Community Groups > FAQs

Q: How does North Point define a community group?
A:  Community groups are small groups of approximately six married couples or six to eight individuals of the same gender that meet weekly in someone’s home for fellowship, Bible study, prayer, and accountability.  They are for adults of all ages, stages of life, and spiritual maturity.  Most community groups are formed as people meet and connect at GroupLink.

Q:  Why does North Point do community groups?
A:  We believe that it is in the context of intentional relationships where significant life change takes place best. Community groups are the place where real life and real issues are discussed. This is the environment to celebrate the successes and good times of life and comfort one another in the tough and disappointing times. It is a place to be encouraged, equipped and challenged to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Q:  When do community groups meet?
A:  Each community group decides when and where it wants to meet. Most groups meet at least 3 times a month.  As individuals seek to join a community group, we help them find people that are meeting on a particular night and in a certain area of the city.  All of our community groups meet in group members’ homes. With the exception of Starting Point groups, no small groups meet at the church.

Q: How long does a community group last?
A: Initially, all of the groups that are formed at GroupLink begin as starter groups.  Starter groups are created to be an introductory step into group life.  After eight weeks, group members can decide to continue on with their starter group members or dissolve to find another group. Starter group members who continue on establish themselves as a community group and commit to meet for an additional twelve to twenty-four months. Each group determines the duration of time that they will meet.

Q:  What is North Point’s process for connecting people into community groups?
A: The primary way we connect people into community groups is through GroupLink. We hold 5 GroupLink events per year for singles and 4 GroupLink events per year for married couples. We publicize GroupLink during our Sunday services. Throughout the year, cards are available at any information table for people to fill out when they inquire about joining a group.  Those who complete a card are contacted by a staff member or volunteer to answer any questions they may have about the GroupLink process.

Q: What is GroupLink?
A: GroupLink is a two-hour event where people meet and connect with others in their area and stage of life to start a community group. Groups are asked to initially commit to meeting together for eight weeks. They spend that time getting to know each other and doing a short Bible study. At the end of the eight weeks, group members decide to either continue with the group for an additional twelve to twenty-four months, or wait and join a different group at another time.

Q:  What different type of community groups do you make available through GroupLinks?
A: In selecting the group that is right for them, attendees select a Married, Single (male or female), Women’s (single or married), Men’s (single and married), or College (male or female) group, depending upon their stage of life.

Q:  What criteria does North Point use to place people in community groups?
A:  Typically people looking to connect to a new community group for the first time use the following criteria:

  • Stage of life (married with kids, married with no kids, married empty nesters, single males or single females, men’s groups or women’s groups)
  • Area of town
  • Day or night of the week

Q:  What’s the next step for people who get connected into a community group at GroupLink?
A: The group typically decides at GroupLink the time and location for their first meeting. Group leaders leave the GroupLink that night with contact information for everyone in the starter group.

Q:  What is a Starter Group, and how is it different from a community group?
A:  A Starter Group is a group that has agreed to meet together for eight weeks to get to know each other, do a relational type curriculum, and at the end of that time determine whether or not they want to stay together for another 18-24 months as a Community Group.  The main purpose of a Starter Group is getting to know each other and forming relationships.  This sets the foundation for the group as it becomes a Community Group.

Q:  North Point places people in groups according to marital and/or gender status (single/married/men/women). Does North Point offer other group opportunities for people in special situations, such as divorce, deceased spouse, unbelieving spouse, etc.?
A: Group seekers are able to choose a group that best fits their desires and stage of life.  Their options are married groups, singles groups, men’s groups (with married and single men) or women’s groups (with married and single women). However, if we created multiple, affinity-based choices for groups, it would require us to find leaders for these different types of groups. We believe those multiple options would actually be more challenging to manage and more confusing for the average unconnected person.

Q:  Why doesn’t North Point have mixed-gender, single adult community groups?
A:  The purpose of a community group is to provide a predictable environment where participants can experience authentic community and spiritual growth.  We believe that this happens best with single adults when they are connected with members of the same gender. It is inherently more difficult for a leader to create a predictable environment with single men and women together in the same group. The relational dynamics created by a mixed environment limit the accountability that is possible or appropriate. As a result, we do not believe mixed-gender single adult groups experience the same level of community that is possible in same-gender groups.

Q:  How do groups choose curriculum?
A:  The first source of tension for new groups can often be around curriculum.  We have chosen to remove that potential obstacle by giving group members their first curriculum at GroupLink. After the first study is complete, our leaders have access to www.groupcurriculum.org, which is an online resource that gives them over 200 different choices as well as ratings and feedback from other leaders. In addition, we provide leaders with a printed curriculum guide that highlights 15 different studies every year. They also have the option to contact their director to assist them in the selection process. Our goal is that groups choose studies that promote growth around the 3 vital relationships (intimacy with God, community with insiders and influence with outsiders).

Q:  If a member drops out of a group, does that group add additional members?
A:  During the first six months of the group’s twelve to twenty-four month life cycle, members are added to fill the group to capacity. After that, it is the group’s decision whether to add additional members. If the group is planning to multiply within six months, we recommend they don’t add new people.

Q:  How do groups add additional group members?
A:  We encourage group members to look at their existing relationships first(friends, neighbors, etc.).  After that we encourage them to go to GroupLink or contact their area assimilators.

Q:  What makes North Point’s groups model unique from others?
A:  Perhaps the most distinguishing feature of our model is the closed group structure. We believe relationships take time to form and anything that gets in the way of the group building relational capital with one another works against this goal. Groups stay closed for a predetermined time of twelve to twenty-four months. At that time they multiply to form at least two new groups. (If a group loses members along the way, they are free to add new couples or individuals if everyone in the group agrees.)

Q:  What is North Point’s process for making sure that community groups stay “closed”?
A:  Once a group has finished its eight-week starter period, the members who choose to remain in the group sign a covenant agreeing to keep the group closed unless all members of the group agree to add additional members.

Q:  What is the purpose of the covenant and is it really necessary?
A:  The Community Group Covenant is a tool used by the group members to establish expectations and manage the group for the duration of its life cycle.  Its use is essential because most problems that groups face are due to unmet expectations.

Q:  How is childcare reimbursement provided for community groups?
A: We offer childcare reimbursement for any member of an active community group. Parents arrange for childcare, and we provide childcare reimbursements at a predetermined rate. Reimbursement is provided for a maximum of 4 children for 4 hours. The member of the group will pay for the childcare and then submit a request form to be reimbursed.

Q:  What is North Point’s process for recruiting and approving leaders?
A:  Our primary means to identify potential leaders is our apprenticing process. Part of the responsibility of leading a group is executing the leader essential ‘Replace Yourself’ by identifying a leader apprentice within the first 6-9 months of a group. Once the apprentice is identified, he or she still must be approved to lead by a staff director. The approval process for group leaders includes:

  • Completing the process to become a member of the church
  • Meeting with a staff director for an interview
  • Committing to ongoing development, beginning with a one-time community group leader orientation before or shortly after starting the group

When making the decision whether or not to approve someone for leadership, the candidates are evaluated in five key areas:

  • Character – Is this person in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ?
  • Competence – Does this person have the skills and experience to lead a group?
  • Culture – Does this person embrace the mission, vision and strategy of the church?
  • Connected – Is this person connected to the church through membership?
  • Chemistry – Is this someone with whom you’d like to be in a group?

For more details on these criteria, see the group directors’ Group Leader Interview sheet.

Q:  How do leaders choose and prepare an apprentice?
A:  Leaders should choose people who could replace them. The best way to prepare apprentices is to include them in every aspect of facilitating and leading the group. In looking for an apprentice, we ask leaders to look for those who have the four C’s (character, competency, culture, and chemistry) to lead a group.

Q:  How does North Point get groups to multiply?
A:  We get groups to multiply by continually casting vision to our leaders, who in turn continually cast it to their groups. We also encourage leaders to identify and equips apprentice. The apprentices will take half of the group and start a new group, while the leader keeps the other half and starts another new group.

Q:  How does North Point train leaders?
A:  We offer our leaders multiple training opportunities:

  • Community Group Leader Orientation (CGLO): This training provides new leaders with tools they will need for the first six months of their groups. We also introduce new leaders to our 6 Essentials (Think Life Change, Cultivate Relationships, Promote Participation, Replace Yourself, Provide Care, and Multiply Influence).
  • Three One-on-One meetings (1 per trimester): Directors meet with each leader individually at least three times a year.
  • S2 (Skills Development & Shared Learning):  S2 environments are equipping opportunities for group leaders and apprentices. They consist of director-led skills development and shared learning among small group leaders. S2 is held during the spring.
  • re:group: re:group is a large training environment held in the fall where group leaders and apprentices from all NPM campuses gather together for a day of worship, teaching (large group), smaller learning communities covering a variety of relevant topics, and encouragement.

Q:  Who do leaders contact if a problem or question arises that they can’t answer?
A:  Group leaders have a staff director assigned to them who helps them walk through any challenges their group may  experience.

Q:  How does North Point train staff directors?
A:  We invest in two conferences per year, have monthly leadership training, and weekly departmental meetings for encouragement and direction.

Q:  What does the average week in the life of a staff director look like?
A:  They average 7-9 meetings, including leader meetings, leader interviews, and staff meetings. Approximately 15 percent of their time is spent in administrative duties, such as weekly reports, documenting meeting notes, scheduling meetings with leaders, and other duties as assigned.

Q:  Does North Point have a website where I can learn more about North Point’s philosophy and opportunities for small groups?
A:  We are constantly adding information to our website, but our most current information is on the following sites:

Q:  Does North Point have any leader training materials that I can purchase?
A:  Bill Willits and Andy Stanley have written a book called Creating Community.  It outlines North Point’s philosophy on groups. We are in the process of making other aspects of our training available, but none are completed at this time.

Q:  Does North Point have any onsite small group training opportunities for churches?
A:  We don’t have any onsite training on community groups specifically, but “Sundays At North Point” is a great opportunity to visit North Point and learn more about our groups strategy.  At this event, you attend services and various workshops where you can ask questions pertaining to a specific ministry. You are also welcome to join us at a GroupLink to observe the process we use for getting people connected into community groups.

Q: Can North Point provide guidance for churches that desire to move from a Sunday school environment to small groups?
Moving from a Sunday school environment to a small group environment can be challenging. We were fortunate to begin the church with one strategy in mind. Small groups are not an add-on or appendage to our ministry.  They are how we do ministry. We have resisted the urge to be everything to all people and have chosen to stay focused on implementing one simple strategy. The best direction we could provide a church that was seeking to move from a Sunday school environment to a culture of small groups is two-fold:

  • First, don’t have multiple strategies
  • Second, make sure that those in staff leadership support your strategy and are willing to say no to good things that are not in alignment with it.

To assist you in the process, we would suggest reading Creating Community, written by Bill Willits and Andy Stanley, with special emphasis on Parts II and III entitled Leaders Need Clarity and Churches Need Strategy.