Week 1
LOCAL CHURCH
I. WHAT IS THE CHURCH?
Matthew 16:18
A. Ekklessia :to call out and to be called out.
B. We are talking about a group of people that has been separated from the world.
C. Not a physical separation.
John 17: 15-17
D. This separation is by the new birth.
II. WHO IS THE CHURCH?
Ephesians 2:21-22
A. The Church is not a building.
B. The Church is made up of believers.
C. The Church is the dwelling place of God on this earth.
1 Corinthians 3:16
III. WHAT IS THE NEW TESTAMENT PATTERN OF THE CHURCH?
A. Jesus’ Example
1. Jesus from the onset of His ministry gathered together people around Him.
i. The most intimate of these groups were the twelve disciples.
Matthew 10:1-5
ii. There were even times when Jesus would select even a smaller group within the twelve to come even closer than the others.
Matthew 17:1
2. By Jesus’ example we can see that this group was an intimate and active group of people.
B. The example of the believers in the Early Church.
1. They were also a closely connected and separated group of people.
Acts 2:41-47
i. Devoted lives…(teaching, fellowship and prayer)
ii. Believers were together.
iii. Giving lives.
iv. Continued to meet together continually.
v. Ate together.
2. Involved in the ministry of the church.
3. Not just sitting and watching the Pastor do all the work.
C. The traditional view of the church.
1. Clergy centered
2. The people are not expected to do anything.
3. The people only look to the clergy, priest or Pastor to accomplish all the work and operate in the gifting for service.
IV. CELL CENTERED CHURCH (SMALL GROUPS CHURCH)
Acts 2:41 -47
A. The Early Church.
1. The Early church met in two separate gatherings.
i. The large group meet in the temple.
ii. Smaller groups met in the homes.
2. The Early Church met in small groups to make disciples.
3. The early church made extensive use of small groups to provide instruction and fellowship that is needed for true discipleship to take place.
4. Where did the early church proclaim the good news?
Acts 5:41-42
i. Continually met together in both homes and public buildings.
B. Who is the targeted market for a small groups church?
Acts 10:24-25
Relatives, kinsmen, people who we are connected to in our daily life.
Week 2
FOUR LEVELS OF LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE LOCAL CHURCH
I. LOCAL CHURCH LEADERSHIP
A. The Local Church must continue to train leaders if it is to continue to make disciples.
1. Levels of Leadership.
2 Timothy 2:2
i. Pastor
ii. Section Pastor
iii. Area Leader
iv. Group Leader
v. Assistant Group Leader
B. The qualifications of a Leader.
2 Timothy 2;2
1. One who is faithful.
Acts 6:1-8
2. One who is known to the church
3. One who is full of faith
4. One who is full of the Holy Ghost
5. One who the grace of God is evident
6. One who is fruitful in ministry
C. The lifestyle of a Leader.
1. The life style of a leader ought to be above question.
1 Timothy 3:2
i. A leader in the church is not one who has a questionable life style.
2. Characteristics of the life style of a leader.
Study 1 Timothy 3:1-13
D. Leadership of the local church is to be respected.
1. Leaders are people who are worthy of respect.
1 Thessalonians 5:12
1 Timothy 3:8
1 Peter 2:17
Titus 2:1-2
2. These people have been selected, trained and entrusted to oversee areas of the church.
II. SMALL GROUP LEADERSHIP
What are the responsibilities of each leader in the small group ministry?
A. Area Leader
1. An area leader is an important position of leader within the local church. This leader is not only given responsibility but is also looking for other leaders to help raise up.
2. An area leader is an overseer over a number of small group leaders.
3. The area leader stays in communication with both the Section Pastor over them as well as the group leader under them on a weekly basis.
4. In most cases an area leader also facilitates a weekly small group.
5. The area leader is assigned new names each week to assist in the follow up. These new names are also assigned to group leaders to assist in the follow up and invite new people to our small groups.
6. An area leader takes the initiative to plan and implement connection events for his/her area.
7. An area leader is expected to submit a weekly report to Section Pastor.
8. An area leader is asked to attend all monthly meetings and trainings conducted at the church.
B. Group Leader/Facilitator
1. One of the most important aspects of building and multiplying small groups are consistency.
2. Each group leader will facilitate a small group according to the schedule set on the onset of the group.
3. Each group leader is asked to identify and raise up an assistant leader.
4. Each group leader should assign areas of responsibilities to the group members.
C. Assistant Leader Positions
1. Assistant leaders are faithful members of the group that have been assigned certain responsibilities each week.
2. Example areas for Assistants
i. Host Home
ii. Refreshments coordinator
iii. Events coordinator
iv. Communication
3. The most successful groups are groups where all the members are involved and engaged in ministry.
III. SMALL GROUP LEADERS ARE ALWAYS SUBJECT TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
Week 3
THE PURPOSE OF SMALL GROUPS
Acts 2:46-47
I. SMALL GROUPS PROVIDE A PLACE OF DISCIPLESHIP
A. The Goal of the Church is to make disciples.
Matthew 28:19-20
1. Jesus from the onset of His ministry gathered together twelve men around him. From the 12 grew a large contingent of followers of Jesus.
2. We are born to reproduce.
3. The making of disciples requires leadership.
B. What is Discipleship?
1. A disciple is a student or learner.
2. Discipleship is pouring out of oneself into another person.
3. Discipleship is preparing faithful believers for the work of the ministry.
C. The small group atmosphere is the perfect opportunity for discipleship to take place.
1. Small groups enable a church to make disciple and multiply disciples.
2. Small groups enable the Pastor to multiply themselves.
3. Growing churches concentrate on developing leaders by making disciples.
4. It is important not to allow a small group to become only a social gathering, but to work hard at keeping it in an atmosphere where discipleship can take place.
D. There are different levels of discipleship.
Mark 4:33-34
1. There were times when Jesus spoke and discipled large groups of believers.
2. There were times when Jesus mentored the 12 apostles.
3. There were times when Jesus separated Himself with much smaller groups.
E. “The purpose of discipleship is to help people find out who they are and then release them into life”
II. SMALL GROUPS ENABLE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP TO ENGAGE IN BODY MINISTRY
A. Body ministry begins when we share our needs with one another.
1. It is always helpful for the group leader to share personal experiences to set the example.
B. The small group provides an atmosphere for the members to operate in their spiritual gifting.
1. Worship songs
2. Words of encouragement
3. Prophesy
4. Counseling with scripture
5. Praying one for another
6. Exercising the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit to edify the body
C. Friendship evangelism can happen more effectively within a small group.
1. Many times friends who are familiar with you can be effectively ministered to by other members of the group.
2. Friendship evangelism focuses on:
Acts 10:24
i. Friends
ii. Family
iii. People who we are connected with.
iv. The small group ministry also offers a place, because of its size and location, to invite men and women who do not know Jesus. The smallness and intimacy of the group is usually a more comfortable setting for new people.
D. Pastoral Care
Exodus 18:13-26
III. SMALL GROUPS PROVIDE A TIME FOR FELLOWSHIP TO TAKE PLACE.
A. Fellowship=Koinenea
1. Effective ministry within a small group requires personal relationships. As you build the trust in these relationships your small group becomes more effective.
2. Partnership
3. Fellowship
4. Communion
B. Growing through relationships
1. Christianity is a lifestyle that is best learned through the life of another person.
C. Spiritual Friendships & Relationships
1. Godly friendships are a desire of God for each of us. The smaller groups allow for deeper friendships to develop.
Week 4
WHAT TO EXPECT IN A SMALL GROUP
I. A TYPICAL SMALL GROUP MEETING
A. Fellowship
B. Worship
C. Bible discussion
D. Body Ministry
E. Prayer
1. Each one of these areas may not be accomplished every time but it is important that are being accomplish mast of the time.
II. THE GROUP LEADER OPERATES AS A FACILITATOR
A. For a group leader to operate as a facilitator relieves them of the pressure of having to perform in the position of a Pastor.
B. The group leader is not a Pastor and does not have and is not expected to operate as a pulpit ministry of a pastor.
III. A COMMON MESSAGE
A. Small groups are designed to study and discuss the word of the Lord spoken through the Pastor of the church.
B. To accomplish a study guide is provided each week to assist in facilitation of the group.
IV. THE LEADER OF A SMALL GROUP IS EXPECTED TO DELEGATE.
A. Delegation is vital to the participation of those in our small group.
1. There are many jobs within small groups and if the leaders try to do all these jobs by themselves they will quickly grow tired of the group.
2. Remember that people want and need to be needed. Giving people responsibilities gives them an identity and a reason to participate in your group each week.
B. Correction
1. Giving people responsibilities also means that you will have to continue to be a guide as well as a corrector of error.
2. Remember the only people who are not making mistakes are people who are not doing anything.
V. PASTORAL CARE!
A. Areas of pastoral care.
1. Follow up phone calls from the group leader.
2. Hospital visitation from group leaders.
3. Ministry to the hurting.
4. Benevolence ministry.
B. Constant communication is important to having an effective small group.
1. If people are missing group there is only one thing to do: “go after them”.
VI. THE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO BE WATER BAPTIZED
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