By: Pastor Joe Moore, Liberty University Theological Seminary Student
Small group ministry has become a central strategy in many contemporary churches seeking to cultivate authentic discipleship, relational depth, and sustainable pastoral care. Both Jeffrey Arnold in The Big Book on Small Groups and Dave Earley and Rod Dempsey in Disciple-Making Is… offer compelling theological and practical frameworks for understanding why small groups are indispensable to church health and mission. The opening chapters of each work challenge the traditional reliance on large corporate gatherings alone, arguing instead for decentralized, relationally driven environments where believers are known, discipled, and equipped. These authors collectively contend that small groups are not merely optional programs but foundational structures through which spiritual transformation, evangelistic engagement, and leadership development organically occur. Their insights provide valuable lenses through which churches, particularly those led by bi-vocational pastors, can cultivate disciple-making cultures rooted in Scripture, accountability, and shared ministry.
Summary of Arnold’s The Big Book on Small Groups (Chapters 1 and 2)
In the opening chapters of The Big Book on Small Groups, Jeffrey Arnold establishes the theological and practical rationale for small group ministry, grounding his argument in the biblical nature of community and the incarnational design of the Church. Arnold states, “We understand from studying human practices that humans need small groupings for survival, support, emotional strength and stimulation.”[1] Arnold’s primary assertion is that the Christian life was never meant to be lived in isolation. He frames small groups not as optional ministries but as essential environments for discipleship, mutual care, and mission. Chapter 1 explores the church’s historical drift toward institutionalism, arguing that as congregations grew numerically, relational depth steadily declined. Arnold contends “all disciples of Christ have been entrusted with the gospel message, which they are to continually invest in the lives of others.”[2] Without that investment in others, Arnold states, “without a community in which we can learn, practice, fail and eventually move out as agents of change, we are left without a secure foundation.”[3] Small groups serve as those agents of change, providing meaningful communities where accountability, prayer, and transformation can occur.
A significant strength in Arnold’s argument is his emphasis on the small group as a venue for holistic growth. In fact, Arnold asserts, “since we learn best in relationship, we most effectively learn to be disciples that way.”[4] He further notes that transformation is most effective when seen and imitated in the relationships in which we participate.[5] In fact, Arnold states appropriately, “there is no example in the Scriptures of a lone disciple.”[6]
Chapter 2 then shifts toward the practical benefits and challenges of implementing small groups. Arnold speaks of how although the opportunities in small groups are endless, churches must be able to recognize the differences between healthy and unhealthy ones.[7] If not organized wisely, small groups can actually impede spiritual development, leave some individuals feeling left out, give unhealthy or divisive personalities room to influence others, and prevent members from fulfilling their potential in ministry and evangelism.[8]
Arnold’s contributions to small group ministry are timely and highly applicable to contemporary congregational structures, especially in contexts where pastoral workload exceeds relational capacity. His framework empowers lay leaders, decentralizes care, and distributes ministry responsibility across the body of Christ. Arnold emphasizes the role of trained leaders as essential to experiencing success as small groups.[9] Overall, these chapters provide a compelling invitation to reimagine discipleship through community rooted in Scripture, authenticity, and mission.
Summary of Earley & Dempsey, (Chapters 7-15)
Chapters 7–15 of Earley and Dempsey’s Disciple-Making Is… form the practical engine of the book, translating theological conviction into actionable strategies. Their thesis is clear: disciple-making is not incidental but intentional, requiring a lifestyle that prioritizes relationship, accountability, spiritual discipline, and mission. The authors emphasize that discipleship must be reproducible, warning against creating consumers rather than multipliers. Their tone is pastoral yet urgent, pressing church leaders to evaluate whether their ministries produce transformation or merely activity.
In Chapter 7, they argue for true leadership by sharing the G.R.O.U.P acrostic.[10] In Chapter 8, they introduce The Five W’s of Healthy Small Groups, which are: Welcome, Worship, Word, Witness, and Works.[11] Earley and Dempsey state “following these five practices of an effective small group makes all the difference between mediocrity and greatness, between routine faithfulness and dynamic faithfulness, between stagnation and multiplication.[12] Chapters 9 through 14 focus individually on the Five W’s. They cover the basics for how to build, maintain, exalt God, study the Bible, minister to one another, and how to reach people. Chapter 15 will dive deep inside the small group to identify what makes them healthy.
The strength of Earley and Dempsey’s work lies in its clarity and practicality. They provide a reproducible pattern that local churches can implement with minimal structural modification, especially in smaller congregations. The emphasis on relational environments, spiritual discipline, evangelism, and multiplication aligns closely with the Great Commission and offers fresh direction for churches seeking revitalization.
Taken together, Chapters 7–15 serve as a practical field manual for disciple-making in contemporary contexts. Their vision challenges passive Christianity and calls believers into intentional, accountable, Spirit-empowered growth that continues to multiply from generation to generation.
Cliques Verses Small Groups
Healthy small groups cultivate intentional discipleship rather than the exclusivity and relational stagnation of cliques. While cliques are naturally inward-focused, resistant to growth, and unintentional, small groups are outward-focused, intentional, embrace new members, promote maturity, serve as environments of pastoral care and spiritual formation.[13] According to Comiskey, a biblical cell group exists for evangelism, discipleship, and multiplication, distinguishing it sharply from social clusters that do not advance the mission of Christ.[14] Comiskey describes small groups as, “groups of three to fifteen people who meet weekly outside the church building for the purpose of evangelism, community, and spiritual growth with the goal of making disciples who make disciples, which results in multiplication.[15] Comiskey also observes “when a church does not develop a strong foundation upon which to build cell groups, the reason for doing cell ministry will also shift like sand.[16]
Arnold’s Four Diagnostic Questions
Arnold proposes four critical diagnostic questions to evaluate the health of a small group. First, are we introducing Christian disciplines into our small groupings? Second, are our small groupings building the kingdom or hindering the kingdom? Third, are we training leaders who bring Christian disciplines into small groupings? Fourth, is our entire congregation working to develop a disciplined small group mentality?[17] These questions provide a framework for leaders to prevent stagnation and help participants develop missional rhythms. If a group fails any of these diagnostic markers, intentional action must be taken to restore balance, especially by redirecting energy toward spiritual growth and outreach.
The G.R.O.U.P. Acrostic
Earley and Dempsey present the acronym G.R.O.U.P. as a practical tool for true leadership.[18] The first point, guided by a leader, gets to the heart of the question, “How can I help you grow and become more like Christ?”[19] Second, regular meeting times, “provide the right environment for growth and development.”[20] Third, opening God’s Word, “has the power to change us from what we are into what God has in mind for us.”[21] Fourth, united in service, provides an opportunity for small groups to use their gifts in community.[22] Finally, praying for one another, as Dr. Jerry Falwell said, “Nothing of eternal significance ever happens apart from prayer.”[23] Together, these elements offer a balanced rhythm of engagement essential for maturing disciples.
Inward / Outward / Upward
Healthy small groups must balance three directional movements. Inwardly, members care for one another, encourage growth, and provide support during trials.[24] Outwardly, groups engage their communities through evangelism and acts of service.[25] Upwardly, they worship God and submit to biblical authority.[26] Arnold aptly inserts, “If structured carelessly, small groups can hinder growth, exclude people, provide platforms for negative or destructive personalities, and keep people from reaching their potential for service and outreach.”[27] Leaders must cultivate rhythm, ensuring all three remain vibrant.
Application to the Local Church
Small group ministry is particularly vital within a bi-vocational Biker Church context, where pastoral time and availability are often limited due to employment demands outside the church. By decentralizing pastoral care, cell-based structures empower members to carry relational and spiritual responsibilities that would otherwise rest solely on the pastor. In biker culture, where authenticity, brotherhood, and shared life experiences are already valued, small groups provide natural environments for relational evangelism and personal discipleship to flourish. As these groups multiply, they create space for emerging leaders to be identified and mentored, spiritual gifts to be exercised, and ministry ownership to grow beyond the pulpit. Structured leader training, clear expectations, and a consistent outward missional vision prevent these gatherings from becoming exclusive riding “cliques” disconnected from the church’s mission. Over time, a healthy network of small groups strengthens community bonds, expands outreach capacity to local biker communities, and relieves the pastoral burden on bi-vocational leadership while fostering long-term congregational maturity.
Conclusion
Taken together, the themes presented in Arnold’s and Earley & Dempsey’s writings offer a compelling vision for vibrant, mission-shaped small group ministry within the local church. Arnold reminds readers that relational community is both theological and practical, restoring the depth often lost in institutional forms of church life. Earley and Dempsey then provide the strategic framework necessary to operationalize this vision through relational discipleship, intentional evangelism, and spiritual multiplication.
When guided by healthy leadership, balanced rhythms of inward care, outward mission, and upward worship, small groups become dynamic environments for transformation rather than stagnant social clusters. Earley and Dempsey state, “a healthy church means the body of Christ will be healthy as well.”[28] For churches navigating limited pastoral bandwidth, small group structures extend care, identify emerging leaders, and decentralize ministry responsibility across the body of Christ. Ultimately, these resources challenge passive Christianity and call believers into purposeful, Spirit-empowered growth that multiplies disciples, groups, and ministry impact for generations to come.
Bibliography
Arnold, Jeffrey. The Big Book on Small Groups (Revised Edition) (InterVarsity Press, 2017).
Comiskey, Joel. Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church. Moreno Valley, CA: CCS Publishing, 2012.
Comiskey, Joel. What is a Cell Group? Cell Fundamentals. JCG: Resourcing Churches to make Disciples through Small Groups. 2025. https://jcgresources.com/en/resources/small_group_basics/en_whatisacellgroup/
Dempsey, Rod, and Dave Earley. Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups. Lynchburg, Va. Liberty University Press, 2016.
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.
[1] Jeffrey Arnold, The Big Book on Small Groups (Revised Edition) (InterVarsity Press, 2017), 10.
[2] Arnold, The Big Book on Small Groups, 22.
[3] Ibid., 25.
[4] Ibid., 25.
[5] Ibid., 24.
[6] Ibid., 25.
[7] Ibid., 32.
[8] Arnold, The Big Book on Small Groups, 32.
[9] Ibid., 40.
[10] Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups (Wordsearch, 2018), 31.
[11] Ibid., 35.
[12] Ibid., 36-37.
[13]Arnold, The Big Book on Small Groups, 9.
[14] Joel Comiskey. What is a Cell Group? Cell Fundamentals. JCG: Resourcing Churches to make Disciples through Small Groups. https://jcgresources.com/en/resources/small_group_basics/en_whatisacellgroup/
[15] Ibid.
[16] Joel Comiskey, Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church: New Testament Insights for the 21st Century Church (CCS Publishing, 2012), 20.
[17] Arnold, The Big Book on Small Groups, 22-23.
[18] Dempsey and Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups, 31.
[19] Ibid., 31.
[20] Ibid., 32.
[21] Ibid., 32.
[22] Ibid., 32-33.
[23] Ibid., 34.
[24] Arnold, The Big Book on Small Groups, 33-36.
[25] Ibid., 38-39.
[26] Ibid., 36-37.
[27] Ibid., 32.
[28] Dave Earley and Rod Dempsey. Discipleship Making Is . . .: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence, (Brentwood: B&H Academics, 2013), 41.
Fighting for My Pea Patch 