For Facilitators

You can use this small group workbook in two ways:

It can be used as a stand-alone Bible study guide. The

accompanying Book 5 Leader’s Guide is for your reference and
an important resource for you as the small group facilitator.

You may also use this workbook along with its corresponding
video teaching resource that you and your small group can
access and download for free at www.ccf.org.ph/glc/Book5.

BOOK 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

2nd Edition
Copyright © 2016 by Global Leadership Center

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be

reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical,
photocopy, recording, or any other, without the prior
permission of GLC.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

3
 INTRODUCTION

Jesus devoted His time to His disciples whom He trained, empowered

and commissioned to make disciples until He comes again. Today, it’s
our turn to take up this challenge! Following Jesus’ pattern, you have
this opportunity to equip yourself with the necessary biblical mindset
and leadership skills to mentor and multiply disciples through Small
Group discipleship. This training module also aims to address common
questions, fears, and hesitations you may have as you disciple others in
a small group.

4
 HOW TO USE
THIS WORKBOOK
This workbook is for the GLC Essentials Book 5: Starting Point for Small Group
lessons. It is designed to be used together with the Book 5: Starting Point for
Small Groups videos which are available for viewing at http://www.ccf.org.ph/
glc/book5.
Please note that this workbook is the most updated version of Book 5:
Starting Point for Small Group lessons and the video may not show a perfect
correspondence when it comes to the fill-ins (answers for the blank spaces).
However, the main thoughts are the same and you may check what the fill-
ins are at the Suggested Answers section at the back of the workbook. You
are highly encouraged to do so only after you watch the video. Remember
that the learning process is much more than just knowing the right answers
to the blank spaces in this workbook. Obedience to God’s truth through life
application is more important. As we apply the lessons from Book 5: Starting
Point for Small Groups, we will experience greater intimacy with Jesus, and
more fruitfulness for His glory.
If you are a small group servant/facilitator, all you have to do is make sure
that you do a personal Bible study using this workbook and the video ahead
of your small group meeting. Encourage your group members to have their
own workbooks and to watch the video either before your meeting, or at your
meeting. Do not divert the teaching topic – stick to what is in the workbook.
The workbook includes the Bible lesson, and individual and small group
learning activities to help you get the most out of your meetings. There are
four parts in each session: Explore, Examine, Express and Experience.
• Explore — This contains individual and small group activities that
help prepare you for the Bible study.
• Examine — This is where you go through the Bible lesson with your
group.
• Express — This is where the members of the group get a chance
to express more of their insights, questions and thoughts about the
Bible lesson. They can do it in writing, doodling or drawing, and
sharing to the rest of the group.
• Experience — This section is accomplished outside the group
meeting time. There are suggested individual or group Life Apps that
will hopefully help you experience life transformation as you apply
God’s truth in practical ways.
This workbook is just a tool. We need to depend on the Holy Spirit to teach
us God’s truth and transform our hearts as we go through the Bible studies.

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

5
 SESSION 1
BIBLICAL
FOUNDATIONS OF
SMALL GROUP
MINISTRY

7
 EXPLORE
Group Discussion (10 minutes)
In a small group of 3-5 members, share your thoughts on the benefits/
blessings of belonging to a small group as well as the challenges and
responsibilities that come along with it.

Learning Nugget

The Christian life is not meant to be lived alone. God wants us to be with
other Christians so we can grow in Christ-likeness resulting in greater
fruitfulness in His service. Today, we will learn why small groups are
important, the purpose of small groups and the four functions of small
group discipleship.

8
 EXAMINE
I. Introduction

The foundation of a small group is love and to motivate one another to

do good works. Knowing that Jesus is coming back soon should have an
impact on our decisions, compulsions and motivations. Making disciples,
then, is not possible without contact.

Hebrews 10:24–25

II. Why are Small Groups Important?

It is important for the disciples of Christ to regularly meet together in small

groups for the following reasons:

A. A _______________ of God’s Nature

God, Himself, is a triune community of love with the Father, the

Son, and the Holy Spirit in eternal fellowship with one another.
John 17:24
John 13:1

Love
An unconditional commitment towards imperfect people,
desiring their highest good, which often entails sacrifice.

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

9
 B. An ___________ Way to Raise Leaders
In the Old Testament, a wise advice was given by Jethro to Moses
to better lead and take care of people.
Exodus 18:19-21

C. The ___________ of the Master

It was what Jesus did. Although Jesus often spoke in public and
was followed by multitudes of people wherever He went, He
devoted His time mentoring a small group of disciples.
Mark 3:14

D. The _______________ of the Early Church

It was what the first churches did. During the New Testament
times, various groups of followers of Christ regularly meet in
homes (see Romans 16:5, 1 Corinthians 16:19, Colossians 4:15,
Philippians 1–2). It was also the Apostle Paul’s strategy to raise
leaders in the church.
2 Timothy 2:2
Acts 2:42, 46

10
E. The _______________ of Christ in Action
It provides an environment for a close and caring community
where people can be honest about their struggles and be
accountable for their actions. In small groups, there is space for
meaningful relationships to express itself in mutual attention and
care where individual gifts are exercised to address the needs
of the group. Those who serve as leaders in the group set an
example in being willing to share and be vulnerable with the
group members.
1 Thessalonians 2:7–8

F. A Means to Reach People ____________

Small group breaks religious barriers and is less threatening to
non-believers. One way to reach people is to bring the church
to where they are instead of inviting them to go to a church. God
put people within your sphere of influence to impact them with
the gospel and your own testimony to eventually lead them to a
personal journey with Jesus.
Acts 2:42–47

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

11
 III. Fourfold Purpose of Small Groups

A. Purpose # 1:
Foster a Healthy Relationship with _________
John 15:5

Ultimately, the goal is Christlikeness—to become more and more

like Jesus and do what Jesus has done.

It is important for followers of Christ to take whatever steps

necessary to ensure a constant and growing relationship with
God. It ought to be the number one priority. Otherwise, living for
God would be a tiresome work.

B. Purpose # 2:
Foster Healthy Relationships with Other ________
Acts 2:46

Unlike current society’s orientation towards a ‘DIY’ (do-it-yourself)

notion of spiritual growth, the early believers nurtured it not on
their own individual capacity. Instead, they grew in their faith by
spending time together. Acts 2:42-47 tell us that meeting each other
for worship, praying with one another, and studying the Scriptures
together, even with one’s personal problems, are some of the ways
in which they deepen their relationship with God.

Discipleship in the context of a community is not just about

studying the Bible together in a religious setting every once in a
while. It is more of opening up one’s life and sharing meals to build
relationships that truly care and look out for each other’s welfare
day in and day out (see also I Peter 4:9).

Acts 2:44 tells us that for the early church, commitment to be part
of a community involves the call to share what one has with those
who are in need. Involvement in a small group means having
genuine relationships with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ
whom you can count on when you need it most.

12
C. Purpose #3:
Fulfill God’s ____________ of Evangelism
and Discipleship

Jesus left the apostles not only a mandate (see Matt. 28:19-20) but
also a model of nurturing and making disciples. The early church
carried both in their lives.

Jesus said, “People will know that you are My disciples if you love
one another” (John 13:35). This marked the community of the small
groups that bore witness to Jesus. They are not just a social club
enjoying the presence of one another. Instead, they are people
living together with a clear mission: that their fellowship would
point onlookers to a relationship with Christ.

If all your friends are believers and you have lost connection to the
outside world, with whom will you engage? So many people need
Jesus and we need to engage them by praying, caring and sharing.
Eventually, we build them up as leaders and equip them to multiply.

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

13
 D. Purpose # 4:
Fulfill God’s ___________ to Service and Ministry
Ephesians 4:11–13 (NIV)

Before He left the earth physically and returned to heaven, Jesus

said a prayer for His disciples recorded in John 17:15-19.

Servanthood is the core of Jesus’ ministry and He did this primarily

by stepping out of His heavenly abode and giving Himself to a
group of disciples on earth (see Philippians 2:7, Mark 10:45).

Likewise, the early church knew that they were saved to be of

service. Acts 2:47 reported that the remarkable way their small
pockets of communities live earned the “favor of all the people.”
The sacrificial love of the early church was not confined within
the walls of their community. The records of history will show that
for them being a ‘neighbor’ means being Good Samaritans to
everyone within their reach (see Galatians 6:10 and Hebrews 13:2).
In fact, a historical report by the Roman Emperor Julian (AD 361-
363) says that he was forced to admit to a fellow pagan that the
“Christians feed not only their poor but ours also.” With chagrin,
he acknowledged that his fellow pagans did not even help each
other: “Those who belong to us look in vain for the help that we
should render them.” This is but a proof that small groups provide
remarkable opportunities to be of concrete service to other
people.

“The best way to find yourself

is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
Mohandas Gandhi

14
IV. Functions of a Small Group

The life of the early church shows us the fourfold purpose of a small group
and provides us a picture of how it should function today. Small groups
serve as a channel in which the grace of God could flow to us, through us,
and to others. It follows four ministry directions and corresponds to four
basic functions:

A. Worship (Upward Ministry to God)

Example:
“Making a joyful noise unto the Lord” (Psalm 98:4) will cause
Him to receive it with gladness. Praising God for who He is and
thanking Him for what He has done is also worship.

B. Fellowship (Inward Ministry for God’s people)

Example:
Get to know each other and minister to one another.

C. Grow (Outward Ministry with the Good News)

Get to know each other and minister to one another.

D. Serve (Downward Ministry of Good Works)

Get to know each other and minister to one another.

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

15
 Every group has the tendency to gravitate towards one of the four
functions – largely due to the leader’s inclination. The key is making sure
that the small group is functioning well.

It must be noted, however, that over-emphasizing one of the functions to

the neglect of the others will have sure and serious dangers. Consider
the following:

A. Worship: If the group’s relationship with God is not properly

nurtured...
B. Fellowship: If the relationships within the group are not nurtured...
C. Grow: If God’s mission of evangelism and discipleship is
neglected...
D. Serve: If God’s mission of service and ministry is neglected...

Table 1.1: Two Types of Small Groups in CCF

DGROUP D12
Membership Open to both believers Closed and made up of
and unbelievers committed followers

Composition May be heterogeneous: Must be homogeneous:

may be a mixed group of all men/women for
men and women singles groups; same
gender accountability for
married groups

Numbers of May exceed 12 members 12 committed members or

Members 12 married couples

Degree of May be low Must be high

Commitment

Objective For evangelism and For spiritual maturity,

spiritual growth mutual accountability,
and multiplication of
disciples

16
 DGROUP D12
Goal To develop committed To mentor Dgroup
followers of Christ leaders to become
multipliers or D12 leaders
themselves (ideally up to
the 4th generation. See
2 Timothy 2:2)

Focus Inward in nature and is Outward in nature and is

relationship-oriented service-oriented

CCF DISCIPLESHIP COVENANT

I will not gossip about fellow members, and
Confidentiality will ensure that what is shared in the group
stays in the group.

I will be open and honest with my Dgroup

Honesty
leader and fellow members.

I will respect those in my Dgroup by

Respect attending meetings regularly and punctually
and by honoring the authority of my leader.

I will pray regularly for my Dgroup leader

Intercession
and fellow members.

Because I am joining this group to grow

spiritually and to help others do the same,
Spiritual Growth I will refrain from conducting business,
borrowing money or using this group for
purposes other than spiritual growth.

I will have it as my goal to eventually build

Timothies
my own Dgroup.

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

17
 Only One Life
by C. T. Studd*

Two little lines I heard one day,

Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes, only one,

Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me, Father, a purpose deep,

In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes, only one,

Now let me say, ”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say, “‘Twas worth it all”;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

*Read about C.T. Studd in Appendix D.

18
 EXPRESS
Based on the fourfold purpose of small groups, describe how your small
group upline has fulfilled each function within the past 12 months. Briefly
explain some details in relation to this. See guide questions below:

1. What specific Dgroup practices did you have that helped you build
a healthy relationship with God?

2. What specific Dgroup practices did you have that helped you
build a healthy relationship with other believers, especially those
from your small group?

3. In what ways have you fulfilled God’s mission of evangelism and

discipleship as a Dgroup?

4. In what ways have you fulfilled God’s call to service and ministry
as a Dgroup in your small group upline?

Purpose # 1: Foster a Purpose # 2: Foster Healthy

Healthy Relationship with Relationships with Other
God Believers

Purpose # 3: Fulfill God’s Purpose # 4: Fulfill God’s

Mission of Evangelism and Call to Service and Ministry
Discipleship

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

19
 EXPERIENCE
Timeline: To be accomplished within 7 days

Option 1: For Dgroup Members

Based on your discussion in the previous section, take time and effort
to appreciate your Dgroup leader in the areas where your Dgroup
upline has consistently fulfilled its purpose.

Share some specific examples of how you have benefited as a result

of these four purposes being accomplished in your Dgroup. Write a
note, text a personal message, or do some other act of appreciation
for your spiritual leader to encourage him/her in the fulfillment of the
fourfold purpose of a small group ministry.

Option 2: For Dgroup Leaders

If you are leading a Dgroup, evaluate how well your group is doing in
terms of fulfilling the fourfold purpose of small groups. Use the chart
in the EXPRESS section for this exercise. Have your Dgroup members
help you evaluate the health of our Dgroup. Have them do Dgroup
evaluation found in Appendix A.
a. In what areas are you consistently fulfilling a small group
ministry’s purpose? How can you continue doing this in new
and fresh ways?
b. In what areas do you need to improve on in terms of the four-
fold purpose of a small group? Outline a specific plan you will
do to improve in those areas.
c. Share these action steps to your group members in your next
meeting. Involve your group members in making sure your
Dgroup becomes more consistent in fulfilling all the purposes
of a small group.

Have your discipler evaluate your discipleship plan based on the Four-fold
Purpose of a Dgroup. Improve your plan using his or her feedback.

20
Purpose # 1: Foster a Purpose # 2: Foster Healthy
Healthy Relationship with Relationships with Other
God Believers

Purpose # 3: Fulfill God’s Purpose # 4: Fulfill God’s

Mission of Evangelism and Call to Service and Ministry
Discipleship

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

21
 SESSION 2

LIFE CYCLE
OF SMALL
GROUPS

23
 EXPLORE
Group Discussion (10 minutes)

Brainstorm with a group of 3–5 members and list down what would
encourage a person to join a small group. Then identify possible reasons
why someone might not want to join a small group.

Learning Nugget

A small group is composed of people with differences in personality,

upbringing, hopes, dreams, etc. You can choose to celebrate those
differences or not but ultimately, we are all works in progress in God’s
gracious hands. In this lesson, we will learn about the stages of a small
group, starting a small group and sustaining a small group.

24
 EXAMINE
I. Stages of Small Group Development

Groups change over time. Recognizing the stages of a group’s development

will help you and your members to focus on critical actions and avoid
pitfalls that may otherwise cause the group to break apart.

A.

The members start to learn about each other and the purpose of
the group.

B.

As group members continue to invite new members in your group

meetings, they inevitably face challenges because of differences in
personalities, background, maturity level, expectations, purpose,
emotions, etc.

C.

The group begins to adopt certain norms or ways of doing things.

The members adjust their mindset and behavior to the mission,
vision, core values, and strategy of the church. It is not so much
getting along with each other as being aligned to God’s purpose for
the small group. This is achieved by being as intentional as possible.

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

25
 D.

The group has now achieved a certain level of maturity and unity
that enables them to actively participate in fulfilling the church’s
mission and vision. One or more of the members are already leading
their own groups, and the group is equipped to do certain activities
to reach out to those who don’t know Jesus (i.e. through Pray Care
Share, bridging events like Matthew Party, True Life Retreat, etc.).
Also, the leader is now able to delegate more responsibilities to the
members, empowering them to serve.

Collectively, the group at this stage:

• Plans and implements programs and activities.

• Distributes tasks according to strength and resources available.
• Follows through, evaluates and assesses performance and behavior
of each member.

Members have become interdependent, motivated, and empowered.

They have:
• Initiative • Concern for others
• Creativity • Confidence
• Flexibility • High morale
• Openness • Success
• Accountability

II. How to Start a Small Group

A. Make Prayer Your Starting Point

Opening a person’s heart is always the work of the Spirit as

much as salvation is solely the work of God (Acts 16:14). It is very
important, then, to seek the Lord’s guidance in prayer and His
power to be at work.

26
 Action Point:

B. Make a Difference in People’s Lives

Only love can soften the hardest of hearts. In 1 Thessalonians 2:8,

Paul wanted to share not only the gospel but their “own lives”
as well. Through genuine care and compassion that we share to
our neighbors, we also make the love of God felt in very concrete
ways. This is a non-verbal way of witnessing to the reality of the
love of Christ.

Acts 1:8

Action Point:

C. Make Sharing the Good News a Lifestyle

Romans 10:14

Always be ready for opportunities where you could briefly

present the Gospel.

Action Point:

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

27
 D. Make the Small Group Your Primary Strategy

The passion to share the Gospel to individuals should come with

an equal desire to integrate them with the fellowship of God’s
people. Once you start doing personal evangelism with several
people, the next step is to disciple them in the context of a small
group. As more people are brought to you by the Lord to disciple,
the small group would be the ideal structure for spiritual growth
and maturity.

Hebrews 10:24-25 and Acts 2:46-47

Pastor Edmund Chan of Covenant Evangelical Free Church

(CEFC) in Singapore teaches and practices a “no competition”
principle when it comes to their church’s small group ministry. This
means that there should be no ministry or activity of the church
that competes with the small group discipleship ministry. In fact
for them, you have to be a part of a small group for you to be
considered a member of CEFC.

Action Point:

28
III. Sustaining Your Small Group

A. Things to Avoid as a Leader1

2. Avoid valuing transfer of information much more than life
transformation.
Spiritual maturity is not about how much the members know about
God and the Bible. The end-goal should always be Christ-likeness.

“Truth doesn’t change lives;

it is truth applied that change lives.”
Edmund Chan

Action Point:

*THE CCF DISCIPLESHIP JOURNEY

3. Avoid valuing teaching more than learning.

Keep in mind that at the end of the day, the question will not be
how well the leader has delivered a point or two, but how well the
members have processed the insights and related it to their lives,
and applied their action points.

Action Point:

1
Adapted from Thom Rainer’s “Five Obstacles Facing Small Groups” in http://thomrainer.
com/2012/06/19/the_five_obstacles_facing_small_groups/ (Accessed July 10, 2014)

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

29
 4. Avoid lack of or shallow intimacy.
Small groups ought to be a safe space and an open environment
for deeper sharing, where delicate questions and honest struggles
in life can be discussed freely and prayed for in confidentiality and
accountability, as well as be addressed compassionately.

The leader must first demonstrate humble openness and

vulnerability by sharing his or her struggles, failures, weaknesses.
Allow your small group members to minister to you through prayer
and accountability. Your modeling will foster a healthy intimacy in
the small group.

Avoid gossiping, or subtly sharing to other people things that

were discussed in confidence under the pretense of praying for
the person.

Action Point:

B. Things to Focus on as a Leader

Why do some small groups grow and multiply while some do not? The
real key to sustaining life in a small group lies in keeping the habits of
its leader healthy as well.

1. Have a clear vision for multiplication.

2 Timothy 2:2

“A vision comes from God in answer to prayer,

according to the measure of one’s faith.
Thus the vision grows as the leader grows.”
Edmund Chan

Action Point:

30
2. Mentor potential leaders by modeling and training on-the-go.
One of the best ways to develop future small group leaders is
to allow them to get involved in the ministry of multiplying small
group as early as possible.

Action Point:

3. Pray for your group members daily.

The integrity of our message to the world depends upon the
quality of lives that we live. We need to live consistent lives of
integrity and faithfulness. This is impossible to do on our own,
thus the need for total dependence on God through prayer.

Emphasize among your small group members the need to live

by the power of the Holy Spirit through constant prayer and
communion with God.

1 Corinthians 3:5–9

Action Point:

For additional helpful resource on this topic, turn to Appendix B.

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

31
 EXPRESS
Share your thoughts and insights on the following points with your group:

1. If you were to evaluate your Dgroup/D12 upline, what stage of a

small group’s life cycle is your group currently experiencing? What
characteristics of this stage do you see in your Dgroup/D12 upline?

2. Share one or two struggles and victories in relation to your initiatives

in starting a Dgroup. What have you learned from this session that can
help you address your concerns?

32
 EXPERIENCE
A. Read excerpts from the article “Connecting to the Vine”.

B. As discussed in this session, the health of the small group leader is

key to the health and growth of the small group. Take some time this
week to evaluate your own health and growth, then plan how you can
do the following action points in your small group ministry. [If you are
not leading a group yet, focus on those areas that are applicable for
you at the moment.]

1. Have a clear vision for multiplication.

• What is my vision for spiritual multiplication? What do I want to
see in my small group members when spiritual multiplication
is realized in my ministry?

2. Pray for your group members daily.

• How often do I pray for my members individually?
(If leading a group)

• Who will I pray for to be a part of my group?

(If not yet leading a group)

• When will I pray for my current or potential Dgroup members

individually?

3. Invite new people to visit the group weekly.

• Who are the 2–3 people I will invite to join the group this week?

4. Contact group members regularly.

• How often do I keep in contact with my members in between
meetings?

• What is the content of my communication with my members

when I do connect with them? How can I be better in
encouraging them and making them feel loved and valued as
I connect with them?

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

33
 5. Keep being prepared for the group meeting.
• What do I need to prepare for the small group meeting?

6. Mentor potential leaders.

• Who in my group shows the most potential to lead his/her own
Dgroup this year?

7. Carefully plan group fellowship activities.

• How will you fulfill the fourfold purpose of a small group
ministry in your group? [Refer to the Fourfold Purpose of
Small Groups in Session 1].

• How will you reflect the fourfold purpose in your calendar of

activities for your Dgroup?

8. Be committed to personal growth as a leader.

• What are your plans to grow in maturity and ministry as a
leader?

Who are your “cheerleaders” and “coaches” for your personal development
plan? [Cheerleaders are individuals who encourage and affirm you as you
pursue your personal growth plan; coaches are people who can bring out
the best in you in the areas of development you wish to pursue].

34
 SESSION 3

ROLES OF A
SMALL GROUP
LEADER

35
 EXPLORE
1. In a group of 3–5 people, match the type of animal from the left column
with the corresponding group name on the right column and the baby
animal’s name in the middle column. An example is provided for your
guidance. Have fun! (5 minutes)

ANIMAL BABY’S NAME GROUP NAME

Cat Hatchling Murder
Ape Fawn Shrewdness
Bat Pup Litter
Bear Chick Pack
Bird Kitten Mob
Coyote Baby Sleuth
Crow Cub Colony
Deer Whelp Flock

2. If you could give a name to your group that will reflect your common
characteristics, what would you call your small group? What are some
of those common characteristics that your group exhibits or is known
for?

See Appendix C for the Answer Key.

Learning Nugget

Animal groups are made up of individual animals but collectively, they

are known by a group name with certain general characteristics that
exemplify the animal type they belong to. Similarly, a small group is made
up of different human individuals and collectively, the small group will
exhibit certain common characteristics that will be unique to that group
compared to other small groups. That’s because different small group
leaders influence their small groups by who they are and how they lead
their groups.

36
 EXAMINE
Being a small group leader is not just leading a weekly meeting of people.
You will find yourself accomplishing different roles as they look up to you
for guidance and direction. As we model Christ-like character and behavior
to them, they too will learn what it means to live a life fully surrendered to
the will of the Father, as Jesus did and as we too demonstrate with our
lives by God’s grace. This is why it is important that as you try to fulfill such
roles, you must keep subjecting your personal paradigms and principles of
leadership to the model of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures.

I. Cultivating the Heart of a Shepherd

Psalms 78:72

Even with his tremendous authority as King, David was described to

“shepherd” his people. He was not perfect, but he served God by
shepherding the people God entrusted to him with “integrity of heart”
(intention) and “skillful hands” (skill.)

Matthew 9:36–38

While God is described as the good shepherd in Psalm 23, Jesus knew
how people can be like sheep that go astray and get so lost in their
way. Leaders must be shepherds of God’s flock. In John 10:1–14, Jesus
describes how a good shepherd takes care of his sheep.

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

37
 A. Make your identity as a leader ____________.
John 10:1–2
One of the ways to convey your identity, motive and objective clearly
is through a discipleship covenant. CCF’s discipleship covenant is
summarized using the acronym C.H.R.I.S.T:
C onfidentiality
H onesty
R espect
I ntercession
S piritual Growth
T imothies

B. _______________ close relationships

A good shepherd knows well the members of the group and, in the
same way, makes sure that the group members get to know him or
her as well.
John 10:3

“People don’t care how much you know,

until they know how much you care.”
John Maxwell

C. Provide ____________.
Simply put, if nobody is following, you are not leading. As the leader, are
you able to model the things you want to see in their lives (i.e. personal
transformation, priorities, behavior, mindset, spiritual disciplines, etc.)
as they come to know Jesus?
John 10:4–5

D. Seek to bring out the ___________ in each one.

John 10:10

38
E. Be prepared to ______________ against the Enemy.
Good shepherds are willing to sacrifice for the welfare of their flock.
They do not flee in the sight of danger and stand their ground to keep
the flock safe.
John 10:11–13

F. ______________.
Leaders, just like good shepherds, ought to have a broad vision for
growth of the flock. They must model spiritual multiplication to their
disciples so that together, they can reach out to more “lost sheep” and
bring them into God’s fold.
John 10:14

II. Training the Hands of a Servant

If there is a model of leadership that Jesus clearly modeled during His
brief ministry on earth, that would be of “being a servant.”
Mark 10:42–45

A. Caring Not ___________________

For Jesus, position and the power that comes with it are not things
that need to be flaunted and safeguarded for one’s self.

“Discipleship is not an authority trip.”

Steve Murrell

B. Honor in ________________
Jesus tells His disciples that those who want to go up must humbly come
down. To be on top is to be the servant of everyone.
Philippians 2:7

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself,

it’s thinking of yourself less.”
C. S. Lewis

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

39
 C. Service as a _______________
The true privilege of a leader is the privilege to sacrifice one’s life for
the benefit of others.
Philippians 2:8

“He who is not a good servant

will not be a good leader.”
Plato

III. Developing the Mind of a Steward

As Jesus strived to be a faithful steward of the disciples that His Father has
put under His care, leaders should follow suit.
John 17:17–19

A. Make the most of the time you share together

Mark 6:30–32
Jesus spent only three (3) years with His disciples. On many occasions,
He would intentionally set aside time to be with them, build their faith,
and prepare them for the task of making disciples of all nations (see
also John 3:22).

Action Point:
Take some time to have private moments with each of your members.
Seek to discuss personal concerns and pray about them together.

B. Make the most of people’s talents

Ephesians 4:11–12, 16

Action Point:
Conduct a ‘spiritual gifts’ inventory with your members. Identify their
talents and skills and make suggestions on how they can use it to
serve God. ( Later on, in Book 6: Basic Doctrines, you will be provided
with Spiritual Gifts Inventory Test that you can use for your Dgroup
members and yourself, to discover your spiritual gifts.)

40
C. Treasure people for who they are
John 17:22–24 (NCV)
Never use people for the sake of a program or a ministry goal.
Jesus expects not to see a ministry report but to meet each and every
one of His followers and take them to where He is.

Action Point:
Go out of your way to let each of your members know how you
appreciate them for their faithfulness, availability and teachability as
followers of Jesus entrusted under your spiritual leadership. Be as
creative as you can in expressing how you value them as people.

Taken from “Becoming A Servant Leader: Do You Have What It Takes?” by

Dr. John E. Barbuto in NebGuide (University of Nebraska, October 2007).

• Do people believe that you are willing to sacrifice your own self-
interest for the good of the group?

• Do people believe that you value them and truly want to hear their
ideas?

• Do people believe that you will understand what is happening in

their lives and how it affects them?

• Do people come to you when something traumatic has happened

in their lives?

• Do others follow your requests because they want to as opposed

to because they have to?

• Do people believe that you are committed to helping them

develop and grow?

• Do people feel a strong sense of community under your leadership?

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

41
 EXPRESS
Discuss your thoughts on the following points with your group:

1. How will you develop the mind of a steward? Consider the three (3)
areas of stewardship for your small group members:
b. How will you make the most of your time together with your group?

c. How will you make the most of your group members’ talents?

d. What will you do to show that you treasure your members for
who they are, and not for what they can do for you or the
ministry?

2. Looking at the model of Jesus in terms of the use of power, order of

primacy and kind of privilege involved in servant-leadership, which
area do you think you would have the most difficulty with in practicing
as a small group leader?

What can help you overcome such difficulty? What will you do to train
to have the “hands of a servant?”

42
 EXPERIENCE
To be accomplished within the week. No need for submission.

Set apart 15-20 minutes of your time this week to go through this self-
evaluation of a shepherd’s heart. This is just between you and the Lord, so
be very honest with your assessment.

LEADERSHIP ROLES CHECKLIST1 YES NO

Do people believe that you are willing to sacrifice your

own self-interest for the good of the group?

Do people believe that you want to hear their ideas and

will value them?

Do people believe that you will understand what is

happening in their lives and how it affects them?

Do people come to you when something traumatic has

happened in their lives?

Do others follow your requests because they want to as

opposed to because they have to?

Do people believe that you are committed to helping

them develop and grow?

Do people feel a strong sense of community under your

leadership?

1
Taken from “Becoming A Servant Leader: Do You Have What It Takes?” by Dr. John E.
Barbuto in NebGuide (University of Nebraska, October 2007).

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

43
 SESSION 4

HANDLING
ISSUES IN
SMALL GROUP
MINISTRY

45
 EXPLORE
Group Discussion (10 minutes)

In your small group, take turns in sharing about one conflict that you
experienced this week. It could be a disagreement with someone, an
adverse circumstance you encountered, a clash of personalities, etc.

Describe the situation and share how you responded to or resolved the
conflict.

What did you learn about God, yourself, other people and life in general
through the conflict?

What is one thing that you are grateful for in the difficulty you experienced?

Learning Nugget

Conflict is inevitable in our lives because of sin, personality differences,

and living in a world system that is in opposition to God’s rule. However,
as followers of Christ, we can respond to conflict in such a way that we
end up reconciling with one another, promoting unity, and bringing out the
good in the situation. Our session today will help us resolve conflict and
other issues that we will encounter in our small group ministry.

46
 EXAMINE
I. Diagnosis and Solutions to Common Problems

“Careful troubleshooting and honest evaluation

set the stage for wise leadership decisions.”
Bill Donahue and Russ Robinson
(“The Seven Deadly Sins of Small Group Ministry”)

Here is a basic troubleshooting guide to help you diagnose common

small group problems and some simple yet practical corresponding
solutions.

A. More and more members are coming late.

Root It is becoming a group pattern to wait for other
Cause: members and start late

Possible
Solutions:

B. There are __________ members who don’t participate

in the discussion.
Root • Questions asked are either too hard or too easy
Cause: • Members are not really prepared for the
discussion
• There is lack of trust within the group

Possible
Solutions:

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

47
 C. There is an overly ___________________ member.
Root The person is naturally outgoing, does not like
Cause: silence, and sees things quickly.

Possible
Solutions:

D. Sharing in the group remains at a ________________.

Root • The leader is not setting an example of
Cause: authenticity and openness.
• There are integrity problems among the
members.
• The applications made are not specific enough
to elicit concrete responses.

Possible
Solutions:

E. The pace of discussion in the group is either too slow or too fast.
Root Too much time is spent on some activities of the
Cause: group meeting.

Possible
Solutions:

48
F. A member monopolizes the group with personal crises.
Root There are members with an ongoing and
Cause: persisting problem.

Possible
Solutions::

G. There is no growth or ____________________ taking place.

Root There is unclear vision and lack of passion for
Cause: reaching out to the lost.

Possible
Solutions:

H. There are ______________ within the group.

Root Often caused by misunderstanding and clash of
Cause: personalities.

Possible
Solutions:

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

49
 1. Addressing Conflicts

“An ounce of prevention

is worth a pound of cure.”
Benjamin Franklin

Christians are not immune to conflict. Even the leaders of the early
church were not able to avoid it.
Acts 15:36–41, Matthew 5:9, Romans 14:19

a. Biblical guidelines on resolving conflicts

Ephesians 4:26–27, 29–32
• Address conflicts and anger immediately (verse 26).
• Be aware that conflict is a tool that the Enemy can use
(verse 27).
• Converse with grace and good will (verse 29).
• Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit by acting in a manner not
worthy of His name (verse 30–31).
• Don’t allow your anger to take root in you and lead you
to become bitter, mad or even resort to doing evil things
(verse 31).
• Always settle to act in love expressed in an attitude of
forgiveness (verse 32).

b. A Biblical perspective on conflicts

The Bible tells us that nothing can happen in our lives, whether
good or bad, apart from the sovereign hand of God.

Romans 8:28

c. Some benefits that can come out of conflict

The challenge for small group leaders is to convert a seemingly
negative experience into a positive opportunity for spiritual
maturity. Conflicts can be a source of growth for small group
members.

50
 • Opportunity for ________________

• Opportunity for ________________

• Opportunity for ________________

“The world sees resolution of conflicts as something that needs

to be done to move forward and get on with business. Disciples
of Christ, on the other hand, ought to see it as a means of building
stronger relationships within God’s kingdom which is ruled by
peace and love.”
– Anonymous

2. Preventing Conflicts

Always be guided by the Bible’s preventive and pro-active approach

to preventing unnecessary conflicts and misunderstanding in
God’s family found in Ephesians 4:26-27, 29-32:

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

51
 EXPRESS
1. For Dgroup leaders: Looking back at past issues, conflicts and
problems you experienced in your small groups, how were they
resolved? Given the same circumstance, how would you address them
now? How will you apply the principles you learned in this session?

2. For non-Dgroup leaders: Think of a conflict that you are facing right
now in your own life. How will you practice the principles you learned
in this session?

52
 EXPERIENCE
Option 1: For Dgroup/D12 leaders. Choose one.

1. Based on your discussion earlier, outline your plan in a simple and

practical way. Put your plan into action, if possible, before your
next small group meeting.

2. In what ways can you prevent conflict from taking place in your
small group? Outline specific action points that you will implement
as soon as possible.

Option 2: Non-Dgroup leaders

Based on your discussion earlier, outline a specific and simple action

plan to immediately resolve the conflict that you have. What are your
opportunities for clarity, unity and transparency in this situation?

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

53
 WHAT’S NEXT?
BOOK 6: BASIC DOCTRINES

As you prepare to disciple others in a small group, you will need to form
deeply-rooted biblical convictions on matters of the Christian faith. This
will not only benefit your future (or current) disciples, but just as important,
you will benefit greatly from a study of the basic biblical doctrines of your
faith in Christ.

Book 6:Basic Doctrines will take you through an examination of the CCF
Statement of Faith--its biblical basis and practical application in your walk
with God. As Christ-committed followers, we do not only need to have
biblical convictions, we also need to know WHY we believe what we
believe, or teach what we teach.

See you on the next part of your journey as you continue on to Book 6:
Basic Doctrines.

55
 APPENDIX A

DGROUP
EVALUATION
SHEET

57
 Period of Observation: Date of Evaluation:

Please rate which best describes your assessment of the group being
evaluated in the following areas with 5 being the highest and 0 being the
lowest. Feel free to write your thoughts, comments, or examples in the
space provided to give a better picture of your assessment. However, for
every item that you rated 3 and below, please give a specific example, as
well as how we can improve as a Dgroup.

5 – Excellent 3 – Well Enough 1 – Poor

4 – Very Well 2 – Not Well 0 – Very Poor/Non-existent

DGROUPS FOSTER A HEALTHY

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
• How well do we encourage and help
each other foster a healthy relationship
5 4 3 2 1 0
with God?
• Some areas you may consider
include studying Scripture, Scripture
memorization, prayer.
Comment

DGROUPS FOSTER A HEALTHY

RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS
• How well do we foster healthy
relationships with one another? 5 4 3 2 1 0
• Some areas you may consider include
encouragement, bonding, and
accountability.
Comment

58
 D12S FULFILL GOD’S MISSION OF
EVANGELISM AND DISCIPLESHIP
• How well do we practice fulfilling God’s
mission of evangelism and discipleship? 5 4 3 2 1 0
• Some areas you may consider include
gospel sharing, skills training and
leadership development.
Comment

D12S FULFILL GOD’S MISSION OF SERVICE

AND MINISTRY
• How well do we practice fulfilling God’s
mission of service and ministry?
5 4 3 2 1 0
• Some areas you may consider include
identifying and developing spiritual gifts,
addressing needs within and outside the
group.
Comment

* Based on Book 5:Starting Point for Small Groups: The Fourfold Purposes of Small Groups

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

59
 1. What do you appreciate/value the most about the Dgroup? What
are your meaningful and memorable experiences with me as your
discipler and the Dgroup?

2. What are the things that you like and you want me to keep on doing
as a discipler?

3. What can I improve on as a discipler? What would you like to see/have

in the Dgroup that you find lacking for now? Be as specific as possible.

60
4. Have I hindered your growth in any way? Please give specific
examples, if any.

5. What are the most life-transforming things you’ve learned from me

as a D12 leader? From the D12?

6. Other comments/concerns:

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

61
62
 APPENDIX B

EXCERPT FROM
CONNECT WITH
THE VINE
Why your prayer life matters
more than your notes
by Jim Egli

Resource from www.SmallGroups.com

63
 Several years ago I started a huge research project with my friend Dwight
Marable to figure out what makes small groups grow. To date, we have
surveyed over 3,000 small-group leaders in more than 200 churches. The
most surprising thing we’ve discovered is that most small-group leaders
prepare for their group meetings in the wrong way. To put it succinctly: To
lead a great small-group meeting, you need to spend more time praying
than preparing your notes.

Three Profound Discoveries

We uncovered three significant truths about how leaders prepare for

meetings and how their preparation impacts their small group’s numerical
growth:

1. There is zero correlation between how much time leaders spend

preparing their lesson and whether the group is growing. This is
amazing, but true. I don’t know if this surprises you; it surprised us.
When we compared hundreds of leaders—some who spend minutes
preparing, some who spend hours preparing—there was absolutely
no correlation between the growth rates of their groups.

2. There is a big correlation between whether the leader is praying for

their members and their meeting and whether their group is growing.
What fascinates me most about this discovery is that the thing that
makes the most difference in whether your group is growing is
something that no one in your group actually sees—your personal
time with God and your prayer for your group members and your
group meeting.

3. The majority of leaders spend more time preparing their lesson than
they do praying for their meeting. Apparently very few leaders realize
that it’s more important to prepare their heart than to prepare their
notes—that having a great small group depends more on God than it
does on the leader’s skills and abilities.

64
Why Does Prayer Make Such a Difference?

You might be wondering why prayer makes such a difference in the

health and growth of a small group. The research tells us it makes a huge
difference, but it actually doesn’t tell us why.

I don’t think the “why” is hard to figure out, however. Jesus says in John
15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you,
you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” The leaders
who take time with Christ and bring their group members and meeting
to God are going to be a channel of Jesus’ life, compassion, and power.
These leaders will also hear the Holy Spirit’s direction for their meetings
as they listen to him. In Luke 11:9–10, Jesus promises: “Ask and it will be
given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened
to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to
the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” As you invite God to do
miracles in and through your group members, you will see him work in new
and deeper ways.

What’s a Small Group Leader to Do?

Perhaps you are like the typical small-group leader surveyed and you
have been spending more time preparing your lesson than you have been
praying for your members and your meeting. What should you do? Here
are some simple steps that I have found helpful in my own life as a small-
group leader.

Rethink your prep time.

The simplest thing for you to do is to take the amount of time you currently
spend preparing for your group meetings and reallocate it. In effect, this
costs you no more time. For example, if you have been taking 30 minutes
to prepare for your small-group meeting and 25 of those minutes have
typically been spent studying and preparing a lesson and 5 minutes have
been spent praying, try reversing that so that you spend a few minutes
preparing the lesson and the rest of the time praying for your members
and your meeting. You will immediately see a surprising difference in how

Book 5: STARTING POINT FOR SMALL GROUPS

65
 your small-group meetings go. My own preparation for small group has
changed radically. People have been telling me that I lead and speak
better than I used to. Interestingly, I don’t spend more time preparing; I
just spend more time in prayer.

Use the Lord’s Prayer to guide you.

There are lots of different ways to pray for your members and your
meetings, but I like to pray through the five demarcations of the Lord’s
Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13), asking God:

1. To give people a realization of his character and his closeness as

a loving Father (v. 9).
2. To bring his kingdom into their lives so that they experience his
goodness, power, and love as wonderfully as it is experienced in
heaven (v. 10).
3. To meet their daily needs (v. 11).
4. To help them bring their sin and unforgiveness to him (v. 12).
5. To keep them from temptation and protect them from the attacks
of the Evil One (v. 13).

Ask God for big things.

I often feel overwhelmed as a small-group leader. I tend to get people in

my group with big problems, problems that I have no idea how to solve,
issues that require real miracles. But I have learned that God specializes in
miracles and the best thing I can do is bring these problems to him. Jesus
said, “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be
glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do
it” (John 14:13–14). Invite him to do big, God-sized things, amazing things
that bring him glory.

While many other things can help make your group a safe, transformative
gathering, you can’t replace prayer. We need God to show up and work in
mighty ways. As leaders, let’s commit to tap into the power God offers us
by praying for our group members and meetings.

66
 APPENDIX C

ANSWER KEY
TO SESSION 3
EXPLORE
ACTIVITY

67
 Animal Baby’s Name Group Name
Cat Kitten Litter
Ape Baby Shrewdness
Bat Pup Colony
Bear Cub Sleuth
Bird Hatchling Flock
Coyote Whelp Pack
Crow Chick Murder
Deer Fawn Mob

68
 APPENDIX D

WHO WAS
C.T. STUDD?

69
 C. T. Studd Gave
Huge Inheritance Away
Dan Graves, MSL

“Some wish to live within

the sound of Church or Chapel bell;
I want to run a Rescue Shop
within a yard of hell.”

That saying was characteristic of C. T. Studd. When Studd knelt and thanked
God for salvation, peace and joy flooded his soul. Unfortunately, he did not
share his faith with others. As a consequence, he became spiritually cold.
For six years he lived a life which he described as “backslidden.” The love
of the world crept in.

In 1883, Studd went to hear Dwight L. Moody speak. His soul was stirred
afresh. Immediately, he began to tell others about Christ. Studd would
later say that he had tasted all the pleasures of the world, but none gave
him so much pleasure as bringing his first soul to trust in Jesus.

Two years later, C. T. Studd sailed for China to join Hudson Taylor as a
missionary. He dressed like a Chinese, ate Chinese food, and learned the
Chinese language. While in China, he turned twenty-five. Under his father’s
will, he was to inherit a large sum of money. Reading the Bible and praying,
he felt convinced he should give his fortune away to show the world that he
relied not on money but on a living Lord. The Lord, he was sure, would bless
him a hundred-fold in non-monetary ways and provide him sufficient money
to live on. “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be
too great for me to make for Him,” he argued.

On January 13, 1887, before he even knew the amount he was to inherit,
he wrote several large checks for George Muller’s orphan work and for
missions. It turned out there was still some money left. Studd gave it
away. He gave the final £3,400 to the woman he was about to marry as a
wedding gift. But Priscilla Livingstone Stewart was as sure of God as her
husband. She determined to “start clear” at her wedding and gave that
sum away, too.

70
Naturally, they ran short of money often after that. Yet they found God
faithfully supplied them. “Funds are low again, hallelujah! That means God
trusts us and is willing to leave His reputation in our hands,” said C. T.
Studd on one such occasion.

The Studds served in China and India and toured in behalf of the Student
Volunteer Movement. Leaving his invalid wife in England, C. T. sailed to
Africa to open mission work in Sudan, the largest unreached area in the
world. In spite of heart attacks, he worked there to the end of his life.
Priscilla was able to rejoin him for only one year before she died. Studd
became an autocrat who would brook no opposition.

C. T. Studd’s answer to critics who said he went overboard in his zeal was
simple: “How could I spend the best years of my life in living for the
honors of this world, when thousands of souls are perishing every day?”

Bibliography:
1. Grubb, Norman. C. T. Studd, Cricketeer and Pioneer. Fort Washington, PA: Christian
Literature Crusade 1933.
2. Pollock, J. C. The Cambridge Seven. London: InterVarsity Fellowship, 1956.
3. “Report on the Cambridge Seven.” Wholesome Words.http://www.wholesomewords.
org/missions/mscambridge7.html
4. “View of C. T. Studd.” http://www.matthew548.com/Studd.html
5. Various encyclopedia and internet sources.
6. Last updated May, 2007. Source: http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/
timeline/1801-1900/c-t-studd-gave-huge-inheritance-away-11630616.html. Accessed
on 11/26/2015 at 12PM GST +8.

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71