LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Small Group Training Manual: Foundation 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
Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………...1
Motivations for Developing Groups ……………………………………………………………2
Goals and Dreams for Small Groups Biblical Foundations for Groups ……………………..3
What type of Groups you will develop …………………………………………………………3
How Will I Specifically Lead Small Groups?.………………………………………………….4
Details How will I Grow and Develop a Small Group Ministry ..…………………………….5
Bibliography …………………………………………………………………………………….6
1
Introduction
The greatest model for how small groups can stimulate faith and growth in others can be
seen in the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Jesus through His teaching of the disciples came
apprentices learning from Jesus so that they could in return become teaches of the kingdom of
God themselves. They were called to follow Him with that call it had a very real application a
sacrifice that would require their service, a service that would call for them to physically walk
after Him.1 What Jesus developed with His disciples was a relationship, they traveled together,
they sought food shelter, they also prayed together as they were part of His healing and sat under
His teaching.2 The relationship was special, deep, and personal; the world that we exist in today
humanity desires a genuine loving relationship however, we live in a world that more
disconnected as it is connected in relationship whether with one another let alone with God.
Sprinkle in his publication say that a lot of people that don’t attend church and even with the
Christian fold feel disconnected from the church at a startling rate; many Christians feel that their
calling is disconnected from their church experience and that their Christian background has not
prepared them to live and work effectively in society.3
This small group training manual will help to motivate individuals as well as allow small
groups to fulfill their crucial purposes in a small group effectively. The purpose of small groups
1 Arnold, Jeffrey. The Big Book on Small Groups. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity
Press, 2004), 18.
2 Ibid.,
3 Sprinkle, Preston. Go: Returning Discipleship to the Front Lines of Faith. Colorado
Springs, CO: NavPress Publishing Group, 2016. 72, 75.
2
in the church is to develop disciples with the principles of developing a sacrificial or relational
that transform people.4
Motivations for Developing Groups
There are strategic questions that need address, but one is not for individuals and
congregation of do we have small groups in out church? But rather are we establishing Christian
disciplines into our small groupings? Are our small groupings building the kingdom or impeding
the kingdom? Are we training leaders who bring Christian disciplines into small groupings?
Lastly, is our total congregation working to develop a disciplined small group approach?5 A small
group defined is a group with the intent on participation with Christ in building his increasingly
expanding kingdom in the hearts of people, in life of the alliance, and through believers into the
world. So, the motivation for those as leaders of small groups should first fall on the fact that
their motivation is rooted in God in Christ according to the Great Commission and its action
statement “Therefore go and make disciples” (Matt. 28:19[NIV]).
Our first responsibility to our groups is to relate horizontally with God. Once the
horizontal relationship has been established, we can then begin to connect inwardly with a
biblical perspective. The responsibility of the group is to take on a biblical identity modelled
after Jesus, as we begin to connect more inwardly with each other allowing a true Christian
maturity to take place within the group and can move into a more effective ministry of reaching
outwardly to others. Small group ethics and practices must build on a biblical foundation for the
4 Dempsey, Rod. February 9, 2018.
https://canvas.liberty.edu/courses/323659/pages/watch-biblical foundations?
module_item_id=41460497.
5 Arnold, 22.
3
church to become healthy and effectively make better disciples stemming from empowering
leadership with a functional structure.6
Goals and Dreams for Small Groups Biblical Foundations for Groups
The goals of the small group should always be the goals in which Christ in God has
purposed for any small group and that is holiness; having the mind, which was in Christ, and
walk as he walked (Phil. 2:51; Jn. 2:6) and if that goal is to be met the groups formation is for the
people to become more like Christ, then we need to know him as Saviour.7 Satan is defeated
when small group leaders get a dream of what a group can become increasing the possibility to
make a difference for God’s kingdom.8 There need to be dreams of leading a healthy, growing,
mad multiplying groups9 daily as did the adding of the saints in the book of Acts 2:47 through
the works of the Lord through a prayer life within the group and it’s leaders.
What type of Groups you will develop
I will be developing a young adult college ministry for our church teens who are about to
enter adulthood and college and for those who are already in college. My dream and goal with
this group would be to continue with discipleship leading college student to building a healthy
relationship with God and bring up an apprentice to carry on the mission through effective
leadership. I will also continue to strive and build a healthy youth ministry group with our
existing youth leaders encouraging and motivating them through prayer and with their vision of
6 Comiskey, Joel. Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church: Developing Disciples
Who Make Disciples. Joel Comiskey, 2012. 24.
7 Board Of Discipleship. Guidelines Small Group Ministries. Nashville: Abingdon Press,
2016. 10
8 Dempsey, Rod, and Dave Earley. Leading Healthy Growing Multiplying Small Groups.
Liberty University Press, 2016. 116.
9 Ibid.,
4
building an effective youth ministry that disciples the youth. I will create a customized plan of
action one that will move in the direction to help grow into a relationship with God. As for my
evangelism ministry I’m going to initiate ways to be more missional in our surrounding
neighbourhoods with a rhythm of life engaged in meeting new people while looking boldly,
humbly, and contextually proclaiming the Gospel in word and in deed.10
How Will I Specifically Lead Small Groups?
I will lead the groups that God has called me to lead specifically through prayer and
through the quality of a spiritual leader living together in a symphonic harmony with Christ in a
healthy and biblical community with the realization that the Trinity is alive in our community
understanding that quality produces quantity.11In addition to, understanding the development of
multiplication is a power way to influence the world for Christ.12 I will also practice some of the
effective habits that Earley and Dempsey suggested for instance inviting new people to visit our
groups regularly, plan group fellowship activities, and always be committed to my own personal
growth13 to become harmonical in tune with Christ in God by the aid of the Holly Spirit.
Moreover, capitalize on souls experience different season being sensitive and loving to increase
ministry people and their seasons something that I can not afford to neglect out of fear of
10 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/.
11 Dempsey, Rod. February 9, 2018.
https://canvas.liberty.edu/courses/323659/pages/watch biblical-foundations?
module_item_id=41460497.
12 Arnold, 39.
13 Earley and Dempsey, 114.
5
rejection.14 This fall under our family ministry make sure to check up and check in with the
families that have been assigned weekly if not daily considering the season that a person might
be in.
Details How will I Grow and Develop a Small Group Ministry
I will spend time going over and meditating over the church vision and mission
statement, training and ongoing support with prayer submitting my request to God. I will also
incorporate a much-needed small group covenant for a clearer direction and vision to avoid
conflict and strife by sitting down with my groups to affirm some basic ground rules and
negotiate vision and strategy issues as suggested by Earley and Dempsey in their publication.15
Secondly I will develop leaders from with in the group, this growth is of great importance
knowing that if for any reason beyond my control the group can continue to grow and continue
the mission of kingdom building. Lastly, continue the destination mission of discipleship, with
the intent of being an imitator of God in the community and holding onto the principle of loving
those around us through unselfish, kind, patient, and trustworthy love with a priority developing
a biblical hypothesis of community.16
Bibliography
14 Earley and Dempsey, 130.
15 Earley and Dempsey, 66.
16 Earley and Dempsey, 94.
6
Arnold, Jeffrey. The Big Book on Small Groups. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004).
Board Of Discipleship. Guidelines Small Group Ministries. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2016.
Comiskey, Joel. Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church: Developing Disciples Who
Make Disciples. Joel Comiskey, 2012
Dempsey, Rod. February 9, 2018. https://canvas.liberty.edu/courses/323659/pages/watch-biblical
foundations?module_item_id=41460497.
Dempsey, Rod, and Dave Earley. Leading Healthy Growing Multiplying Small Groups. Liberty
University Press, 2016.
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/.
Sprinkle, Preston. Go: Returning Discipleship to the Front Lines of Faith. Colorado Springs,
CO: NavPress Publishing Group, 2016.
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