The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Equipping Small Group Leaders: A Concise Church Leadership Training

God does big things through small groups. He heals, unifies, encourages, and equips. Christ trained his twelve apostles in a small group. It was while participating in a small group of leaders in the Antioch church that Paul and Barnabas heard God speak—calling them to international missions (Acts 13:1-3). Essentially, all believers owe something to those initial small groups. As with Paul, small group ministry has greatly affected a number of us. Some met their best friends in a small group; some met their spouses; others were healed and carried through difficult seasons by the love of their small group members. Some heard their call or reheard their call to ministry in the midst of a group. God does big things through small groups. When two or more are gathered in his name, he is in the midst of them to bless and answer their prayers (Matt 18:19-20).

In this study, we will look at the WHY of small group leadership. Why should we participate in and lead them? We will consider the WHAT of small group leadership, as we look at types of small groups, their elements, and their focus. We will look at the WHO of small group leadership, as we consider qualities of good small group leaders. Christ said it is good enough for a student to be like his teacher (Matt 10:25). In one sense, small group leaders set the spiritual ceiling for the group and individual members. Therefore, small group leaders have a special calling. Finally, we’ll look at the HOW of small group leadership, as we consider the skills of a leader, the basic order of a small group meeting, and a sample lesson.

Much of the content in this study won’t be new, especially to veteran leaders, but it should reaffirm and encourage both new and old leaders in their calling and ministry. In addition, hopefully, small group leaders will pick up a skill or two and be more confident in their frontline ministry of discipling others through small groups. May God bless your study and ministry.

Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown
The primary Scriptures used are New International Version 1984 unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version. In the “Sample Small Group Lesson,” the primary version used is the NIV 2011.
Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.
All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.
BTG Publishing all rights reserved.

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