Groups that Thrive: 8 Surprising Discoveries About Life-Giving Small Groups

by Joel Comiskey, Jim Egli

This book is about healthy small groups in the Christian Church. It describes why some small groups flourish, win others to Jesus Christ, and raise up new leaders in the process, while other small groups languish year after year. Joel Comiskey and Jim Egli did a survey of over 1800 small group leaders in four different countries and language groups to discover these seven surprises to small group growth and health. The most sigificant finding was empowerment. People in healthy small groups feel empowered. They have a voice. They are encouraged to participate, ask questions, and use their spiritual gifts. In unhealthy small groups, the leader dominates and the members sit and listen. The authors researched the affect of food in the group, the place of worship, and the best way to prepare to lead a small group. This book will empower members and leaders to help their groups thrive.

192 pages, Paperback

Published April 13, 2018

About the author

Joel Comiskey (Ph.D. Fuller Seminary) is a small group coach and consultant and and founder of Joel Comiskey Group. He has served as a missionary with the C&MA in Quito, Ecuador, started a cell-based church in Southern CA, and now coaches pastors in cell group ministry. Joel has written bestselling books on the worldwide cell group movement and teaches as an adjunct professor at Tozer Seminary. Joel and his wife, Celyce, have three daughters and live in Moreno Valley , California.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on Christianity/Church groups, but took some good points from it.

[Ricky Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very helpful and thoughtfully organized. First chapter on the shift from “my” group to “our” group was paradigm shifting.

[Heesung Joo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very helpful.

This book is very helpful for small group leaders and pastors.
we can find the elements that small groups thriving have.

[W. Whalin · Rating 5 out of 5]

These Small Group Discoveries Will Boost Your Group

Joel Comiskey is an expert in small groups and how they function. He has taken this expertise and poured it into GROUPS THAT THRIVE. In the opening pages, he compares small groups to a rain forest, then writes, “Just like that Costa Rican rain forest, groups that thrive don’t happen by chance or simply because people want their groups to flourish. Thriving communities require a supernatural mix of prayer and Spirit-led anointing that makes a way for everyone to participate, for the healing presence of God, and for vibrant life that blesses others. This book explores how your group can thrive.” (Page 14)

I love the research and thought in this book. “The task of describing a thriving small group motivated Jim Egli and me to study the differences between a so-s0, run-of-the-mill meeting and a life-giving group that is ore than a religious meeting. We surveyed 1,800 small group members and leaders from around the world. This data was added to Jim’s previous investigation of over 3,000 small group leaders.” (Page 16).

This book emphasizes eight key principles. The entire book is designed with interesting subheads and pull-out quotes to make this well-written book easy to use and read. I highly recommend GROUPS THAT THRIVE.

[Belén Lechuga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ameno, revelador, práctico y alentador.

[Todd McGlinchey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched by leaders in the small group ministry field. Great take away a and surprises in this book. Great examples and biblical examples to support their research. It was a very easy read.