LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
ANALYSIS PAPER 1
Submitted to Dr. Gowins,
in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the completion of
DSMN 630 – B02
by
Rhonda C. Mustafaa
January 27, 2019
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INTRODUCTION
This paper analyses several textbooks dealing with small group ministry and seeks to
address several issues that have arisen from them. Among these issues include; the biblical
passages that provide for small group ministry and the principals derived from them. I will then
go further to address the type of church small group structure that I am in currently.
This information will be derived from the following books, thesis, and articles that were
analyzed. The Pocket Guide to Leading a Small Group by Dave Earley and Rod Dempsey. A
Strategy on Small Group Leadership Development for Transitioning of Gaeumjung Church into a
Cell-based Church by In Ho Jei, Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church: New
Testament Insights for the 21st Century Church by Joel Comiskey. It will also analyze an article
titled Small Group Leaders Training.
BIBLICAL PASSAGES
The Bible on several occasions has implied the need for the church to grow bigger and
smaller at the same time. In this regard, it is bound to become more significant through an
increase in membership as a result of evangelism. On the other hand, it continues to grow smaller
through intimate gatherings that bring Christians together at a personal level.
Acts 5:32 states that the Christians of the time continued to preach that Jesus was the
Christ not only in temples but also in each house.1 Further, Acts 20:20 provides that Paul said
that he proclaimed the Word of God from one house to the other.2 1 Corinthians 12:21 similarly
1 Nathan W. Turner, Leading Small Groups : Basic Skills for Church and Community Organizations
(Valley Forge Pa.: Judson Press, 1996).
2 Ibid.
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provides that every member of the church is valuable and that one part cannot do without the
other. Further, the need for small group ministry was provided when the Great Commission was
awarded to the disciples by Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20.3 In the New International Version, it
says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."4
PRINCIPLES DERIVED FROM THE PASSAGES
The passages mentioned above provide certain principles which guide Christians as they
form small group ministries. Among those principles are the ones highlighted below. When one
is coming up with a small group ministry, and as they continue to handle the group, they should
observe the principles that are alluded to by these biblical verses. The first principle states that
people are the targets and priority of these groups.5 All the biblical passages above imply this.
The Christians in Acts 5:32 continued to preach not only in the temples but also in every house,
they were targeting many people.6 Their goal was to reach as many people as possible, aside
from those who were already part of the church. In this regard, those at home who had not
received the message of Christ would be reached. Therefore, this shows that people are an
essential part of the ministry. They are not just tools or programs to be used to pass the message.
Instead, they form the beginning and the end of the ministry. The same principle was reflected
3 Darrell L Bock, The NIV Application Commentary : From Biblical Text to Contemporary Life , The NIV
Application Commentary Series, 1996.
4 Ibid.
5 Small Group Leaders Training < http://jimmyinman.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Small-Group-
Leadership.pdf>
6 In Jei, A Strategy on Small Group Leadership Development for Transitioning of Gaeumjung Church
into a Cell-Based Church, 2008.
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upon in Acts 20:20 when Paul was moving from one house to the next one to proclaim the
message of God. Matthew 28:19-20 and 1 Corinthians 12:21 similarly provide the same
message.
Small group ministries also value experiencing life together as a group of people.7 This
prevents the thought of people going through life situations, whether good or bad, alone. With
this, the members of the small groups are able to share their experiences with each other.
Therefore, during good times, they would laugh together and make the situation even better. On
the other hand, problems can be shared when Christians interact in small groups. This helps the
individual to bear the weight of their problems. Acts 5:32 states that Christians would fellowship
in people’s houses. This means that they would be removed from the temple and taken to an
individual’s home where the environment is different, and experiences can easily be shared.
Another core-value held by Christians in small group ministry is that every believer is a
minister.8 This is explicitly provided for in 1 Corinthians 12:21 which states that every member
of the church constitutes the body of Christ. Accordingly, the hand will always need the eye and
vice versa. Similarly, for the head to function well, it will require the feet. This means that
everyone who is part of the small group is essential and has a crucial role to play in evangelism.
This is also reflected upon in Matthew 28:19-20 when Jesus gave the disciples the Great
Commission commanding them to go to the masses and baptize them.9 They would then be made
Disciples of Christ. This would mean that the eleven disciples were to go baptizing the masses in
7 Ibid.
8 Dave Earley and Rod. Dempsey, The Pocket Guide to Leading a Small Group : 52 Practical Ways to
Become a Better Small Group Leader (Houston Tex.: Touch Publications, 2007).
9 Turner, Leading Small Groups : Basic Skills for Church and Community Organizations .je
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the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and direct them to observe Jesus’s
commands.10 Therefore, for an individual to become a disciple of Christ, all they had to do was
observe the commandments of Jesus. It, therefore, follows that disciples are made in small group
contexts because it is easier to influence someone and watch their actions in a one-on-one
session.11 Once an individual has achieved this, they are free to impact other people by trying to
get them to be Disciples of Christ as well.12 In this regard, every disciple of Christ is essential in
trying to get other people to join them because they have the power to do so.
MY CHURCH AND SMALL GROUP STRUCTURE
I worship and fellowship at a Non-Denominational Church in my hometown. The Church
launches new small group ministry frequently throughout the year. These groups are intended to
enable the message of Christ to reach more members of the community, increase the level of
interactions between the Disciples of Christ in the Church, and to intensify the impact of the
church in the town.
My small group ministry organizes its meetings once every two weeks. A host is required
to prepare snacks for the group made up of six people. Every person is allowed to bring a
maximum of two friends to the fellowships. In these meetings, the leader guides us through the
sermon that was preached over the past two Sunday services. The members are then allowed to
share their experiences throughout the weeks and seek help where they need it. The group also
10 Ibid.
11 Joel Comiskey, Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church : Developing Disciples Who Make
Disciples (CCS Publishing, 2012).d
12 Ibid.j
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conducts parties to celebrate achievements and milestones. Similarly, there are prayer groups and
fundraising events to help people who are facing particular difficulties in life.
The leaders of the group are highly regarded and respected both in the small groups and
in church. It is believed that they carry a huge role in directing and leading the small groups.13
This is because the groups are considered an essential factor in ministry and a priority to God.
On the other hand, the leaders take their roles seriously. Rarely will you find any of them missing
to attend the sessions organized for their respective small group ministries.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the role that small group structures play in evangelism cannot be
undermined. The Bible, especially the New Testament, records meetings between the disciples
and other believers. The meetings allowed Christians to interact on a one-on-one basis. More so,
the Bible, in the book of Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages Christians to live in brotherhood and
hold meetings which will allow them to encourage each other. As such, small group structures
are catered for in the Bible.
13 Earley and Dempsey, The Pocket Guide to Leading a Small Group : 52 Practical Ways to Become a
Better Small Group Leader.
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Bibliography
Bock, Darrell L. The NIV Application Commentary : From Biblical Text to Contemporary Life .
The NIV Application Commentary Series, 1996.
Comiskey, Joel. Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church : Developing Disciples Who
Make Disciples. CCS Publishing, 2012.
Earley, Dave, and Rod. Dempsey. The Pocket Guide to Leading a Small Group : 52 Practical
Ways to Become a Better Small Group Leader. Houston Tex.: Touch Publications, 2007.
Jei, In. A Strategy on Small Group Leadership Development for Transitioning of Gaeumjung
Church into a Cell-Based Church, 2008.
Turner, Nathan W. Leading Small Groups : Basic Skills for Church and Community
Organizations. Valley Forge Pa.: Judson Press, 1996.
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