Module 10 — Small Groups, House Churches, and Local Mission

Workload: Approximately 40 hours | Section: Diaconal Ministry in Practice

This module prepares you to serve small communities, house churches and dispersed gatherings with hospitality, inclusion and patient, responsible growth. You will consider how the New Testament's household gatherings inform ministry today, while attending carefully to the people, resources and ecclesial responsibilities of your own setting.

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Explain the theology of smallness and local mission in the early Church and house-church pattern.
• Plan a small group or house church with realistic rhythm and pastoral purpose.
• Practise inclusion as ethos, not mere tolerance.
• Apply the course's ecumenical framework in local ministry relationships.
• Articulate the theology of mission as proclamation and presence appropriate to a dispersed context.
• Design a six-month local mission plan with accountability and sustainability.

What this module covers

You will bring together the theology of smallness, sustainable gathering, practical welcome and truthful cooperation with other Christian communities. Building on Module 5 and Unit 10.3, distinguish conversation and shared service from formal agreements or sacramental sharing. Local friendship does not itself authorise intercommunion: seek the appropriate ecclesial authority before making commitments on behalf of your community. Your six-month plan will identify whom you hope to serve, a manageable rhythm, safeguarding boundaries and a process for review.

Required and supporting resources

The required teaching and CPDV passages are supplied within the four Institute Books. Read all five days of each Book, including its source register and practice work:

• Unit 10.1 — The Theology of Smallness.
• Unit 10.2 — Starting and Sustaining a Small Group.
• Unit 10.3 — Inclusion and Ecumenical Openness.
• Unit 10.4 — Local Mission and the Six-Month Plan.

The following copyrighted books are supplementary further reading, accessed through external links. You are encouraged to explore them where available through a library or lawful personal copy; no purchase is required. They are not assessed. Their approaches to church leadership, growth and ministry arise from evangelical or charismatic settings and may differ from the Institute's sacramental and inclusive approach. Read them in conversation with the required teaching.

• House to House — Larry Kreider; further reading on house churches.
• What Every Small Group Leader Should Know — Larry Kreider; English-language book on small-group leadership.
• Starting Small: The Ultimate Small Group Blueprint — Ben Reed; further reading on developing small groups.
• You Lost Me — David Kinnaman with Aly Hawkins; further reading on disengagement. Its research reflects a particular period and United States context; do not treat its findings as a description of every local community.

Scripture and StepBible work

• Study Acts 2:42–47; Romans 16:1–16; Philemon 1–2; and 1 Corinthians 14:26 in relation to household gathering and shared ministry.
• Examine John 17:20–23 in relation to Christian unity.
• Use the Institute Scripture Study panels, powered by STEP Bible data, to examine the terms and cross-references supplied in each unit. Prepare a short biblical reflection on mission as presence and service; explain each word in its passage rather than treating a dictionary meaning as a complete interpretation.

Assessment and evidence

This module has four separate written submissions and a cohort discussion. There is no timed quiz. Follow the word limits, file requirements and marking criteria in each linked assignment:

• Theology of smallness response — 400–500 words.
• Six-month local mission plan — 750–1,000 words.
• Ecumenism reflection — 300–400 words.
• Inclusion explanation — 300–400 words.

Monthly cohort discussion

What does responsible church planting look like in a small gathered community? Bring one element of your plan that needs testing. Participate with a minimum of two people. Your tutor confirms attendance or an authorised alternative through the cohort discussion record.

To complete this module, you will need to:

• Read the introduction and all four Books, complete the practice work and mark each Book as done.
• Submit the theology of smallness response.
• Submit the six-month plan.
• Submit the ecumenism reflection.
• Submit the inclusion explanation.
• Receive your tutor's passing attendance record for the cohort discussion or an authorised alternative.