PMN 652– SEMINAR IN LEADERSHIP:DISCIPLING
SMALL GROUP MINISTRY

Spring Semester – 2013 - Monday, 3:20 pm – 6:00pm

Dr. David Roadcup

Office located in the Grad Building

Office – 513-244-8184; Home – 859-525-0535

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is designed to teach the student the history, biblical basis, organization, execution and evaluation of the Discipling process and Small Group Ministry within the context of the local church. Special emphasis will be given to effectively organizing and leading groups and leadership development for Discipling and Small Group Ministry.

COURSE RATIONALE

Effective community and fellowship are critical to the life of any church. Discipling and Small Group Ministry are the foundations to assimilation, effective shepherding, member conservation and overall Church health. As members are discipled and become part of small groups, they will be encouraged in their personal spiritual growth and become productive contributors to the life of the church.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

As a result of this class, students:

  1. Will be able to internalize the importance of effective Small Group Ministry in the local church.
  1. Will understand the biblical basis for discipling and small groups.
  2. Will understand the process of establishing and executing an effective discipling and small group ministry in the life of a local church.
  3. Will be able to train and develop leaders so as to execute their ministries through effective lay leadership.
  4. Will have an exposure to the contemporary literature in discipling and small group ministry available today.
  5. Will understand the definition, process and execution of discipling others for personal growth and leadership development.

TEXTBOOKS

  1. How To Build A Small Groups Ministry, Neal McBride, NavPress
  2. Leading Life Changing Small Groups, Bill Donahue, Zondervan
  3. Making Small Groups Work, Cloud and Townsend, Zondervan
  4. The Master Plan of Evangelism, Robert Coleman, Revell

If you have read any of the previous texts (#1-4) within the last two years, please substitute the following in this order:

  1. The Big Book on Small Groups, Jeffrey Arnold, IVP
  2. How To Have Great Small-Group Meetings, Neal McBride, NavPress
  3. Nine Keys to Effective Small Group Leadership, Carl George, Kingdom Publishing

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

  1. Attendance and Participation – Lecture sessions: Part of our class will be lecture as we cover content concerning the Biblical basis, leadership training and mechanics of small group ministry and discipling. Students will be expected to attend every class session and take careful notes on lectures. Please note! Part of this class will be taught as a lab. We will participate together as a small group would in a local church. Your attendance and participation are both crucial to the success of the small group experience. Absences from any class meeting are not allowed without extreme extenuating circumstances. Absences will be counted per hour of class. After 6 absences, the student will be dropped from class.

2. Reading Discussion and Reading Reports –

  • All four of the texts must be read thoroughly.
  • We may take time and discuss in class the major points andlessons from our reading. Reading reports are to be turned in on the due dates assigned.
  • Please use Times New Roman and.12 pt font for reports. (Please note, the fonts, Courier or Courier New are not acceptable for assignments.)
  • You do not need a cover page. At the top right of the firstpage, put your name,class name and name and author of the book you are reviewing.
  • Please do not use plastic or paper notebooks or slick covers when submitting thereports.
  • Please do not use footnotes or endnotes as this is not a research report.
  1. A typed, one and a half paged,single spaced report is to be prepared on each text using the following guidelines:

First Half Page – the first half page presents the burden or message of the book. The message should be stated in terms sympathetic to the author and without explicit or implicit critique.

Second Half Page – the second half page presents an evaluation of the book. Identify the strong points of the material (what did you like about the book?), the weaknesses you observed and why these strengths and weaknesses are important for our consideration.

Third Half Page – the secondhalf page is given to reflection on the book. What lessons can we learn from this author? What are the most helpful things in the book for you? How have you changed personally as a result of reading this book?

Please note: In the reading reports, be careful not to simply rehearse the contents of the book. The assignment is requires you to interact with the book through assessing the purpose of the book, doing a critique of the book and applying the contents of the book to your life, work and/or ministry. You are being asked toexamine the author’s concepts, viewpoints ideas and comment on those specifically.

  1. Written Definition of Biblical Community – write a 50-70 carefully worded definition of “Biblical Community”. Use outside sources for ideas but do not copy, verbatim, the definition of an author or source. This should be your own work.
  1. Leadership Retreat Planand First Three Seminar Outlines – This assignment has two sections.

Section One - Each student will be required to plan, in detail, a strategy for training small group leaders. The segments of the training strategy will include thefollowing:

  1. A description of the process of recruiting volunteers to be small group leaders.
  2. A 24-hour retreat plan for your small group leaders. The retreat plan should include the following:

1. The overall statement purpose for the retreat

2. Dates and times

3. Location

4. Cost and what it covers

5. Transportation arrangements

6. Publicity

7. Outside speakers and or worship leaders

8. Schedule in detail (topics, times, etc.)

Section Two – Research and write three detailed teaching outlines dealing with three important topics forsmall group leaders. The outlines should specifically address topics that apply to the attendee leading a Small Group and building the understanding and skill set necessary to becoming an effective Small Group leader. Topics should deal specifically, in a focused way with the ability and skill of leading a Small Group. Topics dealingwith apologetics, theology and philosophy do not fit the description for this particular assignment.

  • Each individual outline should be one and a half to two pages in length.
  • Please use a neat and uniform outline format in producing your outlines.
  • Outlines should be single-spaced.
  • Use New Times Roman style and 12-pt font.
  • Be sure to list all resources used in the creation of outlines at the end of the assignment.
  1. Small Group Leaders Training Seminar Content Outlines (Second Set)– for use with your own church and possible presentation to other churches and conference/seminar settings.
  1. This Seminar Outline assignment covers the writing of 4 additional Training Seminar Outlines. This will give the student a total of 7 Seminar Outlines to use in training and presenting at other churches or conferences. (One and one halfto two pages per topic)
  2. These are to be outline notes you would use for training Small Groupleaders.
  3. Be sure to cite and list all references from all sources through endnotes or footnotes. (Cite books, magazines and on line sources, etc.)
  4. Include a bibliography at the end
  1. Final Exam – will cover lecture material from notes taken in class.

CLASS POLICIES

  1. Late work – All assignments are due at the beginning of the period on the day they are to be turned in. Late assignments will receive a letter grade off. Friday, May 10th is absolutely the last day any course work will be accepted.
  2. Completion of All Assigned Work – All assignments must be turned in to receive credit for the class.
  3. Hard Copies, please. Please turn in all course work in hard copy form.
    No email assignments can be accepted.

IN-CLASS COMPUTER AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES USE

Students who desire to take class notes on computer are encouraged to do so. However, computers are not to be used during class time for accessing the internet, doing email, playing video games, Facebook and other non-class activities. Cell phones, Blackberries and iPhones, etc. are to be turned off during class sessions (with the exception of a serious, pending emergency involving church, work or family. If this is the case, please check with the professor before class begins.) Please do not text during class. Communication with the church office staff and individuals outside the church office are to be completed outside of class time.

FORMATTING AND WRITING POLICY

All assignments should be submitted according to the formatting guide, Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertation or Chicago Style for Students and Researchers. 7th ed. Revised by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams, and University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2007. You may also use the formatting guide which you can obtain on-line from our library.

Students who require academic accommodations due to any documented physical, psychological, or learning disability should request assistance from the Academic Support Director, Marie Reeves, within the first two weeks of class. The Academic Support Office is located in the lower level of the Worship and Ministry Center (room 153). You may also contact the office by phone (244-8420).

**COURSE DISCLAIMER – The professor reserves the right to change or amend any

part of this course plan as deeded necessary.

GRADING

Final Exam …………………………….……..…………….10%

Book Reports……………………….10% each (Total 40%)

Leadership Retreat Plan and Outlines.…………….25%

Final Four Outlines………………………………………..25%

ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES

1. Definition of “Community”………………………………………………….………..Mon. Jan 28th

2. Book Report – Leading Life Changing Small Groups – Donahue….….Mon.Feb. 11th

3. Book Report - How To Build A Small Group Ministry – McBride………..Mon. Mar. 11st

4. Small Group Leaders Retreat and Three Otlns …………………………….…Mon.Mar. 18th

5. Book Report - Making Small Groups Work - Cloud and Townsend..….Mon. April 8th

6. Book Report - Master Plan of Evangelism–Coleman……………………….Mon. April 22nd

7. Small Group Leaders Training Seminar Content Outlines…………….….Mon. May6th

8. Final Exam………………………………Mon. May 13th

COURSE CONTENT OUTLINE

SMALL GROUP MINISTRY

Lecture 1 – Definitions of Small Groups

Lecture 2 – Goals in Small Group Ministry

Lecture 3 – Biblical, Philosophical and Sociological Rational for Small Group Ministry

Lecture 4 – Types and Purposes of Small Groups

Lecture 5 – Essential Key Elements for Small Group Ministry

Lecture 6 – Small Group Planning and Execution

Lecture 7 – Developing the Leadership Team

Lecture 8 – Components of Small Group Life

  1. Values of Small Groups
  2. Writing Small Group Covenants
  3. Meeting Elements
  4. The Teaching Process in the Small Group Context
  5. Proxemics and Group Dynamics
  6. The Life Cycle of a Small Group
  7. Why Groups Terminate
  8. The Calendarization of the Small Group Year
  9. What To Do With Children and Babysitting
  10. Dangers To Avoid in Small Group Ministry
  11. Celebrating Small Group Ministry in the Church

Lecture 9 – Evangelism and Small Groups

Lecture 10 – Evaluating the Small Group Ministry

DISCIPLING

Lecture 11 – Definitions of Classical Discipling

Lecture 12 – The History of the Discipling Concept

Lecture 13 – Jesus’ Strategy for Discipling

Lecture 14 – Discipling in the New Millennium

Lecture 15 – The Praxis of Discipling in the Local Church

Reference List for Small Groups and Discipling

Small Groups Books:

Arnold, Jeff. 1998. Small Group Outreach: Turning Groups Inside Out. InterVarsity.

Arnold, Jeff. 2004. The Big Book on Small Groups. InterVarsity.

Banks, Robert. 1998. The Church Comes Home: Building Community and Mission through Home Churches. Hendrickson Publishers.

Barker, Steve. 1985. Good Things Come in Small Groups. InterVarsity.

Bilezikian, Gilbert. 1997. Community 101. Zondervan.

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. 1978. Life Together. HarperSanFrancisco.

Bridges, Jerry. 1985. True Fellowship: The Biblical Practice of Koinonia. NavPress.

Bunton, Peter. 2001. Cell Groups and House Churches: What History Tells Us.

Burke, John. 2005. No Perfect People Allowed. Zondervan.

Cho, Yong-gi. 1981. Successful Home Cell Groups. Logos.

Cloud, Henry. 2003. Making Small Groups Work. Zondervan.

Donahue, Bill. 2001. Building a Church of Small Groups. Zondervan.

Donahue, Bill. 1996. Leading Life-Changing Small Groups. Zondervan.

Donahue, Bill. 2002. Seven Deadly Sins of Small Group Ministry. Zondervan.

Donahue, Bill. 2003. Walking the Small Group Tightrope. Zondervan.

Frazee, Randy. 2001. The Connecting Church: Beyond Small Groups to Authentic Community. Zondervan.

Galloway, Dale. 1995. The Small Group Book: The Practical Guide for Nurturing Christians and Building Churches. Fleming.

George, Carl F. 1992. Prepare Your Church for the Future. Revell.

George, Carl F. 1997. Nine Keys to Effective Small Group Leadership. Kingdom Publishing.

George, Carl F. 2000. New Directions in Small Group Ministry. Zondervan.

Grenz, Stanley. 1994. Theology for the Community of God. Broadman and Holman.

Grenz, Stanley. 1996. Created for Community. Victor.

Grenz, Stanley. 2001. The Social God and Relational Self. Westminster.

Henderson, Michael. 1997. John Wesley's Class Meeting: A Model for Making Disciples. Evangelical Publishing House.

Icenogle, Gareth. 1994. Biblical Foundations for Small Group Ministry. InterVarsity.

Kreider, Larry. 2001. House to House: Spiritual Insights for the 21st Century. House to House Publications.

Lifton, Walter. 1961. Working with Groups: Group Process and Individual Growth. John Wiley & Sons.

McBride, Neal. 1995. How to Build a Small Group Ministry. NavPress.

McBride, Neal. 1997. How to Have Great Small Group Meetings. NavPress.

McBride, Neal. 1990. How to Lead Small Groups. NavPress.

McBride, Neal. 1998. Real Groups Don’t Just Happen. NavPress.

Myers, Joseph. 2003. The Search to Belong: Re-Thinking Intimacy, Community, and Small Groups. Emergent YS.

Neighbour, Ralph. 1990. Where Do We Go From Here? Touch Publications.

Ortberg, John. 2000. Groups: The Life-Giving Power of Community. Zondervan.

Poole, Gary. 2003. Seeker Small Groups. Zondervan.

Sauder, Brian. 2004. Helping You Build Cell Churches. House to House Publications.

Stockstill, Larry. 1998. The Cell Church. Regal.

Walden, Howard. 1967. Groups that Work. Zondervan.

Yawberg, Robert F. 1972. Growing Together In Christian Fellowship. Standard.

DISCIPLING RESOURCES:

Adsit, Christopher B. 1988. Personal disciplemaking. San Bernardino, Calif.: Here’s Life

Publishers.

Anderson, Keith R. and Randy D. Reese. 1999. Spiritual mentoring. Downers Grove, Ill.:

Intervarsity.

Arn, Charles, and Win Arn. 1982. The master’s plan for making disciples. Pasadena, Calif.:
Church Growth.

Barna, George. 2000. Growing disciples. Ventura, Calif.: Issachar Resources.

Basler, J. Michael. 1986. Discipling one to one. Downers Grove, Ill.: Intervarsity.

Baugh, Ken and Rich Hurst. 2002. The quest for Christ: discipling today’s young adults.

Loveland, Colo.: Group.

Bennett, Ron. 2001. Intentional disciplemaking: cultivating spiritual maturity in the local

church. Colorado Springs: NavPress.

______. 2003 The adventure of discipling others: training in the art of

disciplemaking. Colorado Springs: NavPress.

Beougher, Timothy K., Robert E. Coleman, Tom Phillips, and William A. Shell, eds.

1994. Disciple making: training leaders to make disciples. Wheaton, Ill.: Billy

Graham Center, Institute of Evangelism.

Biehl, Bobb. 1996. Mentoring: confidence in finding a mentor and becoming one.

Nashville, Tenn.: Broadman & Holman.

______, and Glen Urquhart. 1999. Mentoring. Lake Mary, Fla.:Mentoring Today.

Boice, James Montgomery. 1986. Christ’s call to discipleship. Chicago: Moody Press.

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. 1963. The cost of discipleship. Translated by R. H. Fuller. 2d rev.

ed. New York: Macmillan.

Bounds, E.M. 1962. Power through prayer. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Brazo, Carol. 2004. Divine secrets of mentoring: spiritual growth through friendship.

Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity.

Bruce, A. B. 1971. The training of the twelve. Reproduced from 4h ed. Revised by A.C.

Armstrong and Son. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications.

Coleman, Robert E. 1964. The master plan of discipleship. 2d ed. Old Tappan, N.J.:

Fleming H. Revell.

______. 1998. The master plan of evangelism. Spire ed. Grand Rapids: Fleming H.

Revell.

Collins, Gary R. 2001. Christian coaching: helping others turn potential into reality.

Colorado Springs: NavPress.

Conley, Bayless. 2001. The miracle of mentoring: a biblical guide to spiritual fathering.

Tulsa, Okla.: Harrison House.

Coppedge, Allan. 1989. The biblical principles of discipleship. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Covey, Stephen R. 1990. The 7 habits of highly effective people. First Fireside ed. New

York: Simon & Schuster.

______. 1995. First things first. First Fireside ed. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Danial, Egeler. 2003. Mentoring millennials: shaping the next hero generation. Colorado

Springs: NavPress.

Davis, Ron Lee. 1991. Mentoring: the strategy of the master. Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas

Nelson.

Donovan, Daryl. 1998. Men mentoring men: a men’s discipleship course. Spiral ed.

Lima, Ohio: CSS Publishing.

Dukes, Bob. 1997. A model for strategic disciple building. Fayetteville, Ga.: Worldwide

Discipleship Association.

Dunn, James D. G. 1991. Jesus’ call to discipleship (understanding Jesus today). Edited

by Howard Clark Kee. Cambridge, Mass.: Cambridge University.

Eims, Leroy. 1978. The lost art of disciple making. Colorado Springs: NavPress.

Ellison, Edna and et al. 2001. Seeking wisdom: preparing yourself to be mentored.

Birmingham, Ala.: New Hope Publishers.

Engstrom, Ted W., and Norman B. Rohrer. 1989. The fine art of mentoring. Brentwood, Tenn.: Wolgemuth & Hyatt.

Green, Joel B. and Scot McKnight. eds. 1992. The dictionary of Jesus and the gospels. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity.

Greenslade, Philip. 1984. Leadership, greatness & servanthood. Minneapolis: Bethany

House.

Greer, Kevin. 2000. Life to life discipleship. U.S.A.: Christ In Youth Resources.