What is a Small Group?
Heather Cumby
DSMN630: Small Group Ministries
April 2024
Contents
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………….2
Arnold Summary..………………….……………..…..……………………………..……………2
Earley and Dempsey Summary……………...……….….……..…………………..……………..3
Clique versus Small Group….……..………...……..…..………………………….……………..4
G.R.O.U.P…………………………………………………..………….……...….………………5
Four Questions……………….………………………….…….……….……...….………………7
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………...……….………...8
Bibliography…………………………………………………………………….………………...9
1
Introduction
Acts 2:46-47 discusses some of the secrets of the early church. Among them is that God’s
people would meet in groups in the courtyard or homes after the temple. Meeting in groups
allowed the teaching of Christ that was not taught in the temple since the Jewish Church did not
accept Christ. Since then, group meetings have been the way of fellowship. When the Christians
were being persecuted, they met underground in small groups. When the Protestant churches
took off, they met in small groups known as sunday school and bible studies. Then, there was a
decade that was focused on the youth. There were groups known as youth groups where youth
met in age-appropriate clusters. Whether it was the first groups in the Bible or the Cell-Groups of
today, there will always be one thing in common: Furthering the education of Christ.
Arnold Summary
Every church has small groups, but how can the church utilize them for the spiritual
growth of others? This is the main idea of Jeffery Arnold and his book The Big Book on Small
Groups. In the first two chapters, Arnold breaks down the power of small groups and building
the church through small groups.
The author shows small groups' importance and impact on The Great Commission in the
first chapter. Small groups are the key to disciple-making. Jesus did, as should Christians. There
was a clear understanding that groups should be open and allow members to invite people from
the community to join. The Great Commission is not limited to traveling long distances; a
Christian can partake in the Great Commission with our neighbors. In the second chapter, Arnold
discusses the importance of small groups for the church and which groups are the most
beneficial. There are two groups: one focuses on the group's oneness and limiting inviting others,
2
and the other focuses on the group's expansion into the community. According to Arnold, the
primary purpose of a group is to ask the lost, be responsible for their spiritual growth, and then
watch them leave and grow their group.
Earley and Dempsey Summary
The third section of Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley's book Leading Small Groups
discusses the importance of a healthy group. The two authors cover the acrostic G.R.O.U.P., the
five W’s of a healthy group: welcome, worship, word, works, and witness, ending with an
explanation of a L.I.F.E. Group. Earley and Dempsey give the reader a firm grasp of what it
entails to lead a healthy group and what a group should look like from the outside looking in.
The first chapter of the section covers the acrostic for the word group. While the word
could stand for anything, The acrostic given by Dempsey and Earley is a guideline for a small
group. More on the acronym will be covered later in this paper. The preceding seven chapters
cover the five w’s of a healthy small group. The authors cover two points on welcome and one
on worship, word, witness, and works. Small groups are supposed to impact people's lives,
spiritually nurture them, and fill them with love. This is what the five w’s cover, according to the
authors.
The last chapter of the section covers the acrostic, L.I.F.E. Love, considering how to love
one another (John 13:34) and to love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds (Mark 12:33). I
stands for instruction, the instruction given to the leader from god and the instructions given to
the members to aid in spiritual growth. Fellowship is the following letter, which is the main
reason people get together in the first place. The Party! The last letter stands, for example. In
simple terms, lead by example. A L.I.F.E. group is not a group that one stays in for life but a
group that gives life.
3
Clique versus Small Group
If you are involved in a congregation, then every one of you has small groupings in your
congregation.1 Not only are there small groupings in church, but they are also at work, school,
social gatherings, and more. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, a human needs five
levels: physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. Depending on
personal needs will depend on the type of clique in which a person will engage. Cliques are
groups of people that individuals feel safe and loved by and who they can be themselves around.
Cliques are closed, inward-focused groups, which means that once the group is
established, it is difficult to join and feel a sense of belonging. The group members also only
focus on the group's integrity. Their relationship has a tight bond, and nothing outside will
jeopardize it. The clique's leadership is typically a controlling style led by one or possibly two
group members. Other characteristics of cliques are elitist, static, talk, segmented, and
unintentional. A clique cares about what is on the inside of the circle instead of what it could be
and the impact it can have.
A person must feel loved, safe, and belong when entering a small group. Small groups are
open and outward-focused, meaning they are a revolving door as people grow and search for
different groups that meet their spiritual needs. These groups affect the community and who else
they can impact. The groups are spirit-led. The only leader is the Holy Spirit. Every member has
the same importance, no matter their spiritual maturity. Jesus did not put himself above his
disciples, nor should other group members. Other characteristics of small groups are future-
oriented, inclusive, fluid, do, integrated, and intentional. Small groups focus on how they can
include everyone, make them feel welcome, and give them the tools to succeed using their gifts.
1 Jeffrey Arnold, The Big Book on Small Groups (Revised Edition) (InterVarsity Press, 2017), 10.
4
G.R.O.U.P.
G.R.O.U.P. is an acrostic whose letters stand for the following areas of true leadership.2
Guided by a leader, Regular meeting times, Open God’s word. United in service, and Prayer for
one another. Any group could survive without this acrostic, but these areas are the guidelines for
a healthy and successful small group. Let’s break down each area.
G
The first area is that a leader should guide the group. Simply put, if you don’t have a
leader, it ain’t gonna happen.3 There needs to be a leader; the leader does not always have to be
the teacher. It needs to be a person who can keep the group organized and on track. Think of it
this way: in sports, there is the head coach and assistant coaches, then the team captain or
captains. The team captain keeps morale, deals with conflicts, and keeps the team organized.
However, the captain is less important than the other team members. The same idea is of the
group leader. Jesus was a group leader who did not put himself above his disciples. This is why
he washed their feet (John 13: 1-17). When it comes to being a group leader, we must set aside
personal pride and be motivated by the Holy Spirit.
R
Setting a time for a small group is essential. However, regular meeting times are even
more vital for the growth and development of members. When an individual is utilizing
Alcoholic Annonymous (AA) or other intervention groups to help with addictions or mental
health issues. A person needs to meet monthly or on an as-needed basis. They meet weekly or bi-
weekly to be accountable for their actions. Small groups are seen as just a gathering. It falls in
the same aspect as the gym; no one can give thirty minutes to an hour to better their lives when it
2 Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups,
(Wordsearch, 2018), 31.
3 Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups, 31.
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is already good enough. Small groups need to be treated as Sinners anonymously. The whole
idea is to better ourselves and learn from God instead of settling for a sunday only lifestyle.
Meeting weekly is best because people need to gather to serve and share God’s love and gifts
with the world.4 Life does happen, and things get in the way, so having multiple options allows
more people to join the group.
O
Opening God’s word needs to be the center of a meeting. Studying and applying the
Word of God can change us from what we are into what God has in mind for us.5 After the
temple, small groups were used to study Christ’s words. Small groups should be used the same
way today as a fellowship to further spiritual growth and knowledge about Christ and the Bible. I
believe no spiritual growth happens if God's word is not the group's center.
U
One of the five types of personal needs is a sense of belonging and feeling loved. United
in service allows this need to be met. In the New Commandment (John 13:34–35), Jesus urges us
to “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”6 Feeling loved and
belonging go hand in hand. No one wants to walk into an established group and feel like they are
the bastard child. When working in sales, there is a saying, “Let them hold it, sit in it, plan events
around it, decorate it out loud, and they will want it.” The same goes for groups. Give the
members a job, and they will feel like they are contributing and belong. The text gives a list of
ideas that can help with the involvement of individuals in the group. As people get involved, then
they feel like they belong.
P
4 Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups, 32.
5 Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups, 32.
6 Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups, 32.
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The last letter of the acrostic is praying for one another. Prayer is a powerful ability, and
when two people agree on something in prayer, it is done (Matt. 18:19). There is strength in
numbers. Praying for one another also means encouragement. Don’t underestimate the power of
small group prayer when you meet together.7 Keeping a prayer journal could be another
involvement for a group member. This will also encourage members to keep a prayer journal at
home. When God answers prayers, the date will be noted. Prayer is another way to show love
and belonging. As a person prays for another, it makes them feel loved and safe.
Four Questions
Are we introducing Christian disciplines into our small groupings?
My church introduces Christian disciplines to its small groups. To have a group rooted in
Christ, there needs to be a way for members to grow and be vulnerable with one another. Our
groups accomplish this through learning, reflecting, practicing, and talking.
Are our small groupings building the kingdom or hindering the kingdom?
My church is building the kingdom of God. The church is heavy in small group activities,
encouraging enrollment every sunday. The education of Christ and the fellowship of members is
vital to the church. My church is also big on making a stand in the community. However, some
of our groups look more like cliques than others.
Are we training leaders who bring Christian disciplines into small groupings?
Yes, we are. Our church actively trains leaders for Christ—every quarter, a new small
group or two blooms, meaning that we are growing. Since our groups are firm in spiritual
disciplines, the budding ones are also strong. There is a firm understanding of what a group
7 Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups, 34.
7
leader should motivate. There are also meetings for group leaders to ensure everyone is doing
their due diligence.
Is our entire congregation working to develop a disciplined small-group mentality?
As with any church, some members are about small groups—talking, sharing, and trying
to get more people into their groups. At the same time, some people have not had good
experiences in groups and chose not to help develop groups. This action needs to be addressed,
and there needs to be a way to make everyone feel included, especially new members.
Conclusion
Small groups are essential for individual growth and church growth. They play a massive
role in the Great Commission and in reaching out to the local community. It must be
remembered that small groups are not a time for “hanging out with friends”; they are a time to
learn, talk, and teach the importance of being a Christian. It is crucial to ensure that groups do
not become inward, not wanting to allow others in or upward, too large. The main idea should be
that a small group should be an outward group. It should train leaders to go out and start new
groups.
Bibliography
Dempsey, Rod, and Dave Earley. Leading Healthy Growing Multiplying Small Groups. First
edition. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University Press, 2016.
8
Arnold, Jeffrey. The Big Book on Small Groups. Revised edition. Downers Grove, Ill:
InterVarsity Press, 2004.
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