LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
HOW TO GROW A SMALL GROUP ASSIGNMENT
Submitted to Dr. Gary Waller
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
By
Patrick Scales
DSMN 630 D01: Small Group Ministries
December 4, 2022
Table of Contents
Assigned Chapters Summary …………………………………………………………………..1
House Chapters 4 – 7 Summarized …………………………………………………….1
Earley & Dempsey Chapters 4 – 7 Summarized ………………………………………6
Two Suggestions on How to Grow Small Groups ……………………………………………10
Two Greatest Challenges of Growing a Small Group ……………………………………….10
Bibliography ……………………………………………………………………………………11
1
Assigned Chapters Summary
House opens up chapter 4 reiterating from the previous section of his book saying that the
building of a foundation for a community lays out a scriptural conviction for the need of
community addresses the biblical aspects linked to the image of God reestablished through the
cross. However, moving forward in this chapter House wants to articulate a clearer picture of
what community inspired by the Holy Spirit should look like, along with the views of the reader
to exceed the anticipations of what God might do through them to be greater.1
In chapter 4 House, breaks down community using seven different aspects of oppositions
through subtopics in relation to community. He expounds on being visionaries as opposed to
being reactionaries, saying that in developing a clear vision for community groups determining
factor comes by conviction and helps build toward that goal of principle for the community
needs in opposition to just being a church of institution. The reality of having a vision for
community aligns with what God wants for the church will help with to familiarize with the
needs of the church and help build a better-rounded community from the start.2 However, House
says that in order to have a vision for the community, understanding the purpose of the
community in important as well. There are many facets of groups in the church that come into
play and are considered to be purposes and are merited and can be deemed essential but, House
says that they are merely products of the community rather than its ultimate goal. Moreover, the
purpose in community is to obtain the grace of God and respond by reflecting and lifting up the
name of Christ exemplified in the life of Christ disciples, in the image of God, through the
identity in Christ, as worshipers, that existed in the community, as the missionaries of God. 3
1 House, Brad. Community: Taking your small group off life support. Crossway, 2011. 87.
2 House, 88.
3 House, 90.
2
House goes on in the next section of his book with a contrast who we are in our identity while
taking precaution on building on that identity based on what we do but instead for loving one
another in action and identifying as a Christians community. Therefore, resulting in a corporate
identity in Jesus with the results of worship, community, and mission, concluding in the
glorification of God.4 In addition to, the key, which brings God the glory in our services to the
community, is to redefine community group as a life style rather than an event says House, who
illustrates through Peter’s community life that reflected on one another, desired one another , and
sacrifice for one another. House says that when they began to regard community as a way of life,
it started to give them life, and they needed to impart the experience to other people.5 In the
corresponding, section Creativity VS. Conformity House poses a question of “So what do we
actually do in a community group.” House then uses Acts 2:42-47 to explain church life, in
community building and the expectations for what a community group can look like. In that
illustration, House uses eight what he called rhythms and elements of community, bible study,
confession and repentance, worship, prayer, hospitality, exercises of spiral gifts, and mission.6 In
the final, section of chapter four House, talks about Blessing VS. Obligation in that while
building a church community may seem like an obligation the work is more of bringing God the
glory, exemplifying Christ in the community. In addition to, aligning with God and what He
intend, mainly to reflect the glory through community making disciples of Jesus.7
Chapter 5 of House’s publication deals with six elements of neighborhood and strategies
for reaching for reaching out and building groups are particular neighborhood with particular
4 House, 95.
5 House, 96-97
6 House, 99-103
7 House, 103.
3
diverse cultures and people. Community groups organized geologically around these areas and
spotlight explicit missional endeavors to influence neighborhoods, House says this is the
neighborhood approach geared with a new methodology mission.8 That approach summed up
with goals in mind; the goal is to saturate the neighborhood with the gospel and Jesus Christ,
secondly, increase the gospels concreteness drawing more people to Jesus. Therefore,
contextualizing the communication of the gospel at certain locations, time, and to diverse
cultures without adulterating the truth. From the previous statement, House gives four types of
contextualization such as the gospel from the pulpit calling it general contextualization.
Campuses take on the idea of local contextualization at a local level because it has a particular
context and culture, whereas, a community group consist of neighborhood contextualization
through involvement within the community that a group live in and can share the gospel. Lastly,
there is personal contextualization through discipleship giving each member of the church
inspiration to share the gospel.9 However there is an increasingly difficulty with
contextualization within communities and developing a continuing planned community because
of the transient lifestyle particularly in urban neighborhoods. Nevertheless, House presents a
solution for disconnected and disjointed culture is by assembling a small group who cares for
one another and live life together. Considering the issues with transience House offers an
approach with a missional building on the community vetting the neighborhoods though
accessibility inspiring ownership, effectiveness, and scalability are proficient for making
disciples.10 With that being, House then describes the importance or the purpose of defining
neighborhoods as a means to help define the manageable mission field in which God could
8 House, 104-105.
9 House, 106 -108.
10 House, 110-122.
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minister, allowing the church to muster its members to the mission that God has set forth and
accomplish the goal of His kingdom.11
Chapter 6 of the classroom text summarizes that spaces in which a community and on a
mission through evangelism with engaging the culture by equipping the saints, His disciples, for
ministry. Nonetheless, House says that barriers and bridges in some places with obvious rejection
of Jesus and of the reality of God, as seen in biblical times the resistance of the law and truth,
while the concluding resist grace and sanctification.12 While the goal is to remove any
unnecessary barriers of the gospel unfortunately, the church today regularly presents more
barriers than Jesus does. Nevertheless, the idea of barriers and bridges is to provide an authentic
self-assessment and a disposition to adapt to become all things to all people, which I might save
some as Paul said in his letter to the Corinthian church. House in this chapter goes on to give
three practical examples of barriers through practice, which he describe as the everyday
difficulty of time, space and the accessibility that hinders the gospel. Secondly, cultural barriers
including language and actions that separate people before the can hear or experience the gospel,
lastly, the perception barriers creates the image, stereotypes, or experiences that people may have
had with the church affecting their observation of Jesus Christ and the church. When these
barriers are identified to the gospel, House says that the building of bridges to our neighborhood
and begin.13In addition to, the identifying barriers begins the becoming of a missiologist,
someone who is observant, and understanding the values of people around you as you are now
engaging the world. The goals as a missiologist according to House is to receive aspects of
11 House, 122-125.
12 House, 127.
13 House, 128-129.
5
culture without modifying and enjoy it in the glory of God also reject those that oppose the
gospel. Whether it be slavery or abortion, we need reject and provide an alternative through the
gospel, and lastly, redeem those things that God has ordained but man has perverted.14
Chapter 7 of House publication begins with the illustration of new wineskins and that no
one places new wine into an old wineskins compared to trying to place new ideas learned into
traditional views of doing community, because something is going to break,. We must use
rhythms according to House creating a culture of opportunity forming a perpetual rhythm of
natural community based on time, the scene or the location and atmosphere of where you gather
in the community. Substance ties into spaces in the fact that substance is the content of a specific
dialogue or assembly, also space of participation, service, hospitality, fellowship.15 The rhythms
of community come with part of owning the mission of the community group where the leaders
become the student of the neighbor, when this becomes a reality of observation of the rhythm of
the community and when done so properly the reduction of barriers build bridges to the
community.16
Earley and Dempsey summarized starting with chapter 29 with the topic of with a
question asking if you are opening your group with working intensely to incorporate new
members as well as discipling the present in the group? Earley and Dempsey say that when fully
recognized the open group that it gives each member a point of intent and focus on an open
group that is accessible to new converts to join and OPEN groups something that small groups
need.17 In chapter 30 Earley and Dempsey give eight habits of effective small group leaders,
14 House, 130.
15 House, 147-157
16 House, 158
17 Dempsey, Rod, and Dave Earley. Leading Healthy Growing Multiplying Small Groups.
Liberty University Press, 2016. 111.
6
practices that seem to make a different between effectiveness and ineffectiveness.18 Chapter 31
begins the introduction the one of the eight habits that Earley and Dempsey explain in detail
concerning what it means by “It Starts with a Dream” a dream that involves the vision of leading
a healthy, multiplying group envisioned and trusting that God can use small groups to make a big
difference, putting everything in perspective and facilitating the body of Christ to minister to its
members.19
Chapter 32 goes on to discus “The Power of Prayer” this concept or practice is one of the
most important activities that a small group leader can do or must do to make a group more
effective viewing prayer as an essential tool in their ministry to others. Five things about prayer
that the authors highlight, prayer is the first thing to do in a ministry and never should be
underestimated, secondly, prayer is a powerful time saving device, then prayer invites God to
work bringing God into the situation, in addition to, prayer has no regret, and lastly, prayer is our
greatest spiritual weapon we must continually prayer to not lose ground but, to also to take
ground.20
Chapter 33 discuss the second effective habit of inviting others and they will come, this
practice consist of the idea of inviting others to the small group or new people at least each week
by each member will experience an outburst in growth. Earley and Dempsey give four good
places to offer invites into the group they say invite family members who live in proximity, as
well as friend, also invite coworkers or classmates, and neighbors that live in your neighborhood.
18 Dempsey & Earley, 113.
19 Dempsey & Earley, 117.
20 Dempsey & Earley, 119-120.
7
The authors also give tips for effective inviting others such as saturate the situation in prayer
petitioning God for His heart concerning those whom you’d like to invite, keep them saying yes
build a bridge that will lead them to a yes to your invite. Then there is team inviting done in
concert with a team off people in prayer, then there is the capitalization on the season of the soul
when death of a loved one, divorce, marriage, birth of a child, or when a family has moved to a
new neighborhood, city, job, or school.21
In chapters 34 and 35 the authors address how to fill empty chairs this is a principle that
helps in the growing of groups with a vigilant of the need to reach out to unchurched people with
the continuing effort to contact others with an outcome of growth, increase of average weekly
attendance, an aid to the shepherd to know the state of the flock; contacting communicates care.22
When Earley and Dempsey discuss the preparation being the foundation of success in
chapter 36 the mention that preparation builds confidence and show value of the group
reinforced and is of an upmost importance the authors move forward in this chapter giving three
keys to preparation, one way is prepare oneself through striving to be in a right relationship with
God through prayer, fasting, repent, worship, rest, along with other necessities important to a
personal preparation to lead. Moreover, preparing the atmosphere that can make or break a
meeting, that means preparing the place of meeting to be comfortable and has enough room to
accommodate all group members. Lastly, prepare an agenda with an icebreaker, connecting with
God through worship, discussing a practical application of the word of God, as well and prayer
concerning who and how to evangelism to the lost through witnessing.23
21 Dempsey & Earley, 122-125.
22 Dempsey & Earley, 126-131.
23 Dempsey & Earley, 133-135.
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In last 3 remaining chapters the authors bring about and awareness to three exciting
elements using cliché’s of growing a healthy group, one of which uses the illustration of
underestimating the importance of a good party. The authors use several biblical illustrations to
confirm their idea that God loves a good party, they also examine the deepening relationship that
result from a good party and that social congregations provide group supporters with a new
conduit to share even more of their lives together along with the opportunities that present
themselves for discipleship. While chapter 38 incorporates the idea of conception of a baby that
you can conceive if you don’t become pregnant carrying a meaning that is a small group leader
doesn’t mentor an apprentice than the possibility of growing a small group may depreciate.
However, the leader must cooperate with God, retain the fact that mentoring is the way a regular
person can reach thousands, as well keeping leaders and group growing become a priority, Eraley
and Dempsey end this chapter with an overabundance of mentoring suggestion. Finally, the
authors explain personal growth and the fountainhead of long-term effectiveness in chapter 39
and how highly successful leaders know the value of advancing in their own personal growth
with intentional planning to maintain and grow their spiritual live.24
The Importance of Growing a Small Group
Growing a small group as a leader carries importance within the body of Christ as a
unified body, working together in a coordinated way toward a common purpose.25 Earley and
Dempsey say that growing a small group starts with a dream to increases a group that will make
a difference for the kingdom of God.26 The authors also mentioned the power of prayer being
24 Dempsey & Earley, 136-145.
25 Gladen, Steve. Planning Small Groups with Purpose: A Field-Tested Guide to Design
and Grow Your Ministry. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2018. 18.
26 Dempsey & Earley, 117.
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essential with the dream as well as the one of the simplest and highly effective indispensable
tools in their ministry.27 In our church as we grow our small groups we learned that the first step
to growing is to engage the members to engage the community, then disciple them preparing for
service and from service to the mission Gladen in his publication gave a bible scripture that
showed the devotion to growing the church in Christ and maturity (Acts 2:42).28 In addition to,
the Verge website gave samples of simple ways to engage neighborhood living as Jesus lived, for
example of extending into the neighborhoods would be to attend and participate in HOA
functions, or do a food drive or coat drive in the winter and get neighbors involved.29
Two Suggestions on How to Grow Small Groups.
1. The Verge website one of many ways is to “Attend your city council meeting and get
to know what’s going on in your city. 30
2. Dream of leading a healthy, growing, multiplying group though tapping into the
potential with prayer for the small group with a vision of being effective.31
Two Greatest Challenges of Growing a Small Group.
27 Dempsey & Earley, 119.
28 Gladen, 20.
29 Network, Verge. “25 Simple Ways to Be Missional in Your Neighborhood: Verge
Network. “Verge Network | Equipping Leaders for Mission, December 16, 2014.
https://vergenetwork.org/2011/08/23/25-simple-ways-to-be-missional-in-your-neighborhood/.
30 Network, Verge. “10 Simple Ways to Be Missional in Your City - Part 1: Verge
Network.” Verge Network | Equipping Leaders for Mission, September 15, 2015.
https://vergenetwork.org/2011/10/11/10-simple-ways-to-be-missional-in-your-city-part-1/.
31 Earley & Dempsey, 114,116.
10
1. Building a community where transience is present, the transient lifestyle of our
culture makes geographic community increasingly difficult especially in urban
areas.32
2. Motivating people is one of the biggest challenges for most churches according to
Gladen’s publication.33
Bibliography
Dempsey, Rod, and Dave Earley. Leading Healthy Growing Multiplying Small Groups. Liberty
University Press, 2016.
Gladen, Steve. Planning Small Groups with Purpose: A Field-Tested Guide to Design and Grow
Your Ministry. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2018.
House, Brad. Community: Taking your small group off life support. Crossway, 2011.
Network, Verge. “10 Simple Ways to Be Missional in Your City - Part 1: Verge Network.” Verge
Network | Equipping Leaders for Mission, September 15,
2015.https://vergenetwork.org/2011/10/11/10-simple-ways-to-be-missional-in-your-city
part-1/.
Network, Verge. “25 Simple Ways to Be Missional in Your Neighborhood: Verge Network.
“Verge Network | Equipping Leaders for Mission, December 16, 2014.
https://vergenetwork.org/2011/08/23/25-simple-ways-to-be-missional-in-your-
neighborhood/.
32 House, 109.
33 Gladen, 23
