LIBERTY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

ANALYSIS PAPER 1







Submitted to Dr. Rod Dempsey
In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Course
DSMN 630-D03




BY

TERRY NOONAN FITZGERALD









OCTOBER 27, 2014
Table of Contents

Introduction
The primary passages and principles that form a small group ministry
The Great Commandment: Matthew 22:33-40
The Great Commission: Matthew 28:16-20
The Great Example: Acts 1-2
The Great Illustration: Ephesians 1
The Great Plan: Ephesians 4
Current church and small group structure













Introduction
Small Groups may be considered as the environment most conducive to developing and
maturing disciples in the faith. There are reasons why this statement is to be considered as valid,
and Comiskey notes that in understanding of the Trinity, Trinitarian doctrine indicates that the
emphasis in on life, love and movement within the Godhead.
1
Thomas F. Torrance writes
concerning the Trinity that this doctrine is foundational to Christianity, defines who we worship
and serve, while guiding the church to practice love, care and unity.
2
If one studies the
Trinitarian nature of God, what they will find is a relational aspect unfounded in a singular view
of self. If as Scripture states that The Son loves the Father and the Father loves the Son (Jn.
3:35-36; cf. 5:20), then it stands to reason that God loves those (humankind) he created;
implying a reciprocal nature of love vis. from God to us, us to God, and us to others. If love is
the main element in anything, then it must be contemplated that love is the bedrock for small
group ministries. Included within the study are five passages which are primary to small group
ministry which will be addressed shortly. There are principles that are applicable to the passages
and have practicality in the lives of each member of the group and as a whole in general.
The primary passages that form a small group ministry

Dr. Rod Dempsey notes that there are five primary passages that help to form the small
group. The reason for small groups exists in the fact of developing disciples, following forward
this process, and a context/environment where disciples can be developed.
3
Note that there are

1
Joel Comiskey, Biblical Foundations For The Cell-Based Church: New Testament Insights for the 21
st
Century
(Moreno Valley, CA: CCS Publishing, 2012), 39.

2
Thomas F. Torrance, The Christian Doctrine of God: One Being, Three Persons (Edinburgh, Scotland: T&T Clark,
1996), 2.
3
Dr. Rod Dempsey, Biblical Foundations : DSMN Module 2 presentation.
http://learn.liberty.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/cou
rseMain?course_id=_85860_1 (Accessed October 28, 2014).
three principles for developing disciples: 1. Sacrificial, 2. Relational, 3. Transformational.
4

Reasonably what follows is the context of development within the small group; these number
three as well: 1. Intentional, 2. Individual, 3. Missional.
5
We will now look at the passages that
help form small group ministry.
The Great Commandment: Matthew 22:33-40
6

The question was posed to Jesus by one in the multitude (a lawyer, v. 35) as to what the
greatest commandment was. Jesus answered in two parts: the greatest commandment and one as
to the first. In sum they read as to Love the Lord they God with all they heart, soul and mind;
and love thy neighbor as thyself (vs. 37, 39). The reason Jesus concluded with On these two
hang all the law and prophets, (v.40) is due to the fact that there are at least 613 rabbinical laws
the people were required to follow, and Jesus boiled them down to two very simple principles.
7

The Christians love for God is demonstrated by daily Bible study alone and with fellow
believers. Worship and praise are the natural exponents of faithful Bible study, serving as natural
connectors for bringing people together in worship of our Creator.
8
The main thrust here is to
love God and love people.

The Great Commission: Matthew 28:16-20
This is an express command from the Lord Jesus Christ that is incumbent on all who
claim to be his followers. Does this happen in church? It can and should; but Corporate worship
doesnt facilitate community as does a small group of three to fifteen people Cell groups

4
Ibid.
5
Ibid.
6
Matthew 22:33-40 and future Scripture passages are taken from the Life Application Study Bible (KJV), 2004.
7
Dempsey, Biblical Foundations.
8
Ibid.
provide smaller accountability structures allowing deeper relationships to develop.
9
I prefer the
term small-groups to cell-groups, so will use the former nomenclature from this point
forward. That being said, Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs (Mk. 6:7-13; cf. Lk. 10:1-16); and
while doing the work of the Lord, one can see that ministry groups develop a sense of
community on the jobcommunity grows in small groups where people can share their lives.
10

Here we are to make disciples, and the only way of achieving this is to develop relationships with
others. We must invest in others or forget the ministry because ministry is people oriented and
people driven.
The Great Example: Acts 1-2
Principally 2:47 where it is demonstrated that the early Church met together to learn
Christs teachings from the Apostles; to break bread and have fellowship; meet the needs of
others and share the Gospel where-ever they went. What is further demonstrated is the joy
coming from the fellowship and extending over into praise to God and having favor with those
outside the community as well as within.
11
With the exception of terminology, Comiskey and
Arnold nearly mirror one another in terms of the passage in Acts and as regards fellowship and
community in general. The community very likely consisted of many smaller groups that ate
together, studied together and experienced growth within the community of believers.
12
Note
that Scripture does not indicate meeting in a corporate building; rather, the believers met in
various houses throughout the region in view, in this case Jerusalem and surrounding areas. What
is illustrated is a snapshot of what the 21
st
century church should be doing presently.
13


9
Joel Comiskey, Discipleship Through Community
http://joelcomiskeygroup.com/articles/churchLeaders/Discipleship-Community.html (Accessed October 28, 2014).
10
Daniel L. Akin, A Theology for The Church (Nashville, TN: B&H publishing Group, 2007), 407.
11
Darrell L. Bock, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Acts (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic,
2007), 155.
12
Jeffrey Arnold, The Big Book on Small Groups (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1992, 2004), 88.
13
Dempsey, Biblical Foundations.
The Great Illustration: Ephesians 1
We must never forget that the church is Christs body (1:23) or that he is the head
over all things to the church (v. 22). The believers make up the many parts of the local
congregation as well as the collective number of born-again believers world-wide. Each member
has a role within the corporate body, and each is expected to use the gifts given them by God
which are empowered by the Holy Spirit. Small groups allow for the involvement and facilitation
of the members in service to the group and within the larger community as a whole. The main
thrust demonstrated here is service to others as is noted by Comiskey, Bock, Dempsey and
others. The term body is designed to separate isolationist and ethnic favoritism in favor of the
unity and universality of the church, for the church reconciles Jew and Gentile into one body (1
Cor. 12:13; Eph. 2:16; cf. 4:4).
14
If there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile in the Body
of Christ, then both should be able to work together in serving others as the Spirit leads. Small
Group Ministry allows for this on multiple levels by incorporating missional/intentional
principles which are exponents of the transformational when one has become born-again in Jesus
Christ through the Holy Spirit.
15

The Great Plan: Ephesians 4
There is a plan given by Paul to the church in Ephesus regarding how local
congregations are to function as the body. We note in verses 11-13 that while unity is the over-
arching theme of chapter 4, this fact does not eradicate individuality. Indeed, the Spirit has given
distinct gifts(s) to the believers for use within the community, in modern parlance, the church.
Paul goes on to explain how we are to equip and carry out the plan as set forth (vs. 15-16). The
key word here is love, and when love for one another is present, small groups will be able to

14
Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 1989, 2008), 361.
15
Dempsey, Biblical Foundations.
assist and develop Christ-like and Godly traits necessary for spiritual growth and doing Gods
will. Intentionality is a requisite of this, as is an investment of time and effort to stay committed
to an all important task involving people.
Current Church and Small Group Structure
The church I am a member of has a membership of right at five-hundred people not
counting the Cradle Roll. Church leadership has utilized small groups within the body so that
practical and holistic ministry will be continually cultivated and effective. In comparing the
WITH/OF/IS CHART alongside the CHURCH STRUCTURE CHART some observations
regarding my local congregation can be determined. For instance, the church is single Pastor-led
with the Pastor in favor of groups with church leaders equipping the saints to accomplish the
Great Commission. The goal of Liberty Baptist is to preach the Gospel and make disciples with
discipleship taking place from hearing the sermon (pulpit) to study within the small groups.
Prayer is focused both on the individual praying and the collective group in terms of the harvest.
The Gifts of the Spirit are emphasized with attention being given to training for the
great Commission which naturally involves every born-again believer. As a small congregation
we do not have a large operating budget from month to month; and often we view our budget in
terms of weekly giving as normally there is enough to cover operational expenses per week.
Missions and evangelism are separate budgets and charitable giving or tithes may be earmarked
specifically for either or both endeavors. Above all the groups at Liberty are considered open
because, if they were to be closed then those who are visiting and not saved would not be able to
be involved and thus miss out on sound biblical teaching and the love of Christ which his
followers are to give to all men. In this way we at Liberty are able to say that our groups do not
simply meet to have discussions; we exist because we are in life together, and this requires
sharing, prayer, serving one another and holding one another accountable to standards. Without
small groups the above might not be possible or even consistently applied in the real world. By
having small groups operating as close to biblical models as possible, Liberty Baptist Church is
able to avoid many of the pratfalls and cliques that might otherwise develop within churches that
are looser as far as discipline and accountability are concerned. My congregation is one that
takes to heart the meaning of being my brothers keeper (cf. Gen 4:9). We love and care for
our own (believers) and others (non-believers) because God first loved us and sent his Son to
die for our sins (Rom. 5:8; cf. 1Jn. 4:10). For these and other reasons is why there should be
small groups within every local congregation regardless of denomination.












Bibliography

Akin, Daniel L. A Theology for The Church. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2007.
Arnold, Jeffrey. The Big Book on Small Groups. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity press, 2004.
Bock, Darrell L. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker
Academic, 2007.
Comiskey, Joel. Biblical Foundations For The Cell-Based Church:New Testament Insights for
the 21st Century Church. Moreno Valley, CA: CCS Publishing, 2012.
Dempsey, Rod Dr. Liberty University Blackboard. Ocotober 22, 2014.
http://learn.liberty.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=/webap
ps/blackboard/execute/courseMain?course_id=_85860_1 (accessed october 28, 2014).
Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook of Theology. Chicago, IL.: Moody Publishers, 2008.
Torrance, Thomas F. The Christian Doctrine of God: One Being, Three Persons. Edinburgh:
T&T Clark, 1996.