LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
How to Lead a Group?
Submitted to Dr. Rodney Dempsey
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
DSMN 630 – D01
Small Group Ministries
by
Michael Frazier
November 28, 2021
Contents
Summary of Reading.....................................................................................................................1
Creating a Group...........................................................................................................................2
Group Outline................................................................................................................................4
Covenant.........................................................................................................................................5
Type of Group.................................................................................................................................6
Bibliography...................................................................................................................................8
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Summary of Reading
There are many aspects about leading a small group, the most important aspects
according to Arnold is, “There should ultimately be only one significant prerequisite for
membership in your small group — willingness to be a disciple.”1 Small groups that succeed are
built on relationships, more specifically covenant relationships. All groups need a dedicated core
group of people that have a willingness to be a disciple. This does not just mean your close
friends, but those who God leads to your group. In Luke 6:12-13 even Jesus sought God’s
guidance in seeking out those he would have follow him; “And it came to pass in those days, that
he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was
day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named
apostles.”2 It is important that you choose the right people to be in your small group. This is more
than a social gather to touch on God’s word and enjoy time with one another eating. This is an
opportunity to come together with someone who is dedicated in leading, teaching and growing a
group of people into disciples for Christ.
One of the vital aspects of a group is preparing for the small group. Every small group
leader should begin his small group preparation with prayer. Just like seeking the right members,
a leader should seek God’s guidance and blessings on what he is to say to the members of the
group. This will help keep the group on a path to reach their goal. Every group should have a
goal. As Dempsey states. “All too often, when a small group begins, there is no clear picture of
1 Arnold, Jeffrey. The Big Book on Small Groups. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004),
(p. 63)
2 Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the King James Version (Nashville:
Holman Bible Pub., 2013.)
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what the leader or the leadership team wants to accomplish.” 3 Along with prayer each week, a
leader should be praying daily for the members of his group and asking for their prayer requests.
This will create a bond with the group and as Arnold states, “that people need an authentic,
intimate community in which to grow.”4 This leads us to the answer of how to lead a small
group; creating a personal, face to face, intimate relationship building group.
Creating a Small Group
There are 5 W’s that are fundamental ion creating a small group: Welcome, Worship,
Word, Work and Witness. With these 5 W’s they should not only be used internally within the
group but should also be practiced outside the group as you go through life together. The 5 W’s is
mentioned as one of the aspects needed to create a healthy and successful small group and the
second is the acronym G.R.O.U.P.: “Guided by a leader who is under authority, Regular meeting
times, Open to God’s Word, United in love serving one another as well as our neighbors (though
our gifts) and Praying Community.”5
Welcome is important because unless the group is welcoming and open, some people may
never create that bond with other. Having an atmosphere that is welcoming when someone
arrives creates a warm environment for everyone; those who know others in the group and those
who are new to the group and may not know anyone. It is important for a group to start off right,
so that everyone connects and develops a relationship with each other. This allows the group to
easily stay on track and reach the goals of the group.
3 Dempsey, R. and Earley, D., 2018. Leading healthy growing multiplying small groups. (2018). (p. 87)
4 Arnold, Jeffrey. The Big Book on Small Groups. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004),
(p. 85)
5 Week Five Lecture Notes, Power Point: The Five W’s of Health Small Groups, DSMN630: Small Group
Ministries.
2
Worship is key to allowing the group to put away the troubles of the day and get their
heart and mine focused on God. Everyone needs time to spend time giving God the time he
deserves being praised and thanking him for all the blessings in our lives. When a small group
takes the time to worship God, this gives the Holy Spirit an invitation to flow over the group and
prepare them for the word that they are about to receive. Dempsey states “One of the greatest,
yet simple, reasons groups fail to reach their potential is that they neglect the power of
worship.”6
The Word is what the small group is there for. This is the part that the leader has been
preparing for all week each week. Praying over what he is going to deliver and praying that god
guides his words is essential to making sure that he is following God’s design for this group.
While the subject matter is important, the other equally important aspect is the open conversation
between all the members. The conversation after the meat of the teaching allows for the members
to discuss the meaning of the lesson and how it applies to their lives.
Work is also an important aspect of the group. According to the 5 W’s Powerpoint there is
a Micro and Macro aspect of work. Micro “the service we give in our group by praying for
each other.”7 Macro “the service we give to our group members outside the group meeting –
meals, hospital visits, helping out - and the service we through our group offer to others –
cleaning the widow’s yard, homeless shelter, babysitting.”8 This is something we as a small
group will do together which will develop a greater relationship and grow the group and each
individual spiritually as it grows the bond with the group.
6 Dempsey, R. and Earley, D., 2018. Leading healthy growing multiplying small groups. (2018). (p. 91)
7 Week Five Lecture Notes, Power Point: The Five W’s of Health Small Groups, DSMN630: Small Group
Ministries.
8 iBid.
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Witness is the last W of the 5 W’s. As Christ commands us, “Go ye therefore, and teach
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you
always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” The main purpose of the small group is creating
disciples to fulfill the Great Commission that Christ gave us.
Group Outline
AGENDA START END PURPOSE
Welcome 6:00 pm 6:10 pm To create a welcoming
atmosphere
Worship 6:10 6:20 To allow the spirit to bring
everyone in focus on why
they are there
Word 6:20 6:45 (could go longer if
discussion is great. Let the
Spirit guide you on this.)
Bring the word that God
has led the leader to bring
and allow conversation
about what was taught.
Work 6:45 6:55 Time to ask for prayer
request and discuss how to
meet the needs of the
group throughout the
week.
Witness 6:55 7:00 Closing Prayer and
discussing who to invite to
the group.
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Creating an outline following the 5 W’s in creating a group is an easy way to set the
direction of the group. The following table is based on starting a group at 6 p.m. which I have
found is the easiest time for the men in my group to meet.
Covenant
One of the worst things for a group is that it never grows and multiples as a group. “All
too often, when a small group begins, there is no clear picture of what the leader or the
leadership team wants to accomplish.”9 There are many aspects to the covenant that makes clear
what is expected of the group, but one of the most important aspects is that “As the leader, you
should make it abundantly clear that your group was formed to minister to one another and reach
out, resulting in the birth of new leaders and new groups.”10 Below is the list Dempsey gives us
as elements of a covenant:11
The Covenant of Priority. I will make attendance at and involvement in this group a
high priority in my schedule.
The Covenant of Prayer. I will pray for the members in this group on a regular basis. I
will also pray that the Lord of the Harvest will send others to our group.
The Covenant of Outreach. I will encourage our group to reach out and involve others,
both believers and those who have yet to believe in Christ as Savior. I will seek to do this to the
best of my ability.
The Covenant of Growth. I will seek personal growth (in all areas of my life), and I
will help the group grow in both quality and quantity.
The Covenant of Openness. I promise to become an open person, disclosing to you, as
well as I am able, my feelings, struggles, joys and hurts. I will also remain open to involvement
in a leadership team for this group or a future group.
9 Dempsey, R. and Earley, D., 2018. Leading healthy growing multiplying small groups. (2018). (p. 88)
10 iBid. (p.90)
11 iBid. (p.88)
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The Covenant of Multiplication. I believe that multiplication is a powerful tool to build
the kingdom of God and will seek to help the leadership team to mature this group to the point
where we can multiply or birth another healthy small group.
The Covenant of Availability. I make available to you — the group and the members
— my time, my insight and my resources.
The Covenant of Confidentiality. I promise to keep confidential anything shared within
the confines of our group, knowing that this is essential to trust and openness between us. I also
agree not to share private prayer requests with others unless I have the permission of the person
sharing the request.
The Covenant of Accountability. I recognize that my Christian growth will be
enhanced if my walk with Christ and my relationships with others are open to other members of
my small group. Therefore, I ask you to watch my life, to check on my progress in achieving my
personal and spiritual goals and to help me become more like Christ.
The Covenant of Love. I promise to seek to grow in my love for God, for the members
of this group and for people who may not be in this group at this time. I understand love —
according to the Parable of the Good Samaritan — involves risk, sacrifice, time and
commitment.
Type of group
There are different types of groups that Arnold discusses. The first is a Cell Group
(Home group/Care Group) this is the most common group found in churches. The focus of this
group is community and growth through a bible study, fellowship, and prayer within the group.
The next is Discipleship Group is care for each of the members, building community between
everyone, Bible study worship and prayer. Then you have Ministry Group which focuses on
member care, building community within the group, mission, worship & prayer ministry,
evangelism and possibly Bible study. After that we have Special-needs Group whose main focus
is on member care and healing, building community within the group, outreach to those who are
broken, may include Bible study, worship & prayer ministry, evangelism. Affinity Group is the
next one. This group focuses on member care, building community within the group, evangelism
and mission, Bible study, worship & prayer ministry. The last group is the House Group. This
one is just like a church that is held in a home. Its focus is on member care, worship, prayer,
Bible study, and outreach ministry.
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The group that I have led at my church has been Cell group. The purpose of this group
was to form the foundations for a men’s ministry at my church. Its focus was to share a direction
for the group to be Kingdom Men Rising, based on Tony Evans small group study of the same
name. Building relationship with a small core group of men that will grow and bring more men
into the group was the goal of the group. We set our covenant down and made sure it was
understood this was a place for men to talk and open-up with each other with the understanding
it would go no further then this group. When we have bonded as men together with the purpose
of lifting each other up to be the men god has planned for us, we will turn the small group more
into a disciple making group. By forming the building a group of men that are relational with
each other will help strengthen the core that will allow the group to multiply and grow as it is
intended.
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Bibliography
Dempsey, Rod & Earley, Dave. Leading Healthy Growing Multiplying Small
Groups.
Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University Press, 2016.
Week Five Lecture Notes, Power Point: The Five W’s of Health Small Groups, 5 W's
PowerPoint.pptx: DSMN630: Small Group Ministries (B02) (liberty.edu).
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