Differentiating Between Community Groups and Bible Studies

A resource for community group leaders

If you've been a Christian for any length of time, chances are you've noticed numerous opportunities offered for you to grow in your faith. Opportunities are offered through a variety of churches in the community, including Bible study, community group, BSF, MOPS, Promise Keepers groups… and the list goes on. While all of these models help believers grow in their faith, North Point has chosen to adopt one in particular, the community group model. While we understand God uses many different avenues for growth in the lives of His children, we believe true and lasting life change happens best in the context of community. Now, you may be thinking, "What's the big deal? Bible study, community group—they're all the same!" However, when talking about the differences between the two groups, it's more than just semantics.

In this resource, we'll compare the unique characteristics and challenges associated with both community groups and Bible studies. We will then explore the fundamental characteristics of a community group, and wrap up with some helpful suggestions for how you, the leader, can ensure that your group is in line with the community group model.

What is a community group?

Community groups are built on the principle that spiritual growth happens best in the context of authentic relationships. When people are connected to others in an authentic and transparent environment, they are more likely to share what is going on in their lives, and allow others to hold them accountable. They are also less likely to drift away from God during difficult times because they have the body of Christ surrounding and caring for them.

The purpose of a group is for the members to grow in intimacy with God, community with insiders, and influence with outsiders. Focusing on cultivating relationships in the group is just as important as focusing on the curriculum being studied. Bible studies are generally focused more on learning than on building relationships. Learning is good, but in the absence of authentic relationships, it is not always as effective in producing life change.

Community group… Bible study… Which should I choose?

Community groups and Bible studies each carry some very distinct qualities. Below is an overview of their unique characteristics.

Community Groups

Bible Studies

Fundamental Characteristics

· Fosters deeper relationships among group members, which encourages greater transparency and accountability during and outside of group time.

· Protects confidentiality and encourages care of one another. A group covenant defines the parameters of the group and sets expectations of one another.

· Smaller group size allows more interaction among members and affords the leader greater influence with group members. It also allows for more opportunities to pray together because of the intimate size.

· Encourages social interaction outside of group time.

· Group leaders serve as facilitators instead of “master teachers”, which provides development of new leaders through a shared ownership of the material. It also gives the leader the freedom to be relational rather than focusing solely on the study.

· Encourages multiplication of the group.

· Helps the group to focus curriculum choices around the three vital relationships: intimacy with God, community with insiders, and influence with outsiders.

· Childcare is home-based and, at North Point, reimbursed by the church to enable all who are interested to attend.

· Shared ownership of roles and responsibilities cultivates and nurtures leadership abilities among members.

· Fosters self-revelation/awareness vs. being taught.

· Encourages accountability through consistent relationships.

Fundamental Characteristics

· Encourages members to be students of the Word by emphasizing Bible study and scripture memory.

· Places a strong emphasis on the acquisition of knowledge and extrapolating truth from scripture.

· Provides a mentoring aspect, encouraging the biblical model of the older/mature believers teaching the younger/newer believers (Titus 2:3-5)

· Provides foundational, holistic biblical knowledge.

· Allows a lower level of commitment and a higher level of anonymity.

· Gives people the opportunity to join or stop attending at any time.

· Childcare is typically provided in most church settings.

· Teaches members to be good followers.

Challenges

· Finding childcare can be difficult for individual group members because groups meet in homes rather than the church.

· Limitations on groups can mean there are fewer group options (e.g. There are often more people desiring to be in a group than there are leaders to lead groups).

· Due to the relational bent of community groups, there can be less depth of Bible study/knowledge.

Challenges

· Groups are typically large because they’re open, which allows attendees to come and go.

· Allows for the “master teacher” format, which reduces accountability, causes increased preparation for the leader, and creates a follower mentality among members.

· Limits the amount of relational contact and scripture application among members and the amount of discussion about life application.

· Limits leadership growth among group members and minimizes the leader’s potential to influence future members through multiplication.

What's the big deal?

It's important to distinguish between a community group and a Bible study when beginning a group for a number of reasons. First, it helps to give group members the proper expectations regarding the structure of the group by providing a predictable environment. Second, making the distinction educates new group members who may have more of a Bible study background. Third, it helps to cast vision for why there are guidelines for community groups, thus supporting the community group model and its purpose.

Non-negotiables of a community group

Occasionally, a group leader may feel that it's necessary to merge the two models in order to best suit the group. Although there's nothing wrong with this, it's important to keep in mind certain non-negotiables of community groups. First and most importantly, the group must maintain a strong relational component. This feature of community group is perhaps the strongest component to fostering life change. The group must be relationship-driven, never erring on the side of knowledge acquisition. Second, it is important to be intentional about appointing and developing an apprentice. Apprentice development is not only the way we find new leaders, but also an avenue for mentoring others to grow in their spiritual maturity and leadership abilities. Next, the leader should never slip into the "master teacher" role. It hinders the building of relationships and the development of new leaders within the group. It also hinders an environment of learning together by elevating one person above the rest. In addition, the body of Christ is allowed to act like a body by sharing responsibilities of the group. Lastly, it's important to think about how the group will multiply at the end of its life cycle. Multiplication not only allows others to experience a healthy and well functioning group, but also multiplies your influence as leader, as well as the influence of the others in the group. Multiplication must take place, but can look different depending on the group.

Leading the way

Chances are if you're leading a group, you've already bought in to the community group model. But you may be wondering how you can help your group members to get on board. Here are a few suggestions for helping members transition from a Bible study mentality to a community group mentality.

Use the Covenant. The Community Group Covenant spells out exactly what group members can expect of the group. It also helps in casting vision for why we do community, and it is a great way of communicating the non-negotiables discussed previously.
Choose your curriculum wisely. It's important to choose a study that is no more than 12 weeks long. Beyond 12 weeks groups tend to lose momentum; members may feel less motivated to prepare and engage in repetitive subject matter. New topics breed fresh motivation, insights and enthusiasm. You'll also want to choose curriculum that focuses on life application instead of knowledge acquisition. Look for questions in the study that encourage the group member to apply the material to their lives.
Find ways to help group members get over the childcare obstacle. It's important to let them know you understand their dilemma, and desire to help them think of creative ways to solve childcare issues.
Make decisions through a community group lens. Develop an apprentice, set a multiplication date, and review the covenant periodically. And when questions or concerns arise that deal with issues related to the distinctions between Bible studies and community groups, draw the focus back to the vision and purpose of community groups.

Wrapping up

The Bible study model and the community group model are two different methods that God has used to change the lives of many believers. While we recognize there are benefits to both, we have chosen to focus on the one we feel God has called us to use here at North Point Ministries. We hope you will choose to join us. Due to the uniqueness of the community group model, it's important to help set appropriate expectations when beginning your group. Taking this time at the beginning of your group sets your group up for success and members are able witness firsthand the life-changing power of community.