LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
WHAT IS A GROUP ASSIGNMENT
Submitted to Dr. David Shelton
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
By
Patrick Scales
DSMN 630 D01: Small Group Ministries
November 13, 2022
Table of Contents
Introduction
Arnold The Big Book on Small Group Summarized Chapter 1-2 …………………...1
Dempsey and Earley Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups
Chapters 8-15 ……………………………………………………………………………5
The Difference between a Clique and a Small Group ………………………………………...5
What does G.R.O.U.P. Stand for and why is it Important …………………………………...6
Answer the 4 questions related to groups and your church ………………………………….7
Inward, Outward, and Upward Explained ……………………………………………………7
Bibliography ……………………………………………………………………………………..8
1
Introduction
Arnold opens up his publication The Big Book on Small Groups with an illustration from
a presentation he gave in front of large group of gathering pastors. He started the presentation
with a question pertaining to those who had small groups in their church; he then ask them to
acknowledge by the rising of hands.1 For those that rose their hands he responded, “You might
want to reconsider your response” (Arnold 2004, 9) to his presented question. Arnold then
interjects a statement with the involvement within a congregation results in having small
groupings that exist in the congregation known as cliques and through studies of human practices
humans need small assemblages for survival, support, emotional strength and encouragement
(Arnold 2004, 9).
Arnold moves the reader into a section concerning the understanding of what a small
group movement is and how it became prevalent through the roots of early church and later
church history in addition to, significant parachurch ministry groups fueling this movement, for
all ages in search of a profound fellowship and spiritual cultivation in groups. Arnold goes on to
mention that the small group movement would become an extensive spectacle a ministry
advanced by many other influences such a Christian publishing houses resulting in the western
world distinguishable groups through effort and vitality within the framework of group life
(Arnold 2004, 10). Although groups may be different, in magnitude and application the
commonalty is that, they are small and Christian focused groups resulting in members feeling
loved and cared for (Arnold 2004, 10). However, researchers according to Arnold publication
have discovered that in order for the movement to persist in its vitality, if communicated
1 Arnold, Jeffrey. The Big Book on Small Groups. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press,
2004.
2
techniques exhibited purposefully the groups can remain sustainable and transformative (Arnold
2004, 10). When a small group focuses from within, churches and its ministries are incapable of
finding ways to multiply or construct new group opportunities can affect outside participation
within the groups with the possibility of creating a stagnant movement that could dissolve in
generations to come (Arnold 2004, 10). In addition to, important concerns associated to the small
group movement energy and efforts predicate on how to connect congregation that have not
advanced in significant group growth (Arnold 2004, 11).
Under the section header, “Group Philosophy” Arnold gives three models to help address
premeditated issues on how to place people in groups, and what leadership support structure
looks like. The “cell church” referencing to books written by Ralph Neighbour and Joel
Comiskey, Comiskey from his web site describes the “cell church to which a congregation that
uses two key ministry essentials: worship and multiplying cells work through program and age
situated ministries lead by spiritual leaders in those cell groups growing and multiplying
according to Arnold then they gather for a corporate worship service2. The second model was
the “meta” suggested by Carl George in his publication as a model like the cell model includes
numerous groups and corporate worship, in addition to, a more established element of the church
called congregation, a seam of church life that acknowledges more system-oriented elements,
such as Sunday school classes. Furthermore, the meta model eludes the idea of ministries as ends
to themselves, nevertheless, views them as assembling invents that can lead people to a group
ministry lifestyle (Arnold 2004, 14). The third model transforms the meta methodology and
2 Comiskey, Joel. Group. “What Is a Cell Group?”
https://joelcomiskeygroup.com/en/resources/cell_basics/en_whatisacellgroup/.
3
incorporates the idea of “a church of small groups” a written model that Arnold takes from Bill
Donahue’s book. This model identifies the significance of both connected, responsible, numerous
groups and valuable characteristics of congregational that benefit from group ethics (Arnold
2004, 14).
However, the greatest model for how small groups can encourage faith and growth in
others is the earthly life of Jesus Christ. It was Jesus who challenged the disciples to be followers
of God, to be with Him, learn His ways and to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God to
others (Arnold 2004, 18). Being followers of Jesus came with a realistic purpose that
incorporated the disciples to relinquish their lifestyles and physically walk after Him as expected
by Jesus and after living, and the experiencing with Him they learned His ways (Arnold 2004,
19). It is from the ministry of Jesus with His disciples the forming of lives is a model that we
should imitate and see Jesus’ investment into the personal lives of the disciples (Arnold 2004,
20). Following the return of the Son to the Father, Jesus’ disciples began to reproduce the
ministry of Jesus as illustrated throughout the book of Act’s and the empowering of the promised
Holy Spirit to His disciples allowing the carrying out of the gospel to all people (Arnold 2004,
19). In addition to, Acts illustrates the small group movement due to the persecution of the
church preaching a risen Christ and the apostle going from house-to-house teaching and making
other disciples (Acts5:42). In Arnolds observation on small group ministries, he considered
experts and theologians biblical opinions concerning small groups from the creation and fall
storyline to the small group principles and ideas with the consideration of these principles and
ideas being relevant today (Arnold 2004, 22). The small group’s purpose is to participate with
Christ in help build the Kingdom of God in the hearts of people, in the life of the group and
through believers into the word (Arnold 2004, 23).
4
Discipleship is a vigorous relationship between fellow Christians and the Lord and
evident by continual progress through groups making discipleship intentional but, cannot occur
without faithful Christians being purposeful about meeting together and becomes a reality in the
church or fellowship even with just a few people take seriously Christ’s command to make
disciples who are made in relationships (Arnold 2004, 24).
Arnold in chapter 2 gives insight on “Building the Church Through Small Groups” and
from an illustration of a beehive’s workers working enthusiastically for one common goal, so
should be the working of Christians toward the common goal of making disciples. When
different groups contribute just as the workers of the beehive and makes the hive strong, the
contributions of small groups engaging and encouraging result in a positive contribution for the
growth of others (Arnold 2004, 28). It is within the kingdom of Christ that Christians serve and
function like a body with every part working for the common good Arnold use Paul’s letter to
Ephesus to make a point oh how the body works, with Christ operating as the head (Ehp.4:11-16)
with every movement of the body being reliant on one another and initiated by Christ to grow the
body into maturity (Arnold 2004, 31). In nourishing groups, when friendships deepen, and
Christian’s growth find new reasons to worship God in together with a sense of joyful challenge
that draws others to join them as they seek opportunities for growth says Arnold (Arnold 2004,
33). Inward group care providers love, care and offers members a positive body life experience
by attracting people in the finding of their spiritual gifts, developing the leadership of the church,
and caring for its members (Arnold 2004, 33). Nonetheless, Arnold says that one of the innate
weaknesses in any small group is the inherent predisposition to maintain an inward care ignoring
the outward attention when it comes to evangelism under the assumption that outward focus is
the greatest challenge of the group disciplines to nurture. But, because of a powerful subtlety that
5
come with small group outreach, an outward focus can keep group essential, energized and
challenged (Arnold 2004, 38).
In summarizing Dempsey and Earley Chapters 7-15 these writes begin with an acrostic to
point out the meaning of “G.R.O.U.P.”3 from Chapters 8-14 that describe the “The Five W’s of
Heathy Small Groups” Welcome, Worship, Word, Witness, and Works, within these explanation
of each “W’ the writers provide several important subtopics and key supporting passages that are
essential to each acrostic concerning the five W’s (Dempsey and Earley 2016. 35-57). In Chapter
15 the two writers use an acrostic to pose the question “What Is a L.I.F.E Group?” providing
important components to remember inside of group life within the 4 subtopics of love and two
key passages, along with instruction, fellowship, and example Dempsey and Earley 2016. 59).
The Difference between a Clique and a Small Group
Arnold in his publication describes cliques to have influential characteristic and
characterize a clique as an unhealthy group distinctively justifies itself in many ways of
excluding others for getting into the group (Arnold 2004. 24). Prior in his published work used 1
Corintians 11:18-19 to illustrate what he described as selectivity and a major problem and
division (schismata which literal mean to “cut apart”) at Corinth as the church clique refused to
share together in fellowship and Paul addressed this issue his epistle to the Church at Corinth.4
While cliques exclude small groups include with a small group it’s a Christ likeness as
explained by Dempsey and Earley; though Christ earthly ministry and how he nurtured His
disciples and thought His commandments to disciple others. A small group ministry must present
3 Dempsey, Rod, and Dave Earley. Leading Healthy Growing Multiplying Small Groups.
Liberty University Press, 2016. 31.
4 Prior, David. The Message of 1 Corinthians. Westmont: InterVarsity Press, 2020. 54
6
love, submission, hospitality, and many other biblical principles that allow the small group to
become healthy and vital (Dempsey and Earley 2016. 35-38). Nonetheless, Surrat says that
everyone in the church has not reach the completion of sanctification and is in the of a risen
Savior and a group of people fellowship with and to walk alongside as much as anyone else,
even the introverts.5
What does G.R.O.U.P. Stand for and why is it Important
The meaning of the acrostic G.R.O.U.P stand for area of true leadership with being
Guided by a leader, Regular meeting times, Open God’s Word, United in service, and Prayer for
one another (Dempsey and Earley. 29-34). Its importance because leadership gives
lesson/discussions and sees it that the goal of the group is met. Regular meeting times give the
opportunity to meet frequently enough to get to know one another and identify when someone is
not connected or having struggles. Opening God’s word sets aside time to meditate and discuss
God’s Word either directly or through an authorized course. Uniting in service allowing the focus
to be on serving inside the group and outside the group. Prayer for one another allows time set
aside to intercede in prayer from prayer request for issues and concerns of the group members as
well as praying for laborers in the ministry.6
Answer the 4 questions related to groups and your church
Are we introducing Christian disciplines into our small groupings? YES
Are our small groupings building the kingdom or hindering the kingdom?
We are contributing to build the Kingdom
5 Surratt, Chris. Leading Small Groups : How to Gather, Launch, Lead, and Multiply Your
Small Group. Birmingham: B&H Publishing Group, 2019. 7.
6 Lecture Notes “WHAT IS G.R.O.U.P.”: Liberty University DSMN 630. 2022
7
Are we training leaders who bring Christian disciplines into small groupings? YES
Is our entire congregation working to develop a disciplined small group mentality? YES
Inward, Outward, and Upward Explained.
The inward aspect comprises group care and fellowship; the upward element, covering
prayer, worship, and spiritual training; and the outward factor, including outreach, growth,
discipling, and mission (Arnold 2004. 32). All the aspects involve leadership, planning and
continually Christ love to maintain a healthy small group.
Bibliography
Arnold, Jeffrey. The Big Book on Small Groups. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004.
Comiskey, Joel. Group. “What Is a Cell Group?”
https://joelcomiskeygroup.com/en/resources/cell_basics/en_whatisacellgroup/.
8
Dempsey, Rod, and Dave Earley. Leading Healthy Growing Multiplying Small Groups. Liberty
University Press, 2016. 31.
Lecture Notes “WHAT IS G.R.O.U.P.”: Liberty University DSMN 630. 2022.
Prior, David. The Message of 1 Corinthians. Westmont: InterVarsity Press, 2020. 54.
Surratt, Chris. Leading Small Groups : How to Gather, Launch, Lead, and Multiply Your Small
Group. Birmingham: B&H Publishing Group, 2019. 7.
