By: Pastor Joe Moore, Liberty University Theological Seminary Student
Summary of Comiskey’s Theology of God and Community
In Chapter 2, Joel Comiskey teaches that the only way to truly know God is through His self-revelation in Scripture. While creation displays God’s power and divine nature (Romans 1:20), only the Bible reveals His character and purpose.[1] Theology, derived from theos (God) and logia (word), is therefore the study of what God has disclosed about Himself.[2] Comiskey affirms Paul’s declaration that “for us there is but one God, the Father… and one Lord, Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 8:6, King James Version), emphasizing that early theologians developed doctrine to preserve truth against false teachings.[3] Central to God’s self-revelation is the doctrine of the Trinity, one God in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, whose unity and diversity reveal the relational heart of divine love.[4]
In Chapter 3, Comiskey asserts that because God is triune, relationship and community are essential aspects of human existence.[5] The Trinity models perfect harmony, love, and interdependence, providing the pattern for Christian fellowship. Augustine described this relationship as the Father being the lover, the Son the beloved, and the Spirit the bond of love (1 John 4:16).[6] Jesus prayed that His followers would share this same divine unity, “that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee,” (John 17:21, KJV).[7] Thus, the church is called to reflect the relational nature of God through mutual love, service, and unity. Community, then, is not optional but foundational to the identity and mission of the people of God.[8]
Comiskey concludes in Chapter 4 showing that the church, as the family of God, is designed to mirror the triune nature of divine community.[9] Jesus modeled this truth by gathering a small group of disciples and living among them, teaching through shared life and example.[10] The early believers continued this pattern by meeting in homes for worship, prayer, and ministry (Acts 2:42–47).[11] Small groups thus express God’s design for relational discipleship and ministry multiplication. For Comiskey, this community-centered model is not a modern innovation but a rediscovery of biblical foundations—a church that lives as community, not merely in community.[12] Through the body of Christ, God’s plan is fulfilled to form a people who reflect His love, unity, and holiness (Ephesians 1:22–23).[13]
Summary of Earley and Dempsey (Chapters 5–6)
In chapters 5 and 6 of Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups, Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley emphasize that the heartbeat of small group ministry is rooted in Jesus’ example and the biblical mandate for discipleship.[14] Chapter 5 centers on aligning every small group with the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37–40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20).[15] The small group’s mission is clear: love God, love others, and make disciples.[16] Dempsey reminds readers that “the heart cry of every human is an overwhelming need for community,” because God designed people to live and grow together.[17] Isolation, he warns, is spiritually and emotionally destructive, while genuine community fosters health, connection, and purpose.[18] As small group experts Bill Donahue and Russ Robinson explain, God has placed within each believer a “communal gene,” a built-in longing for fellowship and belonging.[19]
In chapter 6, Dempsey shifts focus to the leadership and organization of small groups, asserting that small group leaders are called to shepherd others as Jesus did.[20] Jesus Himself was a small group leader who called twelve disciples to be with Him and to be sent out to preach (Mark 3:13–14).[21] He modeled ministry through relationships, transforming lives by gathering a few to reach the many.[22] Dempsey notes that if Jesus, the Son of God, the King of Kings, chose to lead a small group, then every believer should recognize the strategic importance of doing the same.[23] The small group, therefore, becomes the most effective training ground for making disciples, just as Jesus modeled.[24] Dempsey highlights that every follower of Christ must take seriously the call to make disciples, for “the heart of the Great Commission is the call to make disciples.”[25]
Furthermore, Dempsey underscores that small groups are essential to the life and health of the church. The Apostle Paul described the church as “the body of Christ,” where every part depends on the others for proper functioning (1 Corinthians 12:21; Ephesians 1:23).[26] Disconnection or isolation from the body leads to spiritual weakness and dysfunction.[27] When small groups operate as interconnected parts of the body, they create authentic fellowship, what Chuck Swindoll describes as a place where “fences come down, masks come off, and keys to the doors of our lives are duplicated and distributed.”[28] Dempsey concludes that small groups have the power to move people “from isolation to connection and from loneliness to love.”[29] Thus, leading or participating in a small group is not simply a ministry option, it is following in the very footsteps of Jesus Christ Himself.[30]
Biblical Foundation for Small Group Ministry
The biblical foundation for small group ministry begins with Scripture itself, where the pattern of disciple-making is inherently communal. The Great Commission, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen,” establishes the mission of the Church to make disciples through teaching, fellowship, and obedience to Christ (Matt. 28:19-20, KJV). Rod Dempsey explains that small groups serve as the most effective environment for fulfilling this command, as they allow believers to “become the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus in their world.”[31] In this context, small groups become the local expression of the Great Commission, communities of believers who learn together, grow together, and are sent together. Similarly, the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37–40, KJV) gives small groups their relational focus. Within the intimate setting of a group, believers practice loving God and loving others, fulfilling what Bonhoeffer called the cost of community, a call to live out costly grace through genuine fellowship and mutual service.[32]
The New Commandment (John 13:34–35, KJV) given by Jesus, reveals the distinctive mark of Christian community: love that reflects His own. In a small group setting, this commandment becomes practical, visible, and transformative. Chuck Swindoll notes that when true fellowship occurs, “fences come down, masks come off, and joys and sorrows are shared.”[33] For a biker church plant, where brotherhood and authenticity are core values, this passage underscores that small groups are not just gatherings but relational environments where Christlike love builds unity and draws outsiders in. Small group ministry, therefore, is not simply a program but a spiritual formation process, where believers move from isolation to community, from information to transformation.[34]
The call of Jesus, “follow me, and I will make you fishers of men,” shows that small groups are also training grounds for mission (Matthew 4:19, KJV). Jim Putman and Bobby Harrington emphasize that a true disciple is one “who is following Christ (head), being changed by Christ (heart), and committed to the mission of Christ (hands).”[35] Small groups embody this threefold process by creating environments for spiritual growth, relational accountability, and missional engagement. Likewise, Paul identifies the purpose of church leadership as equipping the saints for ministry (Eph. 4:11-16, KJV). Dempsey explains that “pastors are to equip the saints, and the saints are to do the work of the ministry,” shifting the focus from clergy-driven to member-driven ministry.[36]
Finally, Acts 2:42–47 provides the clearest model of early small group life. The believers met in homes, devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer (KJV). Joel Comiskey describes these gatherings as “living expressions of Christ’s body,” demonstrating worship, community, and mission in balance.[37] Bonhoeffer declares that a healthy church is not only the “efficacy of salt,” but a visible light shining.[38] When viewed through this lens, small groups are not optional ministries but essential to the structure and health of the church. They serve as the primary context where spiritual formation, leadership development, and missional living naturally occur.[39]
Principles for Small Group Ministry
Having identified the biblical passages that form the foundation for small group ministry, the next step is to articulate the guiding principles that shape how these truths are lived out in the local church. Principles serve as the bridge between biblical conviction and practical application, ensuring that ministry remains faithful to God’s design. Greg Ogden reminds us, “The Bible teaches us not only the message of faith, but also the method by which that faith is to be passed on to future generations. We are called to do God’s work God’s way.”[40] This section will explore three central principles for small group ministry: Discipleship Happens in Community, Every Believer is a Minister, and Multiplication is the Mission.
Discipleship Happens in Community
Jesus’ ministry model reveals that transformation occurs through shared life, not isolated instruction. From His investment in the Twelve to His intimate fellowship with Peter, James, and John, Jesus demonstrated that true growth happens in relationship. Acts 2:42–47 illustrates this same dynamic as the early church “continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (KJV). Small groups provide a relational setting for accountability, encouragement, and spiritual formation. Comiskey affirms that Jesus “cemented the new concept of family by living among them and showing them how to love and serve one another (John 13:1–17).”[41]
Every Believer is a Minister
Exodus 18 and Ephesians 4:11–16 teach that ministry is not confined to a select few but distributed across the body of Christ. Moses learned to delegate responsibility to capable leaders to shepherd smaller groups of people, a model echoed in the early church. Dempsey and Earley note, “Leading small groups and developing leaders is part and parcel of accomplishing the Great Commission.”[42] Small groups empower ordinary believers to lead, serve, and teach within their circles of influence, creating a culture of participation rather than passive observation. When each member embraces their role, the body functions as God intended, diverse, interdependent, and fully engaged in mission.
Multiplication is the Mission
From Jesus sending out the disciples two by two (Luke 10:1) to Paul’s church-planting strategy across Asia Minor, Scripture reveals that the mission of the church is reproduction. Small groups are not meant to be static gatherings but dynamic movements that birth new leaders and new groups. Earley and Dempsey write, “Following Jesus today means following Him into deep relationships with other believers. His pattern was gathering a few to transform the many.”[43] This principle ensures that small group ministry remains outward-focused, continually expanding its reach through relational networks that carry the gospel to new people and places.
Together, these three principles, Discipleship Happens in Community, Every Believer is a Minister, and Multiplication is the Mission, form the DNA of healthy small group ministry. They keep the church focused on biblical priorities and create a sustainable model of growth rooted in authentic relationships, shared ministry, and continual reproduction.
Church and Small Group Structure
In the life of a Biker Church, discipleship happens most naturally in the context of relationships rather than classrooms or formal programs. Small groups are not just an addition to church life; they are the church in action. For a community that values authenticity, loyalty, and riding together, these groups form the primary environment where spiritual growth occurs. They meet in garages, diners, backyards, bike shops, and even on the road during rides, becoming the spaces where Scripture is read, personal stories are shared, and prayer is offered. Members are treated not as an audience but as a brotherhood and sisterhood, carrying one another’s burdens and challenging each other to follow Christ faithfully. These gatherings reflect the “IS” philosophy of small groups: they are the heartbeat of the church, not merely a supplement.[44]
Small groups in a Biker Church are relational and practical, shaping discipleships around the culture of the community. Leadership is shared, accountability is lived out on the road as well as in meetings, and ministry happens through service to one another and to the wider community. These groups cultivate trust and authenticity, where members can wrestle with life’s challenges, celebrate victories, and grow in Christ together. The small group setting also reflects the core values of biker culture, loyalty, trust, and mutual respect, while aligning them with the mission of Christlike love and discipleship. As Bonhoeffer emphasizes, “Christian community thus lives its own life in the midst of this world, continually bearing witness in all it is and does . . .”[45]
At the same time, these groups remain connected to the larger identity and mission of the church. They are “of” the church in sharing a common purpose, receiving pastoral care, and aligning with the vision to make disciples who ride with Christ and live intentionally. They are also “with” the church as members participate in corporate worship services, outreach rides, and seasonal celebrations. Yet, these larger events are not the primary setting for discipleship; they are opportunities to introduce new people to the relational web of small groups, where authentic transformation and spiritual growth take root. Dempsey and Earley highlight that healthy small groups serve as the primary environment for “knowing them, feeling their hurts, sharing their joys, and encouraging their hearts.”[46]
Conclusion
In the unique culture of a Biker Church, small groups represent far more than weekly meetings—they are the living embodiment of Christ’s design for His Church. Rooted in biblical community and modeled after the ministry of Jesus, these groups become places where discipleship is personal, authentic, and transformative. Through shared life, mutual care, and mission, small groups turn the values of brotherhood and loyalty into expressions of Christlike love. They provide the relational framework where spiritual growth occurs, leaders are developed, and the gospel is carried into new circles of influence. Joel Comiskey, quoting Helen Doohan, writes, “the actions and attitudes in the community speak to the fundamental family values, with trust, respect, love, patience, tolerance, resilience, and generosity, the kind of interaction essential to being the church.”[47] For the Biker Church, then, small groups are not just the heart of its structure but the engine of its mission, riding together, growing together, and reaching the world together for Christ.
[1] Joel Comiskey. Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church: New Testament Insights for the 21st Century Church (CCS Publishing, 2012), 37.
[2] Ibid., 37.
[3] Ibid., 38.
[4] Comiskey, Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church, 38-39.
[5] Ibid., 44.
[6] Ibid., 43.
[7] Ibid., 44-45.
[8] Ibid., 46.
[9] Ibid., 64.
[10] Ibid., 77-78.
[11] Ibid., 78-79.
[12] Comiskey, Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church, 80.
[13] Ibid., 72.
[14] Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley. Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups (Lynchburg, Va: Liberty University Press, 2016), 23.
[15] Ibid., 27.
[16] Ibid., 9.
[17] Ibid., 23.
[18] Ibid., 24.
[19] Dempsey and Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups, 24.
[20] Ibid., 26.
[21] Ibid., 26.
[22] Ibid., 26.
[23] Ibid., 27.
[24] Ibid., 27.
[25] Ibid., 27.
[26] Ibid., 23.
[27] Dempsey and Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups, 23.
[28] Ibid., 24.
[29] Ibid., 24.
[30] Ibid., 27.
[31] Ibid., 27.
[32] Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship. (New York: Macmillan, 1963), 45.
[33] Dempsey and Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups, 24.
[34] Ibid., 23-24.
[35] Jim Putman and Bobby Harrington. DiscipleShift: Five Steps That Help Your Church Make Disciples Who Make Disciples, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2013), 51.
[36] Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley. Disciple Making Is . . .: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence (Brentwood, Tn: B&H Publishing Group, 2013), 41.
[37] Comiskey, Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church, 45.
[38] Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Discipleship. (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2003), 112.
[39] Putnam and Harrington, DiscipleShift, 58.
[40] Gary Ogden. Disciple Essentials: A Guide to Building Your Life in Christ, Expanded Edition. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2007). 21.
[41] Comiskey, Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church, 60.
[42] Dempsey and Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups, 12.
[43] Ibid., 26.
[44] Dempsey and Earley. Disciple Making Is, 279.
[45] Bonehoeffer, Discipleship, 250.
[46] Dempsey and Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups, 24-25.
[47] Comiskey, Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church, 63.
Bibliography
Putman, Jim, Harrington, Bobby, and Coleman, Robert E. DiscipleShift: Five Steps that Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples. Grand Rapids: MI: Zondervan Reflective, 2013. 19.
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Discipleship. Minneapolis, MN: First Fortress Press, 2003. 21.
Earley, Dave and Dempsey, Rod. Discipleship Making Is . . .: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence. Brentwood: B&H Academics, 2013. 21, 22.
Ogden, Greg, 2007. Discipleship Essentials: A Guide to Building Your Life in Christ, Expanded Ed. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 20.
Earley, Dave and Dempsey, Rod. Spiritual Formation Is . . .: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence. Brentwood: B&H Academics, 2018. 32.
Comiskey, Joel. Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church. Moreno Valley, CA: CCS Publishing, 2012.
Dempsey, Rod, and Dave Earley. Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups. Lynchburg, Va. Liberty University Press, 2016.
Fighting for My Pea Patch 