ told us to do. Go forth and bear fruit
(John 15:16). To bear fruit in an orchard or garden, a plant has to be nurtured and tended to. Only
the best fruit from the best plant will the seeds be harvested from, and then new plants will be
grown. The cycle continues until the plants and seeds are so strong that they can be given to the
community. The same thing applies to small groups. Growth is vital for the leader, the church,
the members, and the community. Without it, what is the point of a group?
Top Suggestions
Although there are many ideas on how to grow a group, a few suggestions are the best.
The first suggestion is a good party. Everyone loves parties—Well, just about everyone loves a
good party. Parties are a great way to get people together and socialize, and making them theme-
related makes them more enjoyable. Many people have a relational void or hole in their hearts.
8 Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups (Wordsearch, 2018), 112.
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One reason people come to small groups is to fill that social void in their lives.9 These voids are
filled by parties or social gatherings outside small group meetings. It makes people feel like they
belong to something meaningful for the hierarchy of needs.
The second suggestion for growing a small group is to look at personal social groups.
Parties are great and can include people from social groups, but some prefer small gatherings.
These people need a more direct approach. This can include inviting friends or family for dinner
or even a game night. There could even be a meet-up for coffee at the library. It is all about
making people feel included and safe. Reaching out to people for small gatherings could consist
of people as clothes as our neighbors.
The final suggestion for growing a small group is through volunteer work. Volunteering
gives ample opportunity to talk to others about leading a small group. Volunteering to carpool,
do little league activities, attend school events, etc. There are always moments to talk about God
without going door to door (which is illegal in some places). The possibilities are endless when it
comes to impacting the community. The goal is to bring people to find the spiritually dead and
bring them to Christ. At the same time, we nurture those at different stages of their spiritual
maturity. On a personal note, this is a weak area for me. I can do all the planning and assemble a
group, but growing it will be the hardest part. I am not a social butterfly. That is my husband.
Top Challenges
Everything in life comes with challenges; nothing is ever easy. I mentioned that talking to
strangers is optional, which is a challenge. Even though talking to new people is unimportant, I
still try. I just have to not get discouraged when I fail. When growing a group and developing
leaders, we tend to put pressure on ourselves. Leaders have to understand that there are others
when developing leaders. It is a huge relief when we know that it’s not entirely up to us to
9 Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups (Wordsearch, 2018), 138.
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develop leaders.10 If we do not take personal pride in developing leaders and giving the glory to
God, the same thing applies when we fail to produce leaders. Everything happens in God’s time,
not our own. Leaders have to sit back and let God be in control.
Another challenge that arises when trying to grow groups is groups growing stagnant. To
avoid becoming ingrown, stagnant, and exclusive, there should be a definite starting and
stopping point to the relationship.11 Groups get comfortable with being the way they are. Why
invite anyone in if that will mess up the status quo and the flow of the group? Family-style
groups used to be expected in small groups. However, this style of group dies. It is the end of the
family line, like when a male does not have a son to carry on his last name. Without a goal to
focus the group outward, it can become an inward family group with a short lifespan. Initially,
the goals of expanding the group must be known so all members can do their part.
How to Multiply
Ecclesiology is the study of the Church. Even though Christians in the New Testament
used ecclesia to refer to the church, the regular secular use simply referred to a gathering of
people.12 Looking back at the first churches in the Bible, home meetings were practiced regularly
and for many reasons. First, the first Christians came from a Jewish background. They kept their
Jewish practices, like going to the temple, but did not have anywhere to talk about Christ. They
would meet in the temple courtyard and other people's homes (Acts 2:46-47). The second reason
small groups of people started meeting in homes was after the fall of Jerusalem to the Roman
Empire. At this point, Christians were being killed if they were caught. They would meet in
small groups to worship so they would not be seen.
10 Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups (Wordsearch, 2018),
141.
11 Jeffrey Arnold, The Big Book on Small Groups (Revised Edition) (InterVarsity Press, 2017), 78.
12 Joel Comiskey, Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church: New Testament Insights for the 21st Century
Church. (CCS Publishing, 2012), 147.
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Today, in the United States, people can worship freely and openly. There is no reason to
have a small group at home. In the twenty-first century, face-to-face interaction has decreased by
30 percent and has reduced more since the pandemic.13 When people meet, they would prefer a
public setting. The reasoning behind it could stem from fear and social judgment. For example,
statistics show that a home robbery is more likely to happen by someone a person knows than a
stranger, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice. There is also the societal pressure that
someone's house needs to be up to standards (personal experience). However, home groups need
to make a comeback.
With the use of technology, there is a way to make home groups safe. First, society used
to be more secure. There is no sleeping with the windows open and the front door unlocked.
Utilize background checks before inviting people into your home. They are easy to obtain. If a
member is putting the member or family in danger, opt for a public setting. Second, use the art of
transition. Start the small group in a public setting. Once everyone feels safe, then move it to
someone's home. The last thing that can be used is video chats. Multiple reasons make people
feel uncomfortable in someone else's house. If this is an issue, do not exclude them. Give them
the option to Zoom or Skype the group. The more options given to the group will allow the
group to grow. It has been said that a good teacher makes accommodations for their students.
How to Develop and Transition
Once a group is fully developed, there are two ways that it can go. The first is that it can
dissolve. This means that the group did not develop properly, and the apprentice could not
sustain the group. The second is that the group transitions. A transitioned group implies that the
group is adequately developed and that the apprentice can maintain the group. A developed
13 Derek Thompson, “Why Americans Stopped Hanging Out-and Why It Matters.” The Ringer, (February 27,
2024).
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group can transition by the leader stepping away and the apprentice taking over or by the
apprentice going and starting their group.
While there is no wrong way to transition a group, it is up to how the leader and the
apprentice feel. Understanding the transition should be discussed so that the leader and the
apprentice know the end goal. I prefer to keep leading the original group and allow the
apprentice to start their group and take members with him. Then, the leader will take on a new
apprentice. Again, the preference is up to the leader and the apprentice. Once the transition is
complete, the cycle starts over again.
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Bibliography
Arnold, Jeffrey. The Big Book on Small Groups. Revised edition. Downers Grove, Ill:
InterVarsity Press, 2004.
Comiskey, Joel. Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church: New Testament Insights for the
21st Century Church. CCS Publishing, 2012.
Dempsey, Rod, and Dave Earley. Leading Healthy Growing Multiplying Small Groups.
First edition. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University Press, 2016.
Thompson, Derek. “Why Americans Stopped Hanging Out-and Why It Matters.” The Ringer,
February 27, 2024. https://www.theringer.com/2024/2/27/24084331/why-americans-
stopped-hanging-out-why-it-matters-teenager-loneliness.
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