Community That Is Christian: A Handbook on Small Groups by Julie A. Gorman is a textbook. Baker Academic publishes it, the second edition came out in 2002, and it has been assigned in seminary courses on Christian formation for years. Gorman taught in that field at Fuller.
That is a different book than the one an earlier version of this review described. This is not a men’s brotherhood book and it is not a devotional. It is a serious handbook for people who lead small groups or train the people who do.
What it covers
Gorman’s argument is that most small groups fail because nobody thought about group dynamics before starting one. Meeting weekly does not produce community. She spends the book on what actually does: how trust forms in stages, why groups plateau, what a leader should do when one person dominates, how conflict surfaces and what to do when it does, and when a group should end.
She works from Scripture on the theology of community, then from research on how groups behave. The combination is the reason the book has lasted. Most small group material gives you an enthusiastic vision and no mechanics. This gives you mechanics.
The book includes charts, inventories, and discussion questions built for classroom or training use. I could not independently verify the specific named exercises an earlier version of this review referenced, so check the preview if you are buying it for those.
Who this is really for
If you lead a men’s group and it is not working, this book will probably tell you why, and the answer will likely be uncomfortable and structural rather than spiritual. That is its value.
If you are a guy who wants to be in better friendships, this is the wrong purchase. It will read like a course you did not sign up for. You want a book about friendship, not a handbook on group facilitation.
Worth naming plainly: nothing here is written for men specifically. The principles apply to any small group, and you will be doing the translation yourself.
Worth your time?
Yes, if you carry responsibility for groups at your church and you want to get better at it. It is dense and it is worth the effort.
No, if you are looking for encouragement or brotherhood. This is a professional text and it reads like one.
One practical note: the Kindle edition linked here is the older printing. The second edition in paperback carries ISBN 0801091454 if you want the current one.
Community That Is Christian on Amazon · The 2nd edition paperback