Presented by
Rev. Dr. Richard M.Gadzekpo
Pastor:
Mt. Pleasant A.M.E. Zion Church
3664 Grade Road, Rockford,
Tennessee 37853
INTRODUCTION: THE LAST COMMANDMENT
Matthew 28:19 & 20
19Go to the people of all nations and make them
my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20and teach
them to do everything I have told you. I will be with
you always, even until the end of the world.
INTRODUCTION: SMALL GROUPS
One of the most effective ways of making
disciples is through holistic small groups;
Providing personal support and reassurance to
individuals — especially in settings where people
can speak openly and honestly without fear of
rejection.
BIBLICAL EXAMPLE
• Jesus started his ministry of making disciples of
all nations through small group (Mark 3:13-14)
• The Disciples of Jesus also fulfilled the mandate
of making disciples of all nations through small
group (Acts 2:46, Acts 8:3,Romans 16:3-5)
HISTORICAL EXAMPLE
In 1742, John Wesley started the Class Leaders
System, where every member of the church is
placed into a class over which is appointed a
class leader whose responsibility is to provide
sub pastoral oversight. It became part of the
constitution of the church in 1744 when the
rules for the United Societies were drawn up.
HISTORICAL EXAMPLE
The A.M.E. Zion Church since its inception in 1796 has
preserved the Class Leaders System. The Book of
Discipline of the A.M.E. Zion Church stipulates that the
design of organizing members into classes and holding
of class meeting is … to establish and keep up
meetings for
…instruction…encouragement…admonition…that shall
be a profitable means of grace.
TWO MODELS OF SMALL GROUP
DISCIPLESHIP
• Cognitive Model – Evangelist Small Group
Fellowship
• Behavioral Model – Class Meeting
THE EVANGELISTIC SMALL GROUP
FELLOWSHIP
A cognitive model of ministry that places
emphasis upon helping the non-churched
to become Christians and members of the
Church
HOW IS SMALL GROUP FELLOWSHIP
EVANGELISTIC?
Three Necessary Components - AID:
1. Attraction: Straightforward invitation
2. Inclusion: Helping them to belong
3. Discipleship: Helping individuals grow in
their relationship with Jesus Christ
TWO PARTS OF SMALL GROUP
FELLOWSHIP
1. Time for Sharing Evangelistic Concerns
• List of the un-churched
• Forming group’s evangelistic concerns
• Pray for names listed
• Look for ways and invite prospects
• Discuss ways and means with group
2. Time for Witnessing
WHAT IS WITNESSING?
Witnessing is telling people
in your own words, your own way
what you know about Jesus Christ
from your own life!
HOW TO BEGIN SMALL GROUP
FELLOWSHIP
• Recruit a leader
• Leader gathers a core of two or three who are definitely
interested
• Core group and leader invites another eight to ten people
• Decide time, frequency and meeting place
• Have first meeting
• Divide after eight or ten sessions and start another group
DEVELOPING A BIBLE STUDY FOR YOUR
SMALL GROUP FELLOWSHIP
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Gathering and Call to Worship
Prayer and Singing
Introduction of Guest
Study Time
Singing/Soloist/Silence
Witness Time
Sharing of needs and concerns
Praying Time
DEVELOPING A BIBLE STUDY FOR YOUR
SMALL GROUP FELLOWSHIP
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Evangelistic Concerns
Closing Selection
Closing Prayer and Benediction
Fellowship
ISSUES TO CONSIDER
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How often to meet
Where to meet
Refreshments
Child care
What to study
THE CLASS MEETING
A behavioral mode of ministry that places
emphasis upon practicing the truths that
we learn from sermons, bible studies, etc.
DISCIPLESHIP
Discipleship is about:
• Growing in our relationship with Christ
• Sharing our lives and concerns with
others in the group
• Caring for each other in the group
DISCIPLESHIP CAN BE EVERYTHING
WE DO AS CHRISTIAN PEOPLE
THE CLASS MEETING
Three important features of class meeting include:
1. Getting Acquainted – Connecting as a group
2. Reviewing the nature of the group – if nature of
meeting is not made clear it creates difficulty in
keeping the meeting on task
3. Securing the members commitment to the
ground rules of the group.
GROUND RULES
These commitments should be secured at the first
meeting and be reviewed from time to time:
• Priority – members to make every effort to
attend
• Prayer – members to pray regularly for the group
• Confidentiality – Not divulge personal concerns
to those outside the group even after the group
ends.
GROUND RULES
Punctuality – members begins and ends on time
Personal devotion time – members to engage in
bible study and prayer between group meetings
No advice giving unless counsel is requested –
pray for and encourage those who share needs
but refrain from giving advice unless requested
GROUND RULES
No argument – members agree to disagree
agreeably
Personal needs – Confess personal needs and not
those of others in the group
Affirmation and vulnerability – members seek to
provide an atmosphere of affirmation
understanding that those who are ridiculed may
never share again
COMPONENTS OF A CLASS MEETING
1. Gathering – Brief period of fellowship
2. Sharing – Sharing life with each other
3. Praying – Praying for one another
4. Sending – Sent by the Holy Spirit and by
group to work and witness.
SHARING
To give structure and help in meaningful
sharing, the following is recommended:
• How am I coming along in my prayer life?
• How am I progressing in my personal study
of God’s word?
• Are there areas of struggle or specific needs
which I desire the prayers of the class?
SHARING
To give structure and help in meaningful
sharing, the following is recommended:
• Are there areas of victory or blessings
through which I see God at work?
• What progress am I making in learning to
share my faith with others?
• In what ways have I been able to meet a
need in the lives of others.
HOW TO BEGIN SMALL GROUP FELLOWSHIP
1. Leader invites members to first meeting
2. Decide with members about time and
meeting place
3. Have first meeting
GUIDELINES FOR HOLDING MEETINGS
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Trust God
Pray
Remind the group regularly of its ministry vision
Facilitate and guide discussion
Watch the time
Keep conversation on the subject
Be personally vulnerable
Encourage listening
Guide the long-winded speaker
GUIDELINES FOR HOLDING MEETINGS
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Encourage the quite, shy person
Be sensitive to the emotional hurt
Involve everyone in the group
Help members learn to pray aloud
Follow up on an absent or distressed members
Establish and maintain the group commitments
Develop new leadership
Practice the “double focus” of ministry, focus on
both individual and group as a whole.
REFERENCE
Behavioral Model For the PERFECTING of the Saints
A Handbook on Holistic Small Group Discipleship
Copyright ©2013
By Dr. Darryl Brewster Starnes, Sr.
(96th Bishop in Succession of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church)