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Develop Christian Community George
Patterson — [email protected] This document will help you to… F
Guidelines gleaned
from observations in many fields to
help you to... F
Gather and reproduce
shepherding cells or house churches, F
Implement all
ministries that the New Testament requires, F
Organize so that
believers can serve one another, F
Build Christian
character, F
Form interactive
groups for 'body' life as 1 Corinthians 12 requires. F
Reproduce groups as
you train leaders. F
Keep different
ministries harmonized and balanced. F
Mobilize believers
for ministry, F
Train leaders and
delegate pastoral responsibilities, F
Enable parents to
shepherd their own families, F Avoid the common pitfalls in forming cells. Preface Develop Christian Community clarifies thirty Group Activities, listed in the
Index below. Begin them in any order. A new group might work on several of
them from the beginning, depending on their spiritual gifts and ministry
opportunities. To use the Index as a menu checklist, select Group
Activities that support current needs as they arise. Mark each one off
when the group is practicing it well, or if it doesn't apply. Each Group Activity includes discussion
and implementation. Follow the pace of the group. Don’t assign
too much too fast.
Copyright © 2000 by George
Patterson. Index of Group Activities General Task Area I Build
Ministries on the Rock Jesus Christ (Group Activities 1-9) 1. Lay the one
foundation by obeying the commands of Jesus before all else 2. Obey, teach others
to obey Jesus’ command to Repent, believe and receive the Holy Spirit 3. Obey, and teach
others to obey, Jesus’ command to Confirm conversion with baptism 4. Obey, teach others
to obey Jesus’ command to Break bread (the Lord’s Supper, Communion) 5. Obey, and teach
others to obey Jesus’ command to Love God and man in practical ways,
including the needy, enemies (forgive) 6. Obey, and teach
others to obey Jesus’ command to Pray 7. Obey, and teach
others to obey Jesus’ command to Give 8. Obey, and teach
others to obey Jesus’ command to Make disciples (evangelize, shepherd, train
leaders, send missionaries) 9. Establish the
authority for our group’s work (enthrone Jesus through our obedience in love) General Task Area II Agree on
What We Are and Do as a Group (Group Activities 10-16) 10. Covenant to agree
on aims, work out differences 11. Practice relevant
small group worship 12. Install our
leaders in the biblical way 13. Base our aims on
the Word of God 14. Balance and blend
different ministries 15. Look upon the
field that God has given us to harvest 16. Keep the vision
alive and growing General Task Area III Harvest (Group
Activities 17-20) 17. Organize and plan
for harvesting 18. Prepare to relate
the good news 19.
Let the good news flow through networks of families and friends (don’t
extract converts from their people) 20. Balance evangelism
with mercy ministry General Task Area IV Serve
One Another Within the Family of God (Group
Activities 21-24) 21. Keep groups small
enough for edifying interaction and total participation 22. Build loving
fellowship one with another (in and between groups) 23. Serve one another
(in and among groups) 24. Cultivate unity
one with another (in and between groups) General Task Area V Help Each
Person to Make Use of Spiritual Gifts, Talents and Background in Ministry
(Group Activities 25-27) 25. Practice gifts listed
in Romans 12:6-8 26. Practice
additional gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 27-30 27. Practice
additional gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11 General Task Area VI Develop All
Essential New Testament Ministries (Activity 28) __28. Review and do
these ministries General Task Area VII Group Leaders Constantly Train New Leaders (Group
Activities 29-30) 29. Practice the 2
Timothy 2:2 training chain reaction 30. Practice
trouble-shooting GENERAL TASK AREA I (Group Activities
1-9) Build All Ministries on the Rock Jesus Christ Group Activity 1: Lay the
one Foundation by Obeying the Commands of Jesus before All Else Jesus said that His disciples are to obey all His commands
in love. These include serving one another and our neighbor in love. This
requires forming, developing and reproducing relational churches and small
groups. To develop Christian community we practice New Testament church
body life within our group and between groups. We carry out those
disciplines that transform a group of individuals into a living, loving,
serving body energized by the Spirit of God. Discussion for this Group Activity assigned to:
_____________________________ Read or simply tell the parable of the wise and foolish men in Matthew
7:24-27. Before reading,
ask everyone to listen for how to build our life and ministry. Ask:
Since both men heard Jesus’ words, what was the difference
between them? Answer: (Let them answer; if they cannot, then explain.) The wise
man obeyed Jesus’ words. Ask:
Who is the Rock? (Let them answer.) Answer: The rock is Jesus. Our relationship to Him is the
foundation for everything else. Ask:
How do we build on the Rock Jesus Christ? Answer: By obeying His commands. Read:
Listen for how we make disciples according to Jesus, in Matthew 28:18-20. Ask:
How do we make disciples Jesus’ way? Answer: By baptizing them and teaching them to obey all of
Jesus’ commands. All discipling begins here; loving, childlike obedience
to our Lord Jesus Christ is its only foundation. We become
disciples by obeying all of Jesus’ commands. We make disciples
by teaching others to obey all of His commands. Help
everyone memorize the seven basic commands of Jesus. He commands
many things but they all can be summarized under seven basic commands. These
are the commands that we find the first New Testament church in Commands of Jesus - Repent, believe and receive the Holy Spirit (transformation) Implementation (help all to
learn and obey Jesus’ commands) assigned to:
____________________ A word about
implementation: A teacher unaccustomed
to mobilizing people for other ministries should let someone else with
the gift of leadership implement what the group plans. Small groups
fail when the gift of teaching eclipses the other gifts and ministries that
God gives to the body. Group Activity 2: Obey, and Teach Others to Obey
Jesus’ Command to Repent, Believe and Receive the Holy Spirit Discussion assigned to: ____________________________ Read Mark 1:15; John 3:16 and John 20:22 to find three things that one must do
to receive Christ and His salvation. Read Romans 6:1-14 to find how God helps us to repent and be eternally
transformed. Ask:
What is the immediate result of repentance? Answer: New, holy, eternal life in Jesus. Explain:
Repentance is not simply to stop sinning. A toad or a pile of garbage has no
sin but is hardly holy. It means to receive the risen Christ’s new life, the
beginning of an eternal process of transformation. We let God invade our
soul. A new believer with a bad background may appear to us to be so sinful
that we assume he is not converted. God, however, sees men’s hearts. He knows
that the new believer is trying harder than most to live a holy life. All we
ask at first is to see him try. Read (or, preferably, relate) Luke 15:1-10 to find and discuss how
God feels when we repent. Read (or, preferably, relate) Luke 15:11-32 to discuss what the
prodigal son’s story would be if he lived today. Read Romans 8:28-30, then Galatians 5:22-23 to find the result
of repentance. Plan to help seekers in the group or outside of it, to obey this first
command. If this is difficult, seek the help of a person from another group
with the gift of evangelism. Coordination of what we planned assigned to:
____________________________ Group Activity 3: Obey, and teach others to obey
Jesus’ command to confirm conversion with baptism Discussion assigned to:
___________________________ Read Matthew 28:18-20 to find Jesus’ command and threefold purpose for
baptism that leads to balanced discipling. Ask:
What does it mean to be baptized in the name of the Father? Answer: To be baptized in someone’s name means to enter into a
deep relationship with him. The Israelites were baptized into Moses as they
followed Him out of Clarification: Baptism in the name
of God the Father confirms a relationship of submission to
loving father authority, as the Son has done throughout
eternity. We come to the Father through the Son: Baptism in the name of God
the Son confirms a relationship that transforms us into the
likeness of Jesus the living Word of God. This continues throughout
eternity as we learn more and more forever and obey His Word. The written
Word also takes on flesh and becomes incarnate in our lives and church when
we apply it in the power of the Holy Spirit: Baptism in the name of God
the Holy Spirit confirms a relationship with the Comforter who lives
within and gives us power to do ministry. Just as the three
Persons of the Trinity cannot be separated and never work alone, the
above three aspects of discipling—submission to loving authority, application
of the Word and Spirit-powered ministry—begin together with a proper
relationship with each Person of the Godhead, at baptism. Read Acts 2:38-42 to find how Jesus' apostles practiced baptism. Ask: When did Jesus'
apostles baptize the converts? (Let the group respond.) Answer: Immediately. The apostles baptized both Jews and
gentiles without delay. They did not use baptism as a graduation ceremony
after a Newcomer’s Class or Catechism but as the initial confirmation of
repentance and faith. Clarification: The apostles’ only invitation for one to show his
desire to receive Christ was to be baptized. They never offered God’s grace
through any other decision-making ritual (such as raising hands).
Their only requirement for baptism was to be bad, admit it, and ask
forgiveness in Christ’s name. Missionaries that baptize without delaying for
requirements of man’s making report a much higher rate of following through
for converts. For an example of how
God demands a demonstration of humble obedience for spiritual healing, read
(or relate) 2 Kings 5:1-14 (Naaman the leper) and discuss how it parallels
baptism. For further study on
baptism read (or relate) Acts Plans: One or more with the gift of shepherding arranges with our
elders, pastor, or someone authorized by our group (according to the policies
of our church) to baptize anyone in our families or group who has not obeyed
Jesus in this initial step. Arrangements
to carry out plans assigned to: ____________________________ Group Activity 4: Obey, and Teach Others to Obey
Jesus’ Command to Break bread (the Lord’s Supper,
Holy Communion) Discussion assigned to: ____________________________
Read (or relate) Matthew 26:17-28 to find and discuss the setting in which
Jesus instituted this most sacred ceremony. Read (or relate) Acts Ask: Where did they serve
the Lord’s Supper? Answer: In their homes. Healthy small groups normally celebrate it
regularly (Acts 20:1 shows that the normal practice was the first day of the
week). Read 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 to find the very essence of communion. Read also Leviticus 11:1-6 and compare 1 Corinthians 11:26-34 to find how seriously
God wants us to worship the way He says. Ask: What did God do to those who did not respect the body of Christ that
paralleled what He did to the disobedient sons of Aaron? Answer: He zapped
them (to say they sleep was a euphemism for being zapped). For further study on the Lord’s Supper, read (or relate) its Old Testament
origin in Exodus chapters 11-12. Plans: One or more persons with the gift of shepherding should
arrange with your elders, pastor, or someone authorized by your group
(according to the policies of your church) to celebrate the Lord’s Supper as
a small group, if applicable. Arrangements
to carry out plans assigned to: ____________________________ Group Activity 5: Obey, and Teach Others to Obey
Jesus’ Command to Love God and Man in Discussion assigned to: ____________________________ Read (or relate) Matthew 22:36-40, then 1 John 3:14-18 to find and discuss
how we know we really love God. Read John 13:34-35 to find and discuss how people will know that we are
Christians. (This aspect of Christian love is developed further, later.) Read (or relate) Luke Read (or relate) Matthew Plan with one or more that have the gift of compassion to arrange for
and carry out a ‘mercy ministry’ for those in need. Arrangements
for this assigned to: _____________________________ Plan with one or more that have the gift of exhortation to help
anyone who needs to forgive, to seek reconciliation. Arrangements
for this assigned to: ____________________________ Group Activity 6: Obey, and Teach Others to Obey
Jesus’ Command to Pray Discussion assigned to
___________________________________ Read John Read (or relate) Genesis Read Matthew Read Ephesians Read Luke 9:37-42 and Read Luke 10:17-20 to discuss why Jesus gave a gentle rebuke to His
disciples after they had cast out demons. Plan for one or more with the gift of faith to organize regular intercession
and spiritual warfare by the group. Arrangements to carry out plans assigned
to: ____________________________ Group Activity 7: Obey, and Teach Others to Obey
Jesus’ Command to Give Discussion assigned to
____________________________ Read Luke 6:38 to find and discuss how and why we should give. Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 to find and discuss the New Testament
standard for how much to give. Read (or relate) Matt. 25:14-30 to find and discuss the rewards of Christian
stewardship and punishment of false stewards. Ask:
What is the essence of Christian stewardship? Answer: A steward manages things owned by another. We are God’s
stewards; He owns everything. A wise steward makes careful, prayerful use of time,
talent and treasure. Plan for one or more who have the gift of giving (and maybe a little bit of
wisdom) to help others develop a plan for giving and stewardship of their
time and talents. Arrangements for stewardship assigned
to: ____________________________ Group Activity 8: Obey, and Teach Others to Obey
Jesus’ Command to Make Disciples (evangelize, shepherd, train leaders, and send missionaries) Discussion assigned to: ____________________________ Read Matthew 28:18-20 to find and discuss exactly how Jesus says to
make disciples. Read (or relate) John Read Acts 1:8 to find and discuss where we are to witness for Jesus,
to start the discipling process. Ask: What is our local community that corresponds to What nearby
communities nearby of the same culture correspond to What nearby ethnic
group corresponds to What distant people
groups correspond to the ends of the earth for our group? What help does
Jesus promise us in Acts 1:8? Plan: Ask one or more with the apostolic (missionary) gift or
vision to arrange for the group’s participation in training and sending
missionaries that reproduce your group life within a neglected people group. Arrangements
to carry out plans assigned to: ____________________________ Group Activity 9: Establish the Authority for
our Group’s Work (enthrone Jesus through our obedience in love) Discussion assigned to: ____________________________ Read John 14:15 to find and discuss our motive for obeying Jesus. Ask: Why is obedience to Jesus so important? Answer (1): Loving obedience is
the only way to enthrone our King. We can praise Him with our lips until we
are hoarse but without loving, childlike obedience it is empty; He cannot
receive it (Isaiah 29:13: 1 Corinthians 13:1). Answer (2): Loving obedience is the foundation for all other teaching
and ministry. An obedient discipling body builds all other ministries and
spiritual disciplines that the New Testament requires on this foundation of
obedience. A healthy small group or cell functions as a tiny church within a
larger church, giving total pastoral care, not just Bible study. Answer (3): Loving obedience establishes the authority for our group.
As a community committed to obey our Lord Jesus Christ, a small group or
house church must settle the question of authority. Putting obedience to the
commands of Jesus and His apostles before all other human rules and policies
resolves arguments about what to do. Jesus alone has all authority; we simply
do as He and His apostles say. Without this Rock foundation small groups lack
the sense of authority, purpose and direction needed for lasting results. Plan: Authorize one or more with the gift of discernment to
regularly monitor the progress of the group in obedience by comparing their
priorities and plans with the will of God as explicitly expressed through His
New Testament commands. Anything not specifically commanded in the New
Testament must be given lower priority. Arrangements to carry out plans assigned
to: _________________________________ GENERAL TASK AREA II (Group Activities
10-16) Agree on what we Are and Do as a
Group Group Activity 10: Covenant to Agree on Aims, Work out Differences Discussion assigned to:
_________________________________ Explain
why we need a Covenant. "Nearly every new group goes through a difficult time some
weeks after it is born." People discover, alas, that the other members are
also human! The honeymoon is over. Some develop the love, patience and
forgiveness that they need to continue; others drop out. To make this vital
part of group formation easy, we explain
as soon as possible that each small group should write its own "Covenant."
This makes up part of our Bible study during the first few weeks. We discuss
each phrase of the Covenant, defining what the group is and does. Read 2 Chronicles 23:16 to find and discuss the concept of covenanting
together. Clarification: We do not seek a ready-made Covenant here; we are to
think through the New Testament principles on our own, to compose our own
covenant. Keep it brief, to repeat in less than a minute. We might include a
pledge to obey Jesus’ commands and a phrase about serving one another with
the different spiritual gifts that God has given each one. We might also
resolve to train new leaders on the job for new groups. Some groups write
their Covenant as a song. When the Covenant is completed
and everyone has signed it (or in some way formally agreed to it) the group
ought to name itself if it hasn’t done so yet and celebrate.
Perhaps a feast! Discuss: Here are some practical "do’s and don’ts" that
you’d probably not include in the covenant (keep it general):
Carrying out the work on our covenant and group
policies assigned to: ____________________ Group Activity 11: Practice Relevant Small Group
Worship Discussion assigned to:
_________________________________ Discuss and agree on the essential elements of worship for our meetings: General: For small group worship we aim at total
participation rather than perfection in the music and teaching. We do
not aim at entertainment, but edification (building up everyone present).
Coordination of worship activities assigned
to: _______________________________ Group Activity 12: Install our Leaders in the Biblical Way Discussion assigned to:
_________________________________ Read Acts 13:1-3 to find and discuss why Paul received the laying on of
hands. Read Titus 1:5-9 to find and discuss the ideal character of those we name as
shepherds. Read 1 Timothy 4:14 and 2 Timothy 1:6 to discuss why Timothy received the
laying on of hands. I f you have new leaders who lack this anointing,
arrange for it and give it the same importance that the church in Assigned to: _____________________________ Group Activity 13: Base our aims on the Word of God Discussion assigned to: _________________________________ Read Ephesians 4:11-16 to find and discuss the aim or result of using the
spiritual gift of teaching for its true purpose, then make concrete plans to
bring your group’s practices into line with it. Ask:
Who is responsibility in our group to see that our teaching, shepherding and
discipling all equip all our people for ministries? (Ministries required by
the New Testament are listed under Task # 6.) Answer: The Bible places this responsibility on the ‘pastors and teachers’
but in today’s more traditional churches few teachers accept it. Clarification: In many churches a senior pastor or elder sets the pace,
proclaiming what God is doing this month and year. All our
teachers are to continually show from God’s Word the immediate purpose
for our activities. We do not preach simply to download as much information
as possible; pedantic exposition paralyzes purposeful action. We clarify from
the Bible how God is working now and what we will do in the immediate
future. God is working and so are we. The renewal of the Holy Spirit is
daily (2 Corinthians Ask one or more to see that such purposeful
teaching occurs regularly. Assigned to: ______________ Group Activity 14: Balance and
Blend Different Ministries Discussion assigned to:
_________________________________ Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-13 and 13:1-3 to find and discuss the meaning
of church ‘body life.’ Ask:
What does the Holy Spirit do for a church that is willing to be a loving,
serving body? Answer: He gives us gifts for different ministries and harmonizes
them as we love one another. Clarification: Seldom do churches form strong, reproductive small groups
with an ideological motive (someone has attended a workshop on cells and
comes back stirred, with a sure method to get instant growth). Rather, we
form small groups from a motive of love; we desire to provide fellowship,
serve and shepherd each other effectively and win more to Jesus. To
effectively shepherd the flock God has given us requires groups small enough
to give each person and family the attention they need. We also win our
friends for Christ easier in small groups. Name one or more to help
coordinate ministries. Find out what people can do and who needs their help.
See Tasks 5 and 6 for gift-based ministries. Assigned to: _________________________ Group Activity 15: Look upon the Field that God has
Given us to Harvest Discussion assigned to: ________________________ Read (or relate) John 4:1-43 to find and discuss the importance of Jesus’
exhortation in verse 35 to ‘look at the fields.’ Plan to study the people of our community (‘demographics’). Know who is
there, discern ethnic or other trends, find out what they are thinking, why
people stay away from (you may be surprised to find the real reason is
not indifference but the church’s irrelevancy—often something that can easily
be remedied with loving concern). This specific research assigned to:
____________________________ Group Activity 16: Keep the Vision Alive and Growing Discussion assigned to: ________________________ Plan to keep the vision before our people. Help everyone to talk and sing
about the vision. Keep talking about what God will do in the future
(weak churches talk about the past). Ask:
Please finish the phrase, "Our group exists to…" (do what?) Answer: Possible answers (if no one mentions an item and you
think it applies, bring it up): o
Win people to Christ o
Proclaim God’s Word o
Practice the
"one another" relational church body life o
Multiply groups to
bring Christ and the Holy Spirit’s power to every family in our community o
Multiply churches so
there will be one in every neighborhood in our area. Ask:
What are ways that we can keep our vision before the people? Answer: Possible answers (if no one mentions an item and you
think it applies, bring it up): o
Help everyone to pray
regularly for this vision, at home and with the group o
Enable every person
in our own group to participate actively. o
Name our group to
help us see it as a concrete entity—for example. o
Sing about
reproducing our group, recite poems or dramatize it (ask creative folks to
write music or skits for it; let children people participate in it). o
When groups meet to
celebrate together, interview people who have come to Christ, or had personal
or family victories, and want to testify about it. Ask one or more persons
with the gift of faith to work with others with the gift of leadership to
arrange what our group agrees upon to keep building the vision. Assigned
to: ________________ GENERAL TASK AREA III (Group Activities
17-20) Harvest Group Activity 17: Organize and Plan for Harvesting Discussion assigned to: ________________________ Ask: If a group is weak in evangelism, what is normally the best
way to help it renew this area of obedience to Jesus? (Hint: it usually does
not help to seek a new method.) Answer: Before looking for a magic method, find people who are
using the gift of evangelism effectively in another group or church. Arrange
for them to help you do evangelism— Don’t simply plan a workshop. In
turn, help their group with a ministry in which your group is strong (perhaps
discipling young married couples, mercy ministry or intercession, etc.). Read (or relate) Acts 10 to find and discuss how to start a new group
working through seekers and new believers. Ask: How did God prepare Peter to do evangelism where he was
not in control? Ask: God used an
exclusive meeting to bring the people to Christ. Who was there? Ask: What sort of
message did Peter give? What did he emphasize? Answer: Peter simply related the gospel story. The apostles
always told about Jesus’ death and resurrection. Read Luke 24:46-48 to find and discuss the specific things of which we are
to be witnesses. Ask: What two important historical events are we specifically
to relate as we witness? Ask: What two additional things are we to proclaim to those who
receive this news (verse 47)? Ask: For whom is this proclamation (verse 47)? Read Luke 10:5-7 to find and discuss why, when we penetrate another
neighborhood, we seek a man of peace (a hospitable person, although
not yet converted, who opens doors for us). Read (or relate) Acts IMPORTANT: Small gatherings
for evangelism can be led effectively by new believers. We call these Gathering Groups, Evangelistic Groups or
Harvesting Groups. They differ from most small groups in that they are often
led by new believers, sometimes even unconverted seekers such as Cornelius in
Acts 10, who called a group together to hear about Christ. Zacheus, These evangelistic
groups are short-lived. Some of the people receive Christ, others reject Him
and drop out. The group either becomes a regular group or feeds into another
group that is able to receive them. If it becomes a regular group led by one
of the new believers, a more mature believer should disciple this new leader
behind the scenes, like Some churches provide a
separate service with a more lively worship style for young-thinking people. ALSO IMPORTANT: We don’t force
everyone to do evangelism. Some
Christians have few unsaved friends and relatives who are willing to listen
to the gospel). It does little good to force them to do evangelism. Let them
intercede for those who do, disciple younger believers and serve in other
ministries. For a group of such people, you might skip the evangelism
activities below. Practical plans and organization for harvesting assigned
to: ________________________ Group Activity 18: Prepare to Relate the Good News Discussion assigned to: ________________________ Prepare: To help new believers
pass on the gospel message, teach them key Bible stories about it that are
easy to relate to others in an informal way. Do not try to win converts with
a philosophical or theological approach. It almost never works. The apostles
simply told the gospel story. Start with stories from the Old Testament if
the people lack a worldview with one all-powerful, Holy and God that relates
in love to people. Stories that reveal the
gospel include:
Name one or
more with the gift of evangelism to help communicate the gospel. Assigned
to: _____________ Name one or more with
the gift of teaching to help everyone memorize a repertoire of Bible stories
that support all major Christian doctrines and duties. Assigned to:
_____________________________ Group Activity 19: Let the Good News Flow through
Networks of Families and Friends (don’t extract converts from their
people) Discussion assigned to: _____________________________ Read Acts 16:13-15 and verse 31 to find and discus why we should aim for
entire families. Clarification: When possible, we start with the head of a family. Remember,
God does not see a person as an isolated individual, but as part of a larger
circle of family and friends (Acts For converts to witness
at once to their family and friends we must use a method of evangelism that
they can imitate at once and pass on. Methods that require electronic
equipment, expensive facilities or extensive training always stifle this
normal flow. Serious studies in mission fields all over the world show that
many more come to Christ when we witness just as Jesus and His apostles did:
we simple tell the good news and let it flow as it will. The gospel follows
the same channels as gossip. It is good gossip. Ask
persons who easily build relationships to help others do this. Assigned
to: _____________________ Group Activity 20: Balance Evangelism with Mercy
Ministry Discussion assigned
to: _____________________________ Read : Luke 10:25-37 to find and discuss what Jesus demands that we do for
those in our community who are in need. Ask: What priority did Jesus and His apostles give to loving
others in a practical way? Ask: What needs do our friends and relatives have, that we
might help them with? Family problems? (Do they simply need a friend to
listen to them?) Drug or alcohol abuse? Immigrants who need help to find
their way around or learn English? The best way to detect felt needs is to
mix with people of the community and listen to them. Be creative in
finding how to do this. Every community is different. There is no one ‘best
way.’ Coordination
of mercy ministry or development projects assigned to:
___________________ GENERAL TASK AREA IV (Group Activities
21-24) Serve One Another Within the Family of God Group Activity 21: Keep Groups Small Enough for
Edifying Interaction and Total Participation Discussion assigned to: ________________________ Read Gal. 5:13 (below) to find the reciprocal nature of New Testament
Church life and ministry: For you, dear
friends, have been called to live in freedom, not to satisfy your sinful
nature, but to serve one another in love. Notice the words ‘one
another.’ There are many such ‘one another’ verses in the Bible. Discuss: Clarify what true New Testament church body life is. We
encourage one other, pray for each other, confess faults to one another, etc.
We cannot do this in large meetings, so we also organize small group
meetings—small groups or cells. Small groups allow interaction
between all participants (We take care, however, not ask shy newcomers to
talk before the group). For example, we talk to and listen to each other, to
deal with those spiritual disciplines that our Lord and His apostles command.
With the aid of the Holy Spirit, each participant uses his/her own God-given
gifts to help others grow and serve. Organize it in your own way, but build
on relationships, so that your people find it easy and joyful. Clarify the scope of New Testament church body life. It is larger
than your church or group. We practice the "one another" dynamics
of the New Testament not only within groups and churches but also between
them, because a group small enough to do it with all of its members is too
small to have a complete gift balance. God gives many spiritual gifts. For
example, if your group is weak on evangelism, don’t go seeking another method.
Look rather for who can help you, someone in another group or church
who has the gift of evangelism and is willing to assist you, as you in turn
aid that group in some other way. God uses this voluntary, loving interaction
between groups and churches powerfully to develop ministries. Discuss: A small group allows
interaction between all. We talk to and listen to each other to deal with the
spiritual disciplines commanded by our Lord and His apostles. Each person,
with the aid of the Holy Spirit, uses his/her own God-given gifts to help
others grow and serve. CAUTION: do not force shy newcomers to talk
before the group. Clarify how we keep groups small enough to practice the ‘one
anothers.’ We multiply new groups, not by dividing them in two but
by training new leaders on the job and letting them form their own groups.
The leader of the parent group mentors them as long as they need it. This
training is dealt with in General Task Area VII. Clarify what church body life is. Beginning with the most
important command, to love God and man, we practice the "one
another" dynamics of the New Testament—not only within groups but
also between them. We practice them in groups small enough to allow
each person to be heard. Persons encourage one other, pray for each other,
confess faults to one another, etc. We cannot do this in large meetings; that
is why we also organize small group meetings—small groups or cells. Clarify how we hold each other accountable. As a family oriented
community, our purpose is not limited to accountability among individuals,
such as a few men meeting to help each other to grow spiritually. We aim for
complete honesty before the group. It may start with a private group just for
men, or for women. At first both men and women hesitate to deal with deep
personal needs in the presence of the opposite sex and strangers. However, in
time they graduate from such dependency and keep the family together in
normal group. Name one or more with
the gift of leadership or helps to see that our group practices the 'one
anothers.' They are dealt with in detail in the next three Group Activities.
Arrangements assigned to: ________________________ Group Activity 22: Build Loving Fellowship One with
Another (within and between groups) Discussion assigned to: ________________________ Discuss
specifically how, and with whom, to practice these ‘one
anothers.’ Study the ones you need most urgently to practice. Let the group
decide which ones to study. Love: Love one another: John Love one another to
fulfill the law: Romans 13:8 Increase our love one
for another: 2 Thessalonians 1:3 Abound in love for
another: 1 Thessalonians 3:12 Love each other deeply,
to cover a multitude of sins: 1 Peter 4:8 Interact with care: Have fellowship one with
another: 1 John 1:7 Forgive one another:
Ephesians Greet one another with a
holy kiss (embrace in some cultures): Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2
Corinthians 13:12; 1 Peter 5:14 Wait for one another to
break bread: 1 Corinthians 11:33 Bear one another’s
sufferings: 1 Corinthians 12:26 Helping others to practice this mutual
shepherding assigned to: _______________________ Group Activity 23: Serve one another (within and between
groups) Discussion assigned to: ________________________ Serve: Serve one another with
the gifts each person has received: 1 Peter 4:10 Serve one another in
love: Gal. 5:13 Be kind to each other: 1
Thessalonians 5:15 Care for one another: 1
Corinthians 12:25 Bear the burdens one for
another: Gal. 6:2 Work with one another: 1
Corinthians 3:9; 2Corinthians 6:1 Teach : Teach one another:
Colossians 3:16 Instruct one another:
Romans 5:14 Encourage: Encourage one another:
Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 10:25 Exhort one another:
Hebrews 3:13 Speak the truth to one
another: Ephesians 4:25 Lay down our lives one
for another: 1 John 3:16 Spur one another to love
and good deeds: Hebrews 10:24 Edify: Edify (strengthen, build
up) one another: 1 Thessalonians Edify one another
gathering together each one with a hymn, a word of instruction, a revelation,
a tongue or its interpretation: 1 Corinthians 14:26 Give spiritual care: Confess our sins one to
another: James 5:16 Pray for one another:
James 5:16 Helping others to practice this mutual serving
assigned to: _______________________ Group Activity 24: Cultivate Unity One with Another
(in and between groups) Discussion assigned to:
________________________ Act with humility: Honor one another:
Romans 12:10 Be of one mind one with
another: 2 Corinthians 13:11; Romans 12:16; 15:5 Do not criticize one
another: Romans 14:13 Do not speak bad one of
another: James 4:11; 5:9 Submit to one another:
Ephesians 5:21 Be clothed with humility
toward one another: 1 Peter 5:5 Live in harmony: Have patience one with
another: Ephesians 4:2 Live in peace one with
another: Matt. 9:50 Receive one another with
hospitality: Romans 15:7; 1 Peter. 4:9 Glorify God together:
Romans 15:6 Helping others to practice this mutual fellowship
assigned to: _______________________ GENERAL TASK AREA V (Group Activities
25-27) Help Each Person to Make Use of Spiritual
Gifts, Talents and Background in Ministry Group Activity25: Practice Spiritual Gifts Listed in Romans
12:6-8 Discussion assigned to: ________________________ Relate the
biblical examples or explanations for gifts that need clarification.
Some are too long to read; recount by memory the relevant parts. Mark gifts in
the brackets [ ] that need to be developed in our group. You will probably
need to arrange for help from other groups (and give help to them in
areas in which your group is strong). [ ] Serve: Samuel, 1 Sam. 1:20-28; 3:1-21; Deacons, Acts 6:1-7;
Dorcas, Acts 9:36-41 [ ] Prophesy—messages from God for strength, consolation and
encouragement; 1 Corinthians 14:3 [ ] Give—Abigail, 1 Sam. 25; guidelines: 2 Corinthians 9 [ ] Teach—Ezra: Nehemiah 8; purpose, Ephesians 4:11-16 [ ] Encourage—exhort: Paul with the Ephesian elders, Acts 20:17-38 [ ] Lead—servant leader who helps others to minister: Moses, Ex.
18:13-26 [ ] Show
mercy—The sheep and goats, Matt25:31-46;
Good Samaritan, Lk10:30-35; David with Saul, 1 Sam. 24 Ask persons with these gifts to help others
discover and use them. Assigned to: _________________ Group Activity 26: Practice Also the Gifts Listed in 1
Corinthians 12:7-11, 27-30 Discussion assigned to: ________________________ [ ] Counsel with
wisdom—Solomon, 1 Kings 3:5-28 [ ] Base decisions on knowledge (facts)—Bereans’
searching the Word, Acts [ ] Help— [ ] Go, as an Apostle
(sent one, with itchy feet, a spiritual entrepreneur)—Romans [ ] Discern—Nathan, 2 Sam. Chapters 11-12; Paul, Gal.
2:6-21 [ ] Heal—Jesus and the paralytic, Mark 2:1-12; Peter
and John heal the crippled man, Acts chapters 3-4 [ ] Administrate—Nehemiah: Nehemiah chapters 2-3 [ ] Do miracles—Elijah:
1 Kings 18:16-46; Elisha: 2 Kings chapters 2-5 [ ] Speak in tongues—Cornelius’ household, Acts [ ] Interpret tongues—see cautions in 1 Corinthians14 [ ] Use faith (all need it but some stir it in
others)—the leper and the centurion, Matt. 8:1-13; Old Testament faithful,
Hebrews 11 Ask persons with these gifts to
help others use them. Assigned to: ___________________________ Group Activity 27: Practice
Additional Gifts Listed in Ephesians 4:11 Discussion assigned to: ________________________ [ ] Announce the Good News (evangelist)—Philip; Acts [ ] Pastor (shepherd) — Acts Vital Pastoral Duties
besides Teaching (Ministries of persons with
the pastoral or shepherding gift) Mobilize You, more than anyone
else, are responsible to see that each member of your group uses his or her
gifts in ministry to edify the Body of Christ (Ephesians Aim for Balance Do not over-emphasize
any of the gift-based ministries (1 Corinthians Network Remember: No small
group has all the spiritual gifts it needs! New Testament group body life
requires interaction between groups. Poor Christians in
Macedonia, for example, had the gift of giving and used it to strengthen the
Lord’s work in other places (2 Corinthians 8:1-5, compared with Acts 18:1-5). The exhortations in the
New Testament to serve each other with different God-given gifts in the body
were made to clusters of small groups. The ‘churches’ in Ask persons with the gifts of
apostle or pastor to help others use them. Arrangements assigned to:
_______________ GENERAL TASK AREA VI (Group Activity 28) Develop all New Testament ministries Group Activity 28: Review and Do All Ministries
Required by the New Testament Discussion assigned to: ________________________ Discuss the following gift-based ministries required by the New
Testament. Mark in the box [ ] any that need to be
developed now in our group: SHEPHERDING MINISTRIES [ ] Pastoral counseling (for personal
or family problems) [ ] Strengthening families [ ] Watching over the flock’s spiritual
life [ ] Organizing and leading so that all use
their spiritual gifts in ministry MINISTRIES OF INSTRUCTION [ ] Preaching and teaching the Word [ ] Discipling to equip for ministry [ ] Training Leaders [ ] Evaluating and upgrading all
ministries, regularly BODY BUILDING MINISTRIES [ ] Prayer (devotional life, daily and
family devotions, spiritual warfare) [ ] Giving (stewardship) [ ] Cultivating loving fellowship [ ] Worship (corporate and family) EXTERNAL MINISTRIES [ ] Witnessing for Christ [ ] Caring for the needy [ ] Starting new churches or cells [ ] Foreign missions Review assigned to: ________________________ GENERAL TASK AREA VII (Group Activities
29-30) Group Leaders Constantly Train New Leaders Group Activity29: Practice the 2 Timothy 2:2 Training
Chain Reaction Discussion assigned to: ________________________ Read 2 Timothy 2:2 to find and discuss the steps of reproduction, "And
the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to
reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others." Then review
the four steps: 1 "And the things you have heard me say in the
presence of many witnesses …" (It began with Paul and
other witnesses from With whom does it begin
for your group? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 2 "entrust…" (Timothy
was to entrust the teaching to able shepherds in Who should our
leader train to assist now and start a new group later? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 3 "…to reliable men who will also be qualified…" (The chain passed from Who else can our
present trainees train later? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 4 "…to teach others." (From the towns near Paul started a similar
chain reaction with Titus who named and prepared elders to shepherd new
churches in Where might we start
an entirely new church or chain reaction? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Plan now to keep groups reproducing by helping new leaders to disciple other
leaders of newer groups. Each leader continually prepares his own Timothies
(apprentice leaders ) in his own group, to share the leadership and form new
groups. Coordination of this reproductive pastoral
training assigned to: __________________________ Group Activity 30: Practice Trouble-Shooting for Small Groups Discussion assigned
to: ________________________ Clarify and assign the job of correcting any
of the following problems that need solving: Children fuss, make mothers nervous: Form a child-friendly group or work with other groups to
share common childcare. Let kids participate! Correction assigned
to:
__________________________________________________________________ Someone in chronic
crisis usurps the group’s attention: If
one seems to enjoy being the victim and getting attention, do not feed this
sick appetite. It will take up too much of your time and only makes them
worse. Arrange for a pastoral counselor to help them get their attention off
themselves and to minister to others. Correction assigned
to:
__________________________________________________________________ Some smugly criticize
others who are not in small groups or house churches: Challenge them firmly to obey Matthew 7:1-5 which
forbids us to judge our brothers. Correction assigned
to:
__________________________________________________________________ Petty rules frustrate
participants: Build organization on
relationships, not structures, policies or forms imported from other
churches. Do not force groups to divide in order to multiply. Rather, let
potential leaders form their new groups with whoever cares to accompany them.
Give maximum freedom. If other leaders force rules upon you that hinder the
group development, pray and try to explain patiently the New Testament
principles you have learned. Bear down hard on the fact that you are obeying
the commands of Jesus. You might ask power hungry, legalistic persons, ‘Do
you prefer that we obey you instead?’ (Smile when you say it!) Correction assigned
to: _______________________________________________________________ Materials fail to
stimulate, hold interest or yield needed ministries: Before locking into specific materials, use the Scriptures
listed under these 30 Group Activities. Discuss the commands of Jesus,
the One Anothers, spiritual gifts and the ministries required by the New
Testament. Equip leaders with tools to mine the Word on their own. Relying
too much on materials creates passive students rather than active
disciples. Correction assigned
to: _______________________________________________________________ Groups become mere
Bible studies: A good small group
is a tiny church—keep it doing everything a church should do!
For new churches, do not start mere ‘preaching points.’ They almost never
meet people’s needs and seldom reproduce. Correction assigned
to: _______________________________________________________________ Building programs or
other temporary projects lure attention away from God’s purposes as stated in
His Word: Discern our God-given
priorities: start with His commands and ministries required by the New
Testament. Keep other emphases strictly secondary. Excessive emphasis on
building programs kills the excitement about what God is doing in the smaller
discipling communities. Correction assigned
to: _______________________________________________________________ Visitors don’t return: Befriend them. Visit them. Listen to them. Offer to do
things with and for them. Invest time in the Lord’s work. If your
group is not the best one for them, help them join another group. Correction assigned
to: _______________________________________________________________ Converts backslide: They are babes in Christ—spiritual babies. Babies dirty
their diapers. Be patient. Don’t demand instant perfection. Make sure you
deal with repentance and baptize them without undue delay. Overwhelm them
with love and acceptance. Assure them of God’s forgiveness and grace. Help
them love their family and friends. Help them to forgive, love and become
reconciled with anyone that they are having a hard time with. Help them to
ask forgiveness. Correction assigned
to: _______________________________________________________________ People don’t want
small groups; they just want to go to church and be passive hearers: Invite them cordially; if they still don’t respond, let
them lie in still pastures. Go seek the other sheep ‘who are not of this
fold.’ You will only frustrate the passive sheep and yourself, if you keep
prodding. Work with someone who has the gift of evangelism to start a group
totally among new folks. Correction assigned
to:
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