By: Pastor Joe “Mojo” Moore, Graduate Student, Liberty University Theological Seminary
Developing small groups within a biker church is far more than a programmatic effort, it is a ministry shaped by biblical conviction, cultural awareness, and a passion for discipleship. Riders often carry heavy burdens, live fast-paced lives, and value authenticity above all else, making relational, Christ-centered groups essential for spiritual growth and community. A well-developed small group strategy provides the context where riders can experience brotherhood, accountability, and transformation, echoing Jesus’ own model of investing deeply in a small band of followers. By grounding the ministry in Scripture, establishing a clear and compelling vision, and shaping groups around the unique rhythms of biker culture, the church can create life-giving communities that reach the lost, disciple believers, and multiply leaders for the sake of the gospel.
Motivation for Developing Biker Church Small Groups
My motivation for developing biker church small groups flows from a desire to create a biblically grounded community where mentoring disciples can flourish, authentic relationships can grow, and bikers can be mobilized for mission. Jesus modeled this approach by forming a small circle of disciples and investing deeply in them (Mark 3:13–15, King James Version, 2001). In a biker church context, small groups provide a setting where men and women can move beyond surface-level faith and experience real spiritual growth through Scripture, accountability, and shared life. I am driven to see bikers find a place of belonging in Christian community, be shaped by God’s Word, and be equipped to reach other riders with the gospel. This motivation is not rooted primarily in reacting to crisis or meeting immediate needs, but in forming a vision-shaped ministry where conviction guides practice. As Dempsey and Earley caution, without clear, biblical direction, ministry leaders tend to drift rather than lead with intentionality, undermining both discipleship and mission.[1]
Goals and Dreams for Biker Church Small Groups
Dempsey and Earley state, “the potential of a man is measured by the goals he pursues.[2] In a biker-church context, the long-term vision for small groups is to cultivate a network of healthy, multiplying communities where riders experience spiritual growth through Scripture, prayer, fellowship, and mission.[3] These groups are designed to meet people where they are, often weary from life on the road, and guide them toward spiritual growth, helping participants mature in Christ through study, conversation, and application of God’s Word.[4] Creating authentic community is also essential in biker culture, which values brotherhood and belonging; small groups provide a safe environment where members can share life, support one another, and build meaningful, trusting relationships.[5]
Pastoral care also plays a vital role fulfilling these goals and dreams, ensuring that no one walks alone and empowering leaders to shepherd well in a context where life is often unpredictable and rugged.[6] Leadership development is equally critical, identifying, training, and releasing new leaders who can multiply groups and extend the reach of the gospel across the riding community.[7] As House states, “having a bigger picture of where you are going and what God wants for your church will allow you to adapt to acute needs while at the same time help you build more well-rounded community from the start.[8] The dream is that these groups will not remain inward-focused but will instead become vibrant hubs of discipleship, mission, and multiplication, spiritually open “garages” where lives are repaired, restored, and rebuilt, and where the life of Jesus is reproduced in others.[9]
Biblical Foundations for Biker Church Small Groups
The biblical foundation for these groups is clear. Acts 2:42–47 shows that the early church devoted itself to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and in prayer, all practices that fit naturally within biker fellowship nights, garage groups, or meetups over food. Hebrews 10:24–25 highlights the importance of gathering regularly to encourage one another, something riders naturally do when they meet up before a ride or gather to work on bikes. Ephesians 4:11–16 teaches that every believer, no matter their background or rough edges, is gifted by God to contribute to the body’s growth. Additionally, Romans 12:4-8, shows that every believer has special gifts that are to be used in the context of the community. Passages like these demonstrate that discipleship is relational and that spiritual formation is strengthened when believers share life together.
Two Types of Groups Developed for Biker Church Small Groups
Arnold and Dempsey & Earley describe several types of small groups that churches can use, and these categories adapt naturally to the relational culture of biker ministry.[10] In a biker church, the focus will be on two different groups. First, care groups, designed to provide a relational entry point where bikers experience biblical community, prayer, mutual support, and foundational engagement with Scripture. Rather than attempting deep, intensive discipleship, these groups emphasize belonging before becoming, creating a safe and consistent environment where riders can process life challenges, receive pastoral care, and begin forming spiritual habits. These groups align with Arnold’s emphasis on relational cells that integrate care, encouragement, and mission without overwhelming participants with overly technical spiritual expectations.[11]
The second type of group will be Disciple-Making Groups. Unlike the Care & Community Groups, these are intentionally designed for deeper spiritual formation and leadership development. These groups will consist of three to five committed riders who are ready to move beyond basic Bible discussion into intentional obedience, spiritual disciplines, accountability, and multiplication. These groups will initially be pastor-led and structured around a clear pathway of spiritual growth, aimed at producing disciple-makers rather than merely informed believers. This structure reflects Dempsey and Earley’s model of small, multiply focused discipleship groups that prioritize transformation, obedience, and leadership reproduction.[12]
In summary, by limiting the structure to two distinct group types, the ministry avoids confusion between care and discipleship while still honoring the biblical call to both community and spiritual maturation. Care Groups serve as the front door for relationship and spiritual stabilization, while Disciple-Making Groups function as the deep-rooted engine for transformation and multiplication. This clear distinction makes the pathway understandable for bikers entering the ministry and aligns with Arnold’s and Dempsey & Earley’s core principles of healthy, intentional small group ministry.
How to Lead Biker Church Small Groups
Leading Disciple-Making Groups in a biker church context requires intentional spiritual direction, relational investment, and a clear focus on transformation rather than general care. These groups will not function as open-ended fellowship or support gatherings, but as structured environments focused on spiritual disciplines and obedient living. Meetings will follow a purposeful rhythm of prayer, in-depth Scripture engagement, spiritual accountability, and application aimed at measurable growth.[13] Unlike the Care Groups, the emphasis here will be on mentoring relationships, where leaders intentionally disciple members through personal guidance, regular spiritual check-ins, and modeled obedience to Christ.[14] A primary aim of these groups will be leadership multiplication through identifying, mentoring, and releasing emerging leaders who can form new disciple-making groups over time.[15] Elements of biker culture, such as shared rides and service-oriented outreach, will be used not as social activities but as practical training grounds for mission, spiritual leadership, and gospel-centered witness.[16] Through this model, the goal is to cultivate spiritually mature disciples who can actively lead others into transformation and Christ-centered living, rather than simply participating in community.[17]
The Plan to Grow and Develop Biker Church Small Group Ministry
Creating a thriving small group ministry in a biker church requires clear strategy, intentional investment, and Spirit-led guidance, all adapted to the relational culture of riders. The foundation begins with prayer.[18] Next, is to identify and equip leaders who grasp both discipleship principles and biker culture, clearly communicating the vision for small groups, and supplying curriculum, resources, and ongoing support designed to fit the unique rhythms and experiences of riders.[19] Groups should be launched intentionally, formed around life stage, existing riding relationships or club affiliations, or specific spiritual needs, promoted through fellowship events and rides, and made easy for new riders to join.[20]
Leaders are supported through regular gatherings, coaching, encouragement, prayer, and practical tools for teaching and conflict resolution, helping them shepherd their crews effectively.[21] Healthy group rhythms will be emphasized by engaging in the four essential practices of Word, prayer, community, mission, and worship, balancing deep fellowship with rides, outreach events, and service projects that connect with the biker lifestyle.[22] Multiplication is built into the system by identifying apprentices early, giving them opportunities to lead portions of meetings or rides, and preparing them to launch new groups within the riding community. By this, riders will learn to live on mission for God.[23] Integration with the larger church occurs as teaching aligns with discipleship goals, life-change stories from rides and fellowship are highlighted, and small groups become central, not optional, to spiritual formation in the church.
Ongoing evaluation in the biker church small group ministry will involve regularly gathering feedback from riders, monitoring leader and group health, addressing challenges early, and celebrating spiritual and relational growth both “on the road” and in everyday life. Rather than launching multiple group types at once, the ministry will begin with one or two core group models and will expand gradually as leaders mature, riders develop spiritually, and the church gains clarity about its needs and capacity. This phased approach reflects best practices in healthy ministry development, emphasizing prayerful discernment, leadership coaching, and sustainable growth rather than rapid structural expansion.[24] Growth will be guided by biblical vision, consistent support, and Spirit-led multiplication, allowing the ministry to develop organically.[25] Over time, this process will cultivate communities where riders experience authentic spiritual transformation, biblical accountability, and a mission-focused lifestyle that spreads the gospel through relationships, shared rides, and outreach.[26]
How to Develop Small Group Leaders (Biker Church Context)
Joel Comiskey states, “sorting out our biblical values will lead us to principles and conducts that glorify God and His ways.”[27] Small group leaders in a biker church are not simply facilitators; they are spiritual road captains who help guide riders into deeper discipleship. Leadership begins as a spiritual calling, not a technique or personality trait. Every leader is an essential part of the disciple-making mission and must be trained in a way that is prayerful, intentional, and rooted in relationships built on trust and respect.[28] Leader do not “have the salt,” they are the salt.[29]
Leaders are trained to pray daily for every rider in their group, recognizing that only God can change hearts, heal past wounds, and produce lasting spiritual growth.[30] In a culture shaped by brotherhood, loyalty, and shared stories, prayer becomes the fuel that keeps the group moving forward, especially during difficult seasons. Training must combine vision and hands-on practice. Prospective leaders should ride alongside experienced leaders through an apprentice model, learning how to listen well, shepherd conversations, and care for the spiritual health of the group before they ever lead their own.[31] Leaders are also trained to recognize the normal stages of group life, including seasons of unity, tension, growth, and transition, so they are not shaken by conflict but can guide their group through it with steady leadership.[32]
To guard against burnout, common in high-relational ministries like biker churches, leaders must be supported through ongoing coaching, accountability, and continuing development. Regular mentoring check-ins, leadership gatherings, and access to training resources are essential for keeping leaders spiritually strong and mission focused. Churches that consistently retrain and invest in their leaders experience healthier groups and more sustainable ministry impact.[33]
Leading a Biker Church Small Group
A Biker Church small group leader serves as a ride captain, not a preacher. The leader’s primary role is to guide the conversation, create a safe brotherhood/sisterhood environment, and help riders discover biblical truth together rather than delivering a one-way talk. The goal is to build trust, accountability, and spiritual depth through shared discussion, prayer, and life-on-life discipleship.[34]
Leaders must come prepared by spending time in personal prayer and careful study of the Bible passage or lesson before every meeting.[35] Preparation is not about having all the answers, but about being ready to guide riders toward discovering truth for themselves. A prepared leader gives confidence, direction, and spiritual stability to the group.
Meetings should start and end on time to show respect for riders’ schedules and responsibilities. The environment should invite open discussion rather than preaching. Every member should be encouraged to participate, but no one should be forced to speak. Silence should be seen as thinking time, not failure, and leaders should never answer their own questions because that shuts down group participation.[36]
Leaders are also responsible for practical logistics that create a welcoming space: ensuring the meeting location is comfortable, chairs are arranged for easy interaction, refreshments are available, and the atmosphere is relaxed and respectful. These details may seem small, but they communicate care and build trust within the group.[37] A strong Biker Church leader understands that every group moves through predictable stages of life: honeymoon (early excitement), conflict (tension and testing), community (deep trust and unity), and closure (season of transition or multiplication). Leaders must recognize these stages and guide the group wisely through each one without fear or avoidance.[38]
How to Grow Biker Church Small Groups
Growth in a Biker Church small group is twofold: spiritual maturity and numerical expansion. A healthy group is not measured solely by the number of riders in the room, but by the transformation of hearts and lives. Spiritual growth is evident when group members exhibit Christlike character, love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, and faithfulness, both on the road and in everyday life.[39]
Numerical growth reflects the group’s outward health and evangelistic focus. A small group that is thriving spiritually will naturally attract others, but growth must be intentional. Groups stagnate when Bible study becomes purely academic or disconnected from real-life application. In a biker context, this means lessons should be applied to relational and mission-oriented situations; rides, outreach events, and serving the wider community.[40]
Leaders must cast vision regularly, modeling Christlike living and encouraging members to invite friends, family, and fellow riders into the group. Growth is also nurtured by shared leadership, relational investment, and creating opportunities for each member to contribute in meaningful ways; prayer, hosting, discussion facilitation, or outreach coordination.[41] Without a clear plan and intentional effort, groups will stagnate, lose momentum, and eventually decline. Healthy growth requires that leaders balance care for the group’s spiritual depth with outreach and evangelistic engagement, ensuring that the group remains vibrant, mission-focused, and transformational for all involved.[42]
How to Multiply Biker Church Small Groups
Joel Comiskey states, “Transformation takes place in a small group atmosphere.”[43] Multiplication is the natural outcome of a healthy Biker Church small group; it is not a program imposed from above. When a group grows beyond 12 – 15 riders, relational intimacy and meaningful discussion can decline, making multiplication essential to maintain both spiritual depth and relational connection.[44] According to Dempsey and Earley, small groups move through predictable stages: formation, exploration, execution, preparation, and multiplication.[45] In a healthy Biker Church group, multiplication typically occurs between 12 and 18 months, after the group has established strong spiritual habits and formed lasting relational bonds.[46]
Leaders should identify potential apprentice leaders early and provide hands-on mentoring. Responsibilities should be gradually released, allowing future leaders to gain confidence and skills while the original leader transitions into a coaching and prayer-support role. This is where small groups must shift from “attracting and gathering to developing and releasing.”[47] Multiplication can bring emotional tension, as members may resist change, but the spiritual fruit of new, vibrant groups far outweighs temporary discomfort.[48] Groups that fail to multiply within two years often enter a distortion stage, losing momentum, vision, and spiritual vitality. Effective Biker Church leaders view multiplication not as division, but as spiritual reproduction, expanding the group’s influence on more riders and communities.[49]
How to Develop and Transition to Biker Church Small Groups
Transitioning a Biker Church toward a small group model begins with spiritual vision and biblical alignment. Churches must decide whether they will be a church with groups, of groups, or a church that is groups. Senior leadership must model active participation, since disciple-making is central to pastoral responsibility. Structures should reflect the church’s culture while remaining anchored in biblical priorities of evangelism, discipleship, and mission.[50] Effective transitions include several key elements:
- Formal leadership training before launching groups – Leaders must be equipped to facilitate spiritual growth and relational health in their groups.[51]
- Strategic launch seasons – Timing group launches around seasonal rhythms (often in the fall) helps maximize participation and momentum.[52]
- Ongoing retraining and coaching – Continuous support prevents burnout and ensures leaders grow in skill and confidence.[53]
- Strong communication systems – Clear channels for sharing vision, announcements, and resources keep groups aligned with the church’s mission.[54]
- Coaching structures – Tiered leadership models provide mentoring and accountability across multiple levels of group leadership.[55]
- A deep culture of prayer – Prayer undergirds every multiplying group, sustaining spiritual vitality and discernment.[56]
Dempsey and Earley state “the church must be intentional in developing all of God’s children to reach their full potential.”[57] When Biker Churches prioritize disciple-making, they experience the promised presence and power of Christ in their ministry. This intentional focus transforms groups into communities of spiritual growth, relational support, and mission engagement.[58]
Conclusion
Developing small groups in a Biker Church is a strategic and Spirit-led ministry that integrates biblical truth, relational investment, and cultural awareness. When thoughtfully implemented, small groups provide riders with authentic community, discipleship, and opportunities for spiritual growth, accountability, and mission engagement. By clearly distinguishing Care Groups from Disciple-Making Groups, equipping and mentoring leaders, and building intentional rhythms of prayer, study, fellowship, and outreach, the church cultivates vibrant communities that reproduce spiritually mature disciples. Multiplication becomes the natural result of healthy groups, expanding the church’s influence and providing more riders with a place to belong, grow, and serve. Ultimately, small groups in a Biker Church are not merely gatherings, they are life-giving environments where Christ-centered transformation takes root, leadership is multiplied, and the gospel spreads through relationships, rides, and mission-focused engagement.
[1] Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups (Wordsearch,
2018), 111.
[2] Ibid., 117.
[3] Ibid., 111.
[4] Ibid., 112.
[5] Ibid., 117.
[6] House, Community, 58.
[7] Dempsey and Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups, 114-115.
[8] House, Community, 89.
[9] Dempsey and Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups, 137.
[10] Gary L. Arnold, The Big Book on Small Groups (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008), 76–80; Dempsey and Early, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups, 90.
[11] Ibid., 76-77.
[12] Arnold, The Big Book on Small Groups, 76-77.
[13] Ibid., 67-68.
[14] Dempsey and Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups, 114-115.
[15] Arnold, The Big Book, 76-77.
[16] Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Spiritual Formation Is . . .: How to Live in Jesus with Passion and Confidence (Brentwood, TN: B&H Academic, 2018), 86–87.
[17] House, Community, 45–47.
[18] Dempsey and Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups, 119-121.
[19] House, Community, 147-149.
[20] Dempsey and Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups, 90–92.
[21] Arnold, The Big Book on Small Groups, 76–77.
[22] Ibid., 80.
[23] House, Community, 174-175.
[24] Dempsey and Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups, 94–96.
[25] Arnold, The Big Book, 120–122.
[26] House, Community, 88–90.
[27] Joel Comiskey, Biblical Values and Time-tested Principles, (JCG, 2011). https://jcgresources.com/2011/09/19/biblical-values-and-time-tested-principles-2/
[28] Arnold, The Big Book, 230.
[29] Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Discipleship, (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2003), 96.
[30] Ibid., 231.
[31] Arnold, The Big Book, 250.
[32] Dempsey and Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups, 173–174.
[33] Ibid., 183.
[34] Arnold, The Big Book, 232.
[35] Arnold, The Big Book, 232-233.
[36] Ibid., 233-235.
[37] Ibid., 231.
[38] Ibid., 231-232.
[39] Dempsey and Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups, 176.
[40] Ibid., 176-177.
[41] Ibid., 178.
[42] Dempsey and Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups, 179-180.
[43] Joel Comiskey, Why Cell Multiplication is Necessary, (JCG, 2010). https://jcgresources.com/2010/11/07/why-cell-multiplication-is-necessary/
[44] Dempsey and Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups, 180.
[45] Ibid., 181.
[46] Ibid., 182.
[47] Jim Putmand and Bobby Harrington. DiscipleShift: Five Steps that Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013). 202.
[48]Dempsey and Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups, 183.
[49] Ibid., 184.
[50] Ibid., 181.
[51] Ibid., 182.
[52] Ibid., 183.
[53] Ibid., 183.
[54] Dempsey and Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups, 184.
[55] Ibid., 184-185.
[56] Ibid., 185.
[57] Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Disciple Making Is: How to Live the Great Commission with Passions and Confidence, (Brentwood, TN: B&H Publishing, 2013). 41.
[58] Dempsey and Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups, 185.
Bibliography
Arnold, Jeffrey. The Big Book on Small Groups (Revised Edition) (InterVarsity Press, 2017).
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Discipleship. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2003, 96.
Comiskey, Joel. Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church. Moreno Valley, CA: CCS Publishing, 2012.
Comiskey, Joel. Biblical Values and Time-tested Principles. JCG, 2011. https://jcgresources.com/2011/09/19/biblical-values-and-time-tested-principles-2/
Comiskey, Joel. Why Cell Multiplication is Necessary. JCG, 2010. https://jcgresources.com/2010/11/07/why-cell-multiplication-is-necessary/
Dempsey, Rod and Earley, Dave. Disciple Making Is: How to Live the Great Commission with Passions and Confidence. Brentwood, TN: B&H Publishing, 2013, 41.
Dempsey, Rod and Earley, Dave. Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups. Lynchburg, Va. Liberty University Press, 2016.
Dempsey, Rod and Earley, Dave. Spiritual Formation Is . . .: How to in Jesus with Passion and Confidence. Brentwood: B&H Academics, 2018.
House, Brad. Community: Taking Your Small Group off Life Support. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011.
Putman, Jim and Harrington, Bobby. DiscipleShift: Five Steps that Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013, 202.
Fighting for My Pea Patch 