LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Analysis Paper III
Submitted to Dr. Garner, in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the completion of the course
DSMN 630 – B02
Small Group Ministries Paper
by
Tina E. Carter
September 28, 2017
Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................................1
Explain the Beginning Steps for Creating a Group....................................................................2
A Group Outline ........................................................................................................................3-4
Explain the Importance and Elements of a Group Covenant....................................................4
Summarize the Different Types of Small Groups....................................................................5-6
What Type of Group will you Start?............................................................................................7
Bibliography...................................................................................................................................8
i1
Introduction
The author has been studying Small Group Ministries and has noticed that the Bible is the
heart for everything that is taking place whether it is to spread the gospel, make disciples, or
multiplying the groups it should all be done according to the passages of God’s Holy word. For
God tells us in Colossians 1:28 “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man
in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”1 In this paper the author
will be explaining the beginning steps for creating a group and a possible group outline. She will
be explaining the importance and elements of a group covenant. She will also give a summary of
the different types of small groups and what type of group she would like to start one day.
_______________________________
1 Unless otherwise stated, all biblical references will be from the King James Version Bible (Thomas Nelson
Publishers, 1992), 1482.
1
2
Explain the Beginning Steps for Creating a Group
The beginning steps for creating a group is a ten-step process according to Dempsey1
which begins with prayer and ends in the multiplication process. These steps will be broken
down in an outline format and by using the 5 W’s from the lecture notes2 These steps are
necessary for Christian believers to regularly gather together and become the body of Christ. In
order to explain the steps of a group you must know what the acronym G.R.O.U.P. stands for
according to Dempsey and Earley:
1. “Guided by a leader.
2. Regular meeting times.
3. Open God’s Word.
4. United in Service.
5. Prayer for one another.”4
Now the author will discuss the outline steps of G.R.O.U.P. According to Arnold5 one must
always pray for discernment as you can only get the answer you need from prayer. Once God has
given you the okay to move forward you will want to seek people who want to be His disciples
and are willing to do His will. You all will want to go out into the community as a G.R.O.U.P.
searching for more who are willing to do the same this is called seeking “face-to-face” contact
with individuals. You are personally seeing if they are interested in becoming disciples and doing
God’s work. This can be done by breaking the ice to getting them to open-up and then asking
them challenging questions to see if they are the type of people who will be a good fit for the
G.R.O.U.P. The Leader will want to look for not only good locations but also make it a
G.R.O.U.P. function to see who will attend, start building trust, and start the Ministry.
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2 Rod Dempsey, Electronic Ed. (Liberty University Resources, 2013) accessed September 28, 2017.
3 Rick Garner, “Lecture Notes: 5 W’s” Electronic Ed. (Liberty University Resources, 2012) accessed
September 28, 2017.
4 Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, “Leading Healthy Growing Multiplying Small Groups.” (Lynchburg:
Liberty Press, 2015) 31-33.
5 Jeffrey Arnold, “The Big Book on Small Groups.” (Downers Grove: IVP Press, 2004), 63-64.
3
A Group Outline
I. Pray-the Leader should pray for group members and those about to attend at least thirty
minutes per day before during and after G.R.O.U.P. as well as him or herself.
II. The Leader should select a good Host home:
a. warm,
b. welcoming, and
c. friendly.
III. The Leader should select an Apprentice:
a. Has faith-faithful to group,
b. Available-is available to group,
c. has integrity,
d. is teachable, and
e. has a heart for God.
IV. The Leaders must decide on a topic of study.
V. Recruitment-invite or recruit:
a. family,
b. associates, and
c. neighbors.
VI. The Leaders must set a date to begin the G.R.O.U.P.
VII. The Leaders should follow the 5 W’s:
a. Welcome time (have a good one with community),
b. Worship time (devote time to worship),
c. Word (study the word and apply it),
d. Work (Ministry-get people involved in group mission), and
e. Witness (get group focused inward and outward Evangelism).
VIII. The Leaders should create a Covenant the G.R.O.U.P.’s identity:
a. Why are we meeting?
b. When are we going to meet?
c. What are we going to do when we meet?
d. How are we going to take care of this?
e. How do we do that?
f. get everyone in the G.R.O.U.P. together to talk about the Covenant,
g. get everyone to agree to the Covenant,
h. go over the Covenant periodically,
i. The Leader should let it be known that the Covenant is why the G.R.O.U.P. meets,
j. The Covenant is how the G.R.O.U.P. meets, and
A Group Outline cont.
4
k. The Covenant is what the G.R.O.U.P. is going to do.
IX. Pray.
X. Keep G.R.O.U.P. going and multiplying.
Explain the Importance and Elements of a Group Covenant
The importance of the Group Covenant is that it’s the Group’s identity. It tells you who
the Group is; what the Group does; how the Group is going to interact; who in the Group is
going to do what (the member’s responsibilities); the logistics of the group (i.e. the time to meet,
where to meet, what the activities will be…); what tasks need to be completed; the ground rules
for communication; and lastly the group leadership roles and responsibilities (i.e. Praying,
maintaining focus, developing growth and leadership, recruitment…). It is also an admission of
each member to the G.R.O.U.P. that they agree to do what is in the Covenant. The elements of a
Covenant that need to be considered when writing it according to Arnold are “identity issues,
task issues, communication issues, and role issues.”6 However, Earley and Dempsey state that
the Leader should introduce these ten elements to their group when starting a Covenant after
praying on it. “The Covenants of: priority; prayer; outreach; growth; openness; multiplication;
availability; confidentiality; accountability; and love.”7 All these affect the group, community,
and the individual on a personal and spiritual level.
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6 Jeffrey Arnold, “The Big Book on Small Groups.” (Downers Grove: IVP Press, 2004), 68-76.
7 Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, “Leading Healthy Growing Multiplying Small Groups.” (Lynchburg:
Liberty Press, 2015) 88-89.
5
Summarize the Different Types of Small Groups
There are according to Arnold8 six different types of Small Groups they are the Cell
group (also known as Care or Home Group); Discipleship group; Ministry group; Special-Needs
group; Affinity group; and House Church group which all will be summarized in this section.
The author will begin with the Cell group this has a rather wide-ranging concentration and can
include community building, personal and group growth, and eventually multiplication. This
group focuses on worship, Bible study, prayer, Evangelism, and Mission. Church members must
be willing to grow and able to fulfill the disciplines required by the group. Strengths: most
common group; people grow in an atmosphere of love and are challenged in Christ. Weakness:
Evangelism; Mission; and multiplication is slow.
Discipleship group is Minister oriented. It is focused for individual care; community
building; worship; prayer; and Bible study. It is only for those with a serious commitment to God
and their faith. Strengths: exciting and can transform lukewarm Christians into men and women
of God. Weakness: there needs to be a starting and stopping point so as not to become stationary.
Ministry group is for individuals focused on the Ministry, Evangelism, and Mission. This
can take three forms a committee, a working group, or a small group that will regularly engage in
Ministry or Evangelism. This group focuses on individual care; Mission; community building;
studying; Prayer Ministry; worship; and Evangelism. Church committees can reorganize people
to build this group for people who want to travel the world to do this type of work. Strengths:
Specific Covenant must be written to define roles and responsibilities; everyone in group must be
in attendance and agree to Covenant; and Leaders must have vision for both discipleship and
outreach. Weaknesses: Poor leadership for discipleship and outreach group will not have a reason
for being.
6
Summarize the Different Types of Small Groups cont.
Special-Needs group is for the individuals who need to become whole in relation to self,
other, and God. This group focuses on healing and individual care; outreach to others who are
broken; community building; worship; prayer; and study. The membership is Ministering toward
groups such as: “Al Anon”; “Alcoholics Anonymous”; “Overeaters Anonymous”; and other “12-
step” programs because they are special-needs groups. Strengths: needs are being met.
Weaknesses: it takes time to move the individuals back into the church.
Next is the Affinity group which is for individuals who have common interests or
attributes such as teachers; young mothers; single people; or business men and women. The
focus of this group is Bible study; individual care; community building; Evangelism; Mission;
worship; and prayer. The membership for this group is limitless they come together for mutual
support and growth in discipleship. Strengths: most common group; people grow in an
atmosphere of love and are challenged in Christ. Weakness: Evangelism; Mission; and
multiplication is slow or nonexistent because this group is almost like a clique it has the
possibility of destroying itself.
Lastly is the House Church group which works just like a church only it is held in a
home. The group Leader is the Pastor. The meeting consists of worship service and fellowship
time. The focus is on individual care; outreach; worship; prayer; and Bible study. Anyone with a
desire to grow in Christ may join. Strengths: well-planned member-involved worship service is
valuable and stimulating for growth. Weaknesses: possibility of cliques forming.
____________________________________
8 Jeffrey Arnold, “The Big Book on Small Groups.” (Downers Grove: IVP Press, 2004), 76-80.
7
What Type of Group will you Start?
The author finds herself wanting to start a Special-Need group. She believes that this type
of group is more focused for what she is interested in with her degree in psychology and her
going for her pastoral certificate. She wants to help individuals as much as she can, and this
group seems to focus on that background. She believes she would be more beneficial in this
group and maybe it could help in getting more individuals back into the church in less time. It is
shame that there is breakdown in the time it takes to get them back into the church from these
programs that could be part of the problem when it needs to be part of the healing process. She
believes more needs to be done to fix the weakness in this area.
8
Bibliography
Arnold, Jeffrey. “The Big Book on Small Groups.” (Downers Grove: IVP Press, 2004), 63-64.
Ibid., 68-75.
Ibid., 76-80.
Dempsey, Rod. Electronic Ed. (Liberty University Resources, 2013) accessed September 28,
2017.
Dempsey, Rod and Earley, Dave. “Leading Healthy Growing Multiplying Small Groups.”
(Lynchburg: Liberty Press, 2015) 88-89.
Garner, Rick. “Lecture Notes: 5 W’s.” Electronic Ed. (Liberty University Resources, 2012)
accessed September 28, 2017.
