Liberty Theological Seminary

ANALYSIS PAPER 4

Paper Submitted to Dr. Rick Garner

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for

DSMN 630-B02 LUO

By

February 26, 2017

Table of Contents
Importance of Small Groups 1

Small Groups Are Missional 1

Missional Strategies 2

Vision, purpose, and prayer 3

Being Missional in Your Neighborhood and City 3

Bibliography 5
 1

Importance of Small Groups

Small groups exist to give believers and non-believers the means to take part in a biblical

community which will then help them become more like Jesus in every aspect of their lives. The

community of God consists of three persons in one. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All

three exist in perfect harmony and unity. 1 So it should not be a shocker that God created his

children to be in community with one another. Jesus ministry began with twelve disciples he

called to be part of his community. We know that Jesus did not need these guys to help him.

However, Jesus chose to love, teach, and establish a relationship with them. This therefore

created the first small group. Small groups are ultimately a way we live out our purpose as

individuals and a community of believers. Small groups are necessary. They are a biblical

conviction for the necessity of community as an expression of the image of God that has been

restored through the cross. 2

Small Groups Are Missional

What is a missional community? I dont think that there is one definition that can bring

out exactly what a missional community is. But I think Tod Enstrom explains it best. He defines

a missional community as, A community of Christ followers on mission with God in obedience

to the Holy Spirit that demonstrates tangibly and declares creatively the Gospel of Jesus Christ to

a specific pocket of people. 3 A missional community shows what love looks like in their

neighborhood and city, and their main focus is teaming together to make disciples of Jesus.
1
Brad House, Community, Taking Your Small Group Off Life Support (Wheaton, IL: Crossway

Publications, 2011), 92.

2
Ibid., 87.
3
Todd Engstrom, What is a Missional Community https://www.vergenetwork.org/2014/11/13/what-is-a-

missional-community/ Accessed February 24, 2017.

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Missional Strategies

The goal of ministry is to concentrate the gospel where the people are. Missions is an

essential element of any group as we engage with our neighborhood for the fame of Jesus and the

advancement of the kingdom of God. 4 Being missional is not another affair in our life, it is our

life. We should be 24 hours missionaries. Jesus said, As the Father has sent me, so I send you

(John 20:21). There are many strategies that can allow us to be missional within our lives.

However, I must first address that without the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing. Our ideas,

intellect, plans and hopes are folly if we are disobedient to the Holy Spirit and go outside His

will.

Vision, purpose, and prayer

Any small group community must have a clear vision, purpose, and goal. We want to

develop a clear vision for community groups from our convictions and build communities

toward that goal. In other words, let the vision determine the expressions of community. 5 The

process is simple; a clear vision will provide a welt built community of believers. 6 Leading

Health. One common mistake is leaders making community the highest goal in the group. Any

small group that focus on community alone will not grow and develop new believers. The goal

should be to produce disciples who will exalt Jesus name. If the goal is to retain people, then the

purpose is not about pointing to Jesus, but to grow in members.

4
Brad House, Community, Taking Your Small Group Off Life Support, 103.

5
Ibid., 88.

6
Dave Earley and Rod Dempsey., Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups (Lynchburg, VA:

Liberty University Press, 2015) 32.

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There is nothing more critical for leader searching to lead a group than prayer. The

greatest thing anyone can do for God and man is to pray. 7 Prayer allows us to communicate

with God, rather its asking question, confessing our sins, or just listening to His instructions. 8

Prayer will defeat any attack of the enemy towards you or your group and it will invite God to

work out any circumstances that we may face. The greatest mistake leaders make is cutting

Gods lifeline. Because God created us in His image, we are wired for community with Him

through prayer. Without prayer small groups will not see power and growth in their ministry.

Being Missional in Your Neighborhood and City

Having ideas to engage people is helpful and needed when reaching those in your

neighborhood and city. However, the task is finding ways to be missional without overloading

the busy life we already have. The simplest formula Ive found to be missional in my city is to

disciple through my workplace. Although I have the desire, Im learning that I do not have to go

across the world to disciple, I can simply start where God has placed me. Jesus did nog fin his

disciples in religious settings but in workplaces (Mark 2:14-15). Discipleship in my workplace is

a process not an activity. I learned that my brakes and any other opportunity to share Jesus with

my technicians and co-workers must be intentional.9 Instead of eating lunch alone, I can

intentionally eat with others to learn more about them. I make it a daily routine to give my

technicians encouraging quotes which typically leads to biblical discussions. This process has

open up the opportunity for me to establish a small group with my technicians to discuss

everyday issues with the Bible giving the answer and solutions to those issues.
7
Ibid., 35.

8
Brad House, Community, Taking Your Small Group Off Life Support, 82.

9
Jonathan Dodson, 8 Ways to Easily Be Missional http://www.vergenetwork.org/2011/06/08/8-easy-

ways-to-easily-be-missional/. Accessed February 24, 2017.

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The second formula is understanding that, Ministry flows best through the channel of

relationships. There is not greater relationship between family, friends and neighbors. 10

Although we all have plenty of room to improve in our life, we must show our neighbors what it

looks like to follow Christ daily. We must show them what it means to walk Gods word our

lives. We are simply showing them that we are true children of God. This will allow us to

interact with everyone in our community and share the gospel of Jesus. This is what

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Matthew 28;16-20, and Matthew 22:36-40 is all about.

The thing we must understand when designing a strategy is not to worry about sharing

Christ with everyone, but to find the individual who God has already prepared for us. Once that

person is identified we must have reasonable ideas to connect with them. 11 This can be done by

inviting them over for dinner, serve them by helping them with simple things like, helping them

put up a book shelf or mowing the yard. You can establish communication by sharing your

passion about things you enjoy and see if they have those same common passions. Be

missional and have fun at the same time. 12 Once communication is established, the easiest way

to witness is to give your testimony. Tell them about your life before knowing Christ, how you

came to know Christ, and what God is doing in your life and committing to Jesus.

10
Dave Earley and Rod Dempsey. Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups, 37.
11
Josh Reeves, 25 Simple Ways to be Missional in Your Neighborhood

http://www.vergenetwork.org/2011/08/23/25-simple-ways-to-be-missional-in-your-neighborhood/ Accessed

February 26, 2017.

12
Tim Chester, 10 Simple Ways to be Missional http://www.vergenetwork.org/2011/10/04/tim-chester-10-

simple-ways-to-be-missional/.
 5

Bibliography

Chester, Tim 10 Simple Ways to be Missional http://www.vergenetwork.org/2011/10/04/tim-

chester-10-simple-ways-to-be-missional/.

Dodson, Jonathan. 8 Ways to Easily Be Missional http://www.vergenetwork.org/2011/06/08/8-

easy-ways-to-easily-be-missional/. Accessed February 24, 2017.

Earley, Dave and Rod Dempsey. Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small Groups.
Lynchburg, VA, TX: Liberty University Press, 2015.

Engstrom, Todd. What is a Missional Community

https://www.vergenetwork.org/2014/11/13/what-is-a-missional-community/ Accessed
February 24, 2017.

House, Brad. Community, Taking Your Small Group Off Life Support (Wheaton, IL: Crossway
Publications, 2011.