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Transformational Groups: Creating a New Scorecard for Groups
God declared through the Apostle Paul that the church would be a place of transformation. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 we find, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come . Despite this, the church seems increasingly to be a place where transformation fails to occur.
Surveying the landscape, however, there are some bright spots where churches are faithfully producing transformed disciples. Furthermore, as shown in Scripture and supported by new research, God designed such transformation to often happen in the context of smaller groups of people.
But what characteristics are true of churches that are making transformed disciples through group-based ministry-whether small groups, missional communities, Sunday school, or some other expression of groups?
In Transformational Groups , Ed Stetzer and Eric Geiger have created a new scorecard that will provide a map to transformational success for your church’s groups ministry. Using data from the largest survey of pastors and laypersons ever done on the condition of groups in the church, they define a simple process to lead your groups from where they are to where God wants them to be.
Surveying the landscape, however, there are some bright spots where churches are faithfully producing transformed disciples. Furthermore, as shown in Scripture and supported by new research, God designed such transformation to often happen in the context of smaller groups of people.
But what characteristics are true of churches that are making transformed disciples through group-based ministry-whether small groups, missional communities, Sunday school, or some other expression of groups?
In Transformational Groups , Ed Stetzer and Eric Geiger have created a new scorecard that will provide a map to transformational success for your church’s groups ministry. Using data from the largest survey of pastors and laypersons ever done on the condition of groups in the church, they define a simple process to lead your groups from where they are to where God wants them to be.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
44 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Ed Stetzer
134 books57 followersEd Stetzer, PhD, holds the Billy Graham Distinguished Chair for Church, Mission, and Evangelism at Wheaton College and is the dean of the School of Mission, Ministry, and Leadership at Wheaton College. He also serves as the executive director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton. Stetzer is a prolific author and a well-known conference speaker. He has planted, revitalized, and pastored churches; trained pastors and church planters on six continents; holds two master’s degrees and two doctorates; and has written or cowritten more than a dozen books and hundreds of articles.
Stetzer is a contributing editor for Christianity Today and a columnist for Outreach magazine. He is frequently interviewed for or cited in news outlets such as USA Today and CNN. He is also the executive editor of The Gospel Project, a bible study curriculum used by more than one million people each week.
Stetzer cohosts BreakPoint This Week, a radio broadcast that airs on more than four hundred media outlets. He serves as the interim teaching pastor at The Moody Church in Chicago. Stetzer lives in Wheaton, Illinois, with his wife, Donna, and their three daughters.
You can also connect with Ed on Facebook and Instagram.
Stetzer is a contributing editor for Christianity Today and a columnist for Outreach magazine. He is frequently interviewed for or cited in news outlets such as USA Today and CNN. He is also the executive editor of The Gospel Project, a bible study curriculum used by more than one million people each week.
Stetzer cohosts BreakPoint This Week, a radio broadcast that airs on more than four hundred media outlets. He serves as the interim teaching pastor at The Moody Church in Chicago. Stetzer lives in Wheaton, Illinois, with his wife, Donna, and their three daughters.
You can also connect with Ed on Facebook and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 23, 2019
This book may be better suited to church leadership than the average layperson. Written in an engaging tone, the authors don't mince words to spare feelings. Rather, they succinctly lay out the research they've gathered and how to transform a haphazard small group ministry to a thriving part of the church.
One quote from Chapter 3 that church leaders need to wrestle with is this: "A dynamic communicator and wonderful music may gather a crowd, but if people never move from sitting in rows to sitting in circles, the gospel impact will be insignificant."
One quote from Chapter 3 that church leaders need to wrestle with is this: "A dynamic communicator and wonderful music may gather a crowd, but if people never move from sitting in rows to sitting in circles, the gospel impact will be insignificant."
December 18, 2017
Two and a half stars. Where was the editor? He let some terrible deliveries through to the keeper. I'll update the review with examples later. This book could be described like I've heard Wagner's music described: moments of brilliance, dispersed amongst minutes (hours?) of boredom.
May 29, 2017
One of the better small group books I've read.
July 21, 2016
A must read for small group directors
Good research, strong application steps. Inspiring stories that group leaders can relate to. You should also give this book to your pastor.
Good research, strong application steps. Inspiring stories that group leaders can relate to. You should also give this book to your pastor.
October 21, 2025
Transformational Groups is one of the best books I’ve read on small-group ministry. Stetzer and Geiger move the focus from social connection to true disciple-making. It’s biblical, practical, and backed by research. The call to integrate groups into the church’s mission and to raise multiplying shepherd-leaders is both challenging and refreshing. A bit strategic at times, but overall a powerful reminder that the real goal is transformation, not attendance.
October 29, 2018
A Great One Stop Training Guide for...
This book is a great one stop training guide that will get any church from 0 to 60 in starting Groups. While there is always much more to say about groups, saying too much pushes potential small group leaders away. I would recommend this book as a top shelf resource for group leaders as well as coordinators.
This book is a great one stop training guide that will get any church from 0 to 60 in starting Groups. While there is always much more to say about groups, saying too much pushes potential small group leaders away. I would recommend this book as a top shelf resource for group leaders as well as coordinators.
January 3, 2021
An encouraging read on small groups
This is a great book about the need for small groups. Getting ready to begina seminary class using this book and I am looking forward to the class.
This is a great book about the need for small groups. Getting ready to begina seminary class using this book and I am looking forward to the class.
December 30, 2018
Great Read for Small Group Leaders
This book gets you thinking beyond simply using small groups as an entity in churches and dreaming about what groups can be.
This book gets you thinking beyond simply using small groups as an entity in churches and dreaming about what groups can be.
August 21, 2014
Ed Stetzer: Book review of Transformational Groups
There can be no doubt that groups are important. Ed Stetzer and Eric Geiger provide a great resource to ministry leaders in their book Transformational Groups. Statistics provide insight and the Stetzer/Geiger duo utilize research numbers to bolster the biblical emphasis of ministry in relationship. Stated at the outset, Stetzer and Geiger state that "Transformation is a communal experience, not an individual exercise" and "Doing life together is an unquestionable essential in the disciple-making process" (7).
If making disciples is the goal of the church, then groups are a non-negotiable vehicle, regardless of their moniker (Small Groups, Sunday School, Life Groups, Men's Bible Study, etc.) When Christians are a part of a small group they are much more likely to practice the spiritual disciplines of Bible-reading, praying, and confession. They have a greater proclivity to be "intentional in spending time with other believers" and to use their gifts in ministry. Their beliefs are more likely to coincide with a Biblical worldview as opposed to the syncretism and pluralism so prevalent in our culture today.
In addition, their research identified eight areas of discipleship in which small groups play an essential part:
Bible Engagement
Obeying God and Denying Self
Serving God and Others
Sharing Christ
Exercising Faith
Seeking God
Building Relationships
Unashamed (Transparency)
This book is of greatest value in hands of leaders who need rationale and strategy for developing an over-arching small group ministry. Transformational Groups is replete with statistics, quotes, anecdotes, questions, and Biblical references. From the selection of small group leaders to questions one can process with a leadership team, the basics of small group organization are described. Seekers and small group leaders can also benefit from this work.
The evidence is conclusive and their case is persuasive. Christians need to be in a small group. I highly recommend Transformational Groups for those who are seeking to understand Jesus' call to "make disciples".
5 out of 5 stars.
"Doing life together is an unquestionable essential in the disciple-making process." (page 7).
There can be no doubt that groups are important. Ed Stetzer and Eric Geiger provide a great resource to ministry leaders in their book Transformational Groups. Statistics provide insight and the Stetzer/Geiger duo utilize research numbers to bolster the biblical emphasis of ministry in relationship. Stated at the outset, Stetzer and Geiger state that "Transformation is a communal experience, not an individual exercise" and "Doing life together is an unquestionable essential in the disciple-making process" (7).
If making disciples is the goal of the church, then groups are a non-negotiable vehicle, regardless of their moniker (Small Groups, Sunday School, Life Groups, Men's Bible Study, etc.) When Christians are a part of a small group they are much more likely to practice the spiritual disciplines of Bible-reading, praying, and confession. They have a greater proclivity to be "intentional in spending time with other believers" and to use their gifts in ministry. Their beliefs are more likely to coincide with a Biblical worldview as opposed to the syncretism and pluralism so prevalent in our culture today.
In addition, their research identified eight areas of discipleship in which small groups play an essential part:
Bible Engagement
Obeying God and Denying Self
Serving God and Others
Sharing Christ
Exercising Faith
Seeking God
Building Relationships
Unashamed (Transparency)
This book is of greatest value in hands of leaders who need rationale and strategy for developing an over-arching small group ministry. Transformational Groups is replete with statistics, quotes, anecdotes, questions, and Biblical references. From the selection of small group leaders to questions one can process with a leadership team, the basics of small group organization are described. Seekers and small group leaders can also benefit from this work.
The evidence is conclusive and their case is persuasive. Christians need to be in a small group. I highly recommend Transformational Groups for those who are seeking to understand Jesus' call to "make disciples".
5 out of 5 stars.
"No matter how you define groups--Life Groups, Sunday school, discipleship classes, or Bible fellowships--the importance is the same. Church leaders--including pastoral staff, elders, deacons, and leadership teams--must see community as a biblical nonnegotiable, an essential for transformation, a necessity for building lives that stand the test of time" (page 7).
December 2, 2016
An interesting book for sure! I'm glad that Ed Stetzer and Eric Geiger took the time to think and write about church groups. There are certainly some good things in this book, but also some things with which I disagree.
Pros:
An emphasis on the importance of groups to church life.
Viewing groups as perhaps the main forum where discipleship should take place.
Realizing that not everything can be accomplished by a group, so a group must set goals and focus on what it wants to achieve.
Recognizing that groups are meant to assist the church, not replace the church or its worship services.
Accepting the fact that not every church will run its groups with the exact same format and that's OK. Groups can't be a cookie-cutter template from a church growth book.
Emphasizing that groups should carry out the church's vision through structured and centralized lesson material.
Cons:
While it is repeated throughout the book that leaders must be trained, there's not a lot of discussion on how that takes place.
It's good that churches can grow quickly by adopting group principles, but can the doctrinal foundation keep up? Especially if there isn't adequate oversight of groups by the pastor and staff (to do the authors justice, they do mention the importance of accountability in group structures).
A heavy emphasis on groups being focused on dialogue rather than monologue. The book often repeats the phrase, "move from sitting in rows to sitting in circles" to illustrate that in a group, everyone should participate rather than listen to a teacher. While, in theory, that sounds great, I don't see a lot of dialogue-based discipleship in the Bible. Even Jesus training His disciples was mostly monologue, with feedback in the form of questions that Jesus answered with more monologue. The danger here is that a group can become a discussion (what does everyone think?) rather than a time of teaching (what does the Bible say?). There certainly is a place for dialogue in the Christian life, but it's primarily in friendship and fellowship with other believers, not, I believe, in the teaching structure of a group.
Anyway, I appreciate the fact that this book made me think! Groups certainly are important to the life of a church, and we should do everything possible to honor God and grow believers through church groups.
Pros:
An emphasis on the importance of groups to church life.
Viewing groups as perhaps the main forum where discipleship should take place.
Realizing that not everything can be accomplished by a group, so a group must set goals and focus on what it wants to achieve.
Recognizing that groups are meant to assist the church, not replace the church or its worship services.
Accepting the fact that not every church will run its groups with the exact same format and that's OK. Groups can't be a cookie-cutter template from a church growth book.
Emphasizing that groups should carry out the church's vision through structured and centralized lesson material.
Cons:
While it is repeated throughout the book that leaders must be trained, there's not a lot of discussion on how that takes place.
It's good that churches can grow quickly by adopting group principles, but can the doctrinal foundation keep up? Especially if there isn't adequate oversight of groups by the pastor and staff (to do the authors justice, they do mention the importance of accountability in group structures).
A heavy emphasis on groups being focused on dialogue rather than monologue. The book often repeats the phrase, "move from sitting in rows to sitting in circles" to illustrate that in a group, everyone should participate rather than listen to a teacher. While, in theory, that sounds great, I don't see a lot of dialogue-based discipleship in the Bible. Even Jesus training His disciples was mostly monologue, with feedback in the form of questions that Jesus answered with more monologue. The danger here is that a group can become a discussion (what does everyone think?) rather than a time of teaching (what does the Bible say?). There certainly is a place for dialogue in the Christian life, but it's primarily in friendship and fellowship with other believers, not, I believe, in the teaching structure of a group.
Anyway, I appreciate the fact that this book made me think! Groups certainly are important to the life of a church, and we should do everything possible to honor God and grow believers through church groups.
January 12, 2015
A handy book with a few ideas, mostly helpful questions for thinking about group life and development. Nothing new under the sun here, but thought generating. The book's ideas come at you like receiving empty boxes which you then can fill. It's nice to have the boxes, but...
What's next? At the end of each chapter is a question or two, which when collected together create a helpful process for creating and sustaining groups. That could be a good option.
What was lacking is a clear connection of discipleship to the Way of Jesus. Discipleship was often left as a nebulous learning and loving, which are things all people naturally do in their own likeness and by their own whim. Discipleship in the way of Jesus, however, desires to incarnate, to practice the Way Jesus Lived, within the person's context. Therefore, studying whatever whenever is not as helpful as studying the person and way of Jesus, receiving who he is and practicing what he teaches. It's as if studying Scripture and being a student of Jesus are not always the same thing.
I desired to hear someone connect small group life with listening to Jesus. The boxes given for me to fill from this book are great, but, a box is only as good as what you put in it.
Now, How can I come across some substance?
What's next? At the end of each chapter is a question or two, which when collected together create a helpful process for creating and sustaining groups. That could be a good option.
What was lacking is a clear connection of discipleship to the Way of Jesus. Discipleship was often left as a nebulous learning and loving, which are things all people naturally do in their own likeness and by their own whim. Discipleship in the way of Jesus, however, desires to incarnate, to practice the Way Jesus Lived, within the person's context. Therefore, studying whatever whenever is not as helpful as studying the person and way of Jesus, receiving who he is and practicing what he teaches. It's as if studying Scripture and being a student of Jesus are not always the same thing.
I desired to hear someone connect small group life with listening to Jesus. The boxes given for me to fill from this book are great, but, a box is only as good as what you put in it.
Now, How can I come across some substance?
July 15, 2015
The authors do a good job of presenting the philosophy behind transformational small groups, as well as steps and inspiration to create them. Although there is nothing new here outside the research, the principles are explained and illustrated in layman's terms, with action steps included to help the reader apply what has been learned. I think this book should be a must-read for every church leader and every small group leader. Highly recommended.
Read
February 22, 2016Importance of
investing in leaders
having a vision for groups as a whole
so that choosing leaders according to their gifts will mean those groups grow in that way ie teaching, transparency and conflict resolution, and delegation -- lead to formation, community and connection, and mission engagement.
Importance of
groups!!
investing in leaders
having a vision for groups as a whole
so that choosing leaders according to their gifts will mean those groups grow in that way ie teaching, transparency and conflict resolution, and delegation -- lead to formation, community and connection, and mission engagement.
Importance of
groups!!
May 18, 2016
This is an excellent book full of data and gospel truth to help any pastor think through the groups they lead or will start. Stetzer and Geiger know what they are talking about and have lived in these ministry circles which also brings a refreshing thought to the writing. If I had to reach for one book on small groups right now, this would be the one.
September 4, 2014
This is a great practical book on groups which really focuses on the fact that groups allow discipleship to take place in community, as it is designed to do. The chapters on leadership and connecting with "disconnected people" made this book especially worth the read.
May 14, 2015
Solid and helpful read on small groups within the church. Ed Stetzer is nothing if not eminently practical, getting readers to consider intentional group DNA, strategy, leadership development, all combined with the latest research on the benefits of small groups to the local church.
February 27, 2014
I've been a part of and led multiple small groups. The lessons from the book are practical as well as the research provides such helpful context to make good decisions moving forward. Thank you!
September 6, 2014
Very practical book on philosophy of groups for churches. Very practical and helpful in giving you incite in developing your philosophy and goals with this. Great read!
October 22, 2014
Solid thoughts on how to lead effective groups in a community context.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews