My 2025 Reading Journey: Starting Small Groups by Jeffrey Arnold

Starting Small Groups: Building Communities that Matter by Jeffrey Arnold (Abingdon Press: 1997) is an intensely practical guide for church leaders and lay church leaders who want to create and sustain thriving small group ministries. Arnold emphasizes the importance of small groups in fostering community, spiritual growth, and outreach within the church. He mentions in the book that the end desire of the information is to transition a church from one “with small groups” to one “of small groups.” There is a huge difference. The book, though from the mid-1990s, offers clear actionable steps for starting and leading small groups effectively which would still work in 2025.

Highlights, What Does He Say?

Biblical Foundation: Small groups reflect the early church’s practices as described in Acts, emphasizing fellowship, prayer, and shared growth. Small groups are essential for building authentic Christian relationships and is reflected even in the ministry of Jesus.

Practical Knowledge and Steps: From creating a vision that aligns with the church’s mission to specific purposes for the groups, the chapters are filled with information, anecdotes, and end-of-chapter worksheets. Another area he stresses is leadership development. Instead of just “throwing someone into the deep end,” Jeffrey Arnold shares that effective small groups require trained, committed leaders who understand their role as facilitators, not controllers.

Launching and Growing Groups: Arnold has plenty of information and step-by-step paradigm building advice for success and momentum for groups. He also mentions how to regularly evaluate groups to ensure they meet members’ needs and the church’s purpose.

Key Highlight: Plan Small Groups

One of the areas of the book which I found profound was his rationale for making sure that small groups are planned in the church. He mentions several reasons why planning for small groups is essential. “First, humans are sinful and churches involve a complex mix of relationships. We are not always God-centered in the ways that we live and minister to others. We plan because we sin” (page 43). Wow.

“Second, Christ followed a very careful script. Throughout the Scriptures, we find Jesus said or did things for purely strategic reasons” (page 44). True.

RECOMMENDATION

Overall, if a Christian leader or lay person is involved with small groups in their church and knows nothing about starting, administrating, or tinkering with groups… then this is a great basic primer for them. Seriously practical. On target even after almost 30 years.

TMB