LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Analysis Paper 3
How to Lead a Group
Submitted to Dr. Clay Anthony
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
DSMN 630- B02
Small Group Ministries
by Margaret Humphrey
September 2020
Contents
Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………...…. p. 3
Small Group Beginning Steps ………………………………………………………………… p. 3
Importance of Group Covenant ……..…………………………………………...…………… p. 4
Small Group & the 5 W’s …………………………………… …………………………….… p. 6
Welcome ……………………………………………………………………………… p. 6
Worship ………………………………………………………………………………. p. 7
Word ………………………………………………………………………………….. p. 7
Works ………………………………………………………………………………… p. 8
Witness ……………………………………………………………………………….. p. 8
My Small Group ……………………………………………………………………… p.9
Conclusion …………………..……………………………………………………………….. p. 9
Bibliography ………………………………………………………………………………. p. 10
2
Introduction
Creating a small group is a task that if prayerfully considered and adhered to with biblical
standards can be empowering and encouraging to Christ followers. “Jesus Christ is our first and
greatest model for how small groups can stimulate faith and growth in others”1 Healthy small
groups require careful planning and execution and are often outlined with ministry partners,
doing so creates unity and accountability for small group leaders. The early church met
corporately and then in small groups modeled by the disciples, “People met together in their
homes to break bread together and to use the opportunity to encourage each other to live out their
faith in ever greater obedience.”2
Small Group Beginning Steps
The basis for starting a small group can be simple and engaging at the same time. First,
we must set our priorities in order and define what we think God is asking of us as it relates to
starting a small group. “You want to make disciples and create a loving community within which
your group can study, pray, worship and reach out to the world.”3 Developing a healthy small
group will result in healthy Christ followers who find community and growth within a group of
their peers. “To experience healthy community we need significant relationships.”4
Making disciples within a healthy community will be a rewarding journey for any small
group leader when a plan is defined and followed. Pulling together a group of people is the first
step in creating a group. We as leaders may have an image of what our group looks like, but it is
necessary to remember that this group is to build and engage disciples, not to feed our ego. We
1 Jeffrey Arnold, The Big Book on Small Groups, Revised (Downers Grove, , IL: InterVarsity Press, 2017), 18.
2 Ibid., 21.
3 Ibid., 63.
4 Joseph R. Myers, The Search to Belong Rethinking Intimacy, Community, and Small Groups (Grand Rapids, MI:
Youth Specialties, 2003).
3
need to be willing to be flexible and adaptable and be ready to listen to God’s plan for our group.
“The place to start, when attempting to gather a group, is on your knees. In Luke 6:12-16 we
read that before Jesus chose those who would follow him for the next few years, he committed
the choice to his heavenly Father.”5
The second step in creating a small group is to be willing and ready to create a covenant.
Simply stated, a covenant is an agreement by a group of persons that define the purpose and
intent of a plan. “It established a purpose for the group. It enlisted everyone to the 100 percent
attendance policy. It explained a code of group life. It requested that we enter into accountable
relationships with our new “friends.” The covenant was very organizational and institutional. Its
purpose, values, and vision were all clearly stated.”6
Importance of Group Covenant
A group covenant in any genre is a foundational declaration of the purpose and plan and
used by a group of people to visualize an idea of the outcome they desire. A group covenant in a
small group can be utilized to ensure all group members are on the same page and understand the
philosophies and considerations practiced within the group setting. The “covenant will help the
group identify itself and it’s purpose, and it will help hold the individuals accountable to the
group.”7 The three positive foundational rules that are suggested within the text are appropriate
and ideal when dealing with varied personalities and when you are working to align Christ
followers who are in different places in their relationship with Christ. These rules do non-biased
and promote healthy relationships as well as encourage Christ like behavior that can and should
be mimicked in both the secular and sacred sphere of life. The elements within the group
5 Arnold, The Big Book on, 63.
6 Myers, The Search to Belong, 9.
7 Ibid., 67.
4
covenant should be cohesive, agreeable and consist of guidelines that promote healthy
interpersonal relationships.
“All too often, when a small group begins, there is no clear picture of what the leader or
the leadership team wants to accomplish.”8 Life with people has a much greater opportunity for a
positive relationship when we remember to behave in a manner befitting a Christ follower and
engage with others as Christ would have engaged with them. The covenant standards proposed
encompass all those thoughts. “When these ten covenant points are covered early and often in a
small group, they dramatically increase the clarity and harmony of the group.9
The Covenant of love, prayer and priority all hearten each small group member to
prioritize their small group and its members into such a way as one would themselves.
Remembering to pray and love those within our group and place the focus on others rather than
ourselves. The Covenant of outreach, growth, accountability and openness require us to be
vulnerable and recognize that our relationship with Christ will only flourish if we respect and
engage with the ideologies that are set as standards which Christ modeled. The three remaining
covenants discussed within the text are those of multiplication, confidentiality and availability;
these covenants are linked together in that they are a prerequisite in confidentially building our
relationship with Christ and with others. Each covenant interlocks with the other and are
necessary building blocks in creating intimate, intentional relations with Christ. Having the
covenants in place within our small group makes discipleship an obtainable goal and encourages
us to be brothers and sisters in Christ.
8 Dempsey, Rod, and Dave Earley. Leading Healthy Growing Multiplying Small Groups. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty
University Press, 2016. 88.
9 Ibid,. 89.
5
Small Groups & the 5 W’s
Once the determination has been made to start a small group the group leaders need to
prayerfully consider the type of small group they wish to lead. Determining the type of small
group will impact the type of members involved within your group. Cell groups, discipleship
group, ministry groups, special needs groups, affinity groups and the house church group all have
varied priorities and a single common goal; “intent on participating with Christ in building his
ever-expanding kingdom in the hearts of individuals, in the life of the group and, through
believers, into the world.”10 All small groups should embrace five basic practices within the
group which were discussed in this week’s lecture by Dr. Dempsey, known as the 5 W’s, they
are; Welcome, Worship, Word, Work and Witness and are influential in creating a healthy,
multiplying small group.
Welcome – Building Great Community
The purpose of the Welcome is to create community and promote an environment of
warmth and honesty. “Community begins to be created by greeting people as they come into the
group.”11 There is nothing like a first impression and creating a welcoming atmosphere of
warmth and comfort will make a significant impact on new members. It might help to think of a
specific place where you feel especially welcome and ready to engage and share your personal
experiences with others. Group participation and a feeling of inclusivity will encourage attendees
10 Arnold, Jeffrey. The Big Book on Small Groups, Revised. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2017. 23.
11 Dempsey , Rod. “How to Lead a Small Group.” DSMN 630 Lecture presented at the DSMN 630, September 25,
2020.
6
to grow, “When people are connected relationally the group grows stronger and healthier at the
same time.”12
Worship – Invoking the Presence of God
Worship involves a variety of practices that have the same ending goal; to invite God into
your literal environment and be engaged in His presence. We can worship God through music,
quiet time or bible reading, the important thing is there is no one correct way to invite the
presence of God. “Worship is not something done to us, or for us, but by us.”13 When we have
the presence of God in our small group we are focusing our thought and teaching on Christ and
are ensuring our hearts are aligned with his and our teachings can be biblical in practice.
Word – Asking God to Speak to You
Studying the Word of God is often the primary focus of the group. Groups meet to
determine how to best live in such a way to honor God and the direction to do such is found in
His word. When we break down His word we are growing and gaining an understanding that will
maintain us into the secular world. The discussion of the word should be guided, summarized
and applied in such a way as to create an intimate understanding among all group members.
“Good leaders always help the members of their group discover biblical truths by themselves.
Therefore, they lead a discussion rather than preach a sermon.”14
Works – Putting it into Practice
Discovering the opportunity to put into practice the truths shared to us by digging into the
word of Christ is the outreach necessary to be a picture of Christ. “Group life is the result of
12 Ibid., 77.
13 Ibid., 84.
14 Ibid., 111.
7
giving the group outlets to serve.”15 The act of works should involve all member working out
their salvation and utilizing their God- given talents in such a way as to honor God. “The Body
grows healthy when all the parts are working and working together.”16
Witness – How to be a People- Reaching Group
Setting the expectation to be a small group that witness for Christ is an expectation that
will change eternity for others. Witnessing is a principle that requires putting into practice the
techniques modeled by Christ; Prayer, Faith, Love, Invitation and the Word. Each practice when
worked individually can be daunting and difficult, however, when we work each practice as a
stepping stone to the other practices we can begin to see a shift into the innerworkings of
multiplying the group and growing it, and its members, in such a way that spiritual formation is
abundant and excessive. Develop the expectation and anticipate the change.
The type of small group can be changed and work for the members it has, however the
core values of the Five W’s should be considered and essential, stable practice that when used by
any small group will almost perfectly cause the group to multiply and create empowered
followers of Christ. With each principle in place, the group will be fulfilling the great
commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded
you” (Matthew 28: 19-20, NASB)
My Small Group
The definition of my small group is really a hybrid group in that we are a connector
group which specifically launces our members into disciple specific groups and allows them to
15 Ibid., 118.
16 Ibid., 119.
8
have a landing spot throughout the week. We are a group of believers who meet each week for
dinner and enjoy the safety of talking about our various groups we have engaged in throughout
the week and share our growth, concerns and next steps. There is a discipleship idea that comes
into play in that we are accountable to each other and are often given the task of pointing each
other into the right direction for progression in our individual relationship growth with Christ.
This group was really a new group type for me in that the idea of simply meeting together each
week to “check-in” was not something I had done before as a group.
Conclusion
When considering the idea of starting a small group it is essential to be informed of the
complete scope of aspects that go into leading any small group. Have a knowledge base of the
logistical planning as well as some biblical knowledge of discipleship will ensure a successful
group that produces Christ followers that are growing in their relationship with other human
beings and their relationship with Christ. Prayerfully considering the principles and sourcing
trustworthy guidance is the best option before moving forward as a small group leader.
Bibliography
Arnold, Jeffrey. The Big Book on Small Groups, Revised. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press,
2017.
Dempsey, Rod. “How to Lead a Small Group.” DSMN 630. Lecture presented at the DSMN 630,
September 25, 2020.
Dempsey, Rod, and Dave Earley. Leading Healthy Growing Multiplying Small Groups.
Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University Press, 2016.
Myers, Joseph R. The Search to Belong Rethinking Intimacy, Community, and Small Groups.
Grand Rapids,, MI: Youth Specialties, 2003.
9
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
