Group Types, Expectations, & Distinctives
While every group type is centered on the study of Scripture, each type differs in its primary focus, structure, and relational depth. Whether you are connecting in a Rooted Group, living in authentic community through a Life Group, growing in biblical knowledge in a Bible Study Group, or deepening your walk through a D-Group, each step helps form you into a mature disciple who belongs to and builds up God’s family here at LifePoint.
Rooted Group
- Focus: Spiritual Foundations
- Bible Study: Daily Devotions & Doctrines
- Commitment: 12 weeks
- Relational Depth: High
- Ideal For: New to LifePoint or faith
Life/Small Group
- Focus: Community & Discipleship
- Bible Study: Consistent, varied
- Commitment: Ongoing (monthly+)
- Relational Depth: High
- Ideal For: Fellowship & care
D-Group
- Focus: Christlike transformation
- Bible Study: Daily personal Bible reading
- Commitment: Weekly (1–2 years)
- Relational Depth: Very High
- Ideal For: Spiritual maturity
Bible Study
- Focus: Biblical knowledge
- Bible Study: Central, book by book
- Commitment: Weekly
- Relational Depth: Moderate
- Ideal For: Theological growth
Rooted Group
This 12-week experience provides an environment aimed to grow and deepen a participant's relationship with Jesus and His Church. It introduces foundational spiritual disciplines and encourages followers of Jesus to live with purpose in a structured and supportive setting.
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Who: New to following Jesus and/or those not connected in biblical community at LifePoint
Commitment: 12 weeks
Offered: each fall and spring
When: Sundays at 6 pm at Smyrna
Where: On-campus
Group Size: small group up to 14, large group 40+
Childcare: yes (for those birth-5th grade, must register)
Relational Depth: High, shared experiences, prayer, service, and testimonies
What to expect: Three large group sessions, weekly small group meetings, daily devotionals (5 days each week), and practicing what you learn.
Join a Rooted Group: Ideal for those new to LifePoint or seeking an introduction to Christian disciplines and biblical community. Visit the Rooted page.
Lead a Rooted Group: We encourage faithful LifePoint members and deacons to consider leading a Rooted Small Group.
Life/Small Groups
An open-ended group of people learning to follow Jesus together by living life in authentic community. It’s aimed to grow in depth where friendships are built, non-believers are welcomed, prayer is shared, and lives are impacted through serving, supporting, and loving one another.
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Who: Believers and invited non-believers
Commitment: At least monthly, but varies per Group
When: Varies per Group
Where: On-campus and Homes of Members
Group Size: Flexible, up to 25 people including the leader(s)
Childcare: yes for on-campus groups (for those birth-5th grade, must register)
Relational Depth: High, friendships, shared meals, life stage support, prayer
What to expect: These groups meet at least monthly and can be organized geographically, based on common interests/life stages, or simply organic, offering a space for meaningful connections and outreach.
Join a Life Group: Perfect for individuals seeking to build connections with others, grow to be like Jesus through shared discussions, and engage in community outreach. Great for those who want to invite friends and neighbors into the biblical community.
Leading a Life Group: Ideal for those LifePoint members who have a heart for outreach and creating inclusive, welcoming environments. Leaders should be able to foster community and social gatherings, facilitate intentional biblical discussions, and model Christ’s love.
Discipleship Groups
Discipleship or “D-Groups”, are gender-specific groups committed to growing disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus. These groups foster honest and open conversations centered on reading, discussing, and applying God’s Word to every area of life. Through the power of Scripture and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, D-Groups help believers grow in Christlikeness alongside other faithful disciples.
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Who: Committed believers seeking to grow in their relationship and in the likeness with Jesus
Commitment: Weekly for 1 or 2 year(s); dependant on leader/ the bible reading plan
Offered: year round
When: Varies per Group
Where: On or Off-campus
Group Size: 3-5 including the leader
Childcare: yes for On-Campus (for those birth-5th grade, must register)
Relational Depth: Very High, confession, accountability, life-on-life discipleship
What to expect: Attend weekly meetings and engage in daily bible reading, journal, and prayer and be prepared to share honestly with the group.
Joining a D-Group: Best for individuals committed to deepening their walk with Jesus and engaging in close, accountability-focused relationships. Ideal for those ready to invest in personal spiritual growth and community.
Leading a D-Group: We encourage members who are spiritually mature and can lead by example to start a D-Group. Leaders should be able to model Christlike behavior and foster deep, transformative relationships.
Bible Study Groups
Bible Study Groups are welcoming class-like environments focused on in-depth study of Scripture and its application to everyday life. Meeting weekly on Sundays and Wednesdays on campus, these groups provide a consistent, structured setting for learning God’s Word and connecting with others who are eager to grow in biblical understanding and faith.
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Who: Disciples of Jesus who are seeking to grow in their biblical knowledge
Commitment: Weekly
Offered: year round
When: varies by campus
Where: On-Campus
Group Size: up to 75, including the leader
Childcare: yes for On-Campus (for those birth-5th grade, must register)
Relational Depth: Moderate, with discussions and group prayer
What to expect: Attend weekly meetings,additional study at home, table discussion, and time spent in prayer.
Joining a Bible Study Group: Ideal for those who want to deepen their understanding of Scripture and engage in focused, structured study. Suitable for individuals looking for a deeper understanding and application of the Bible in a larger classroom setting. Join a Bible Study Group.
Leading a Bible Study Group: We encourage those with a strong grasp of Scripture and a passion and gifting to teach a Bible Study Group. Leaders should be able to facilitate discussions and guide participants in applying biblical truths.
If you are looking for something different than the groups listed at the link above,
please submit the Groups form and we will do our best to connect you to the best fit for you.
Group Leader Resources
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A collection of maps and geographical tools that show the locations of key biblical events. Useful for visualizing biblical history and journeys.
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At LifePoint, we use the English Standard Version (ESV) when we preach, teach, and study God’s Word together. The ESV is a word-for-word (or formal equivalence) translation that seeks to be essentially literal, capturing the exact words and structure of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts while also being readable in modern English. It faithfully preserves the original meaning and grammar of the biblical texts and strikes a strong balance between accuracy and clarity, making it useful for preaching, memorization, and personal study. Buy a ESV Study Bible on Amazon | Crossway | Christianbook
While the ESV is the translation we widely use in LifePoint ministries, we also recognize and appreciate other faithful, literal translation study bibles like the NASB, LSB, and CSB.
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In these apps, you can purchase the bible and many of the tools listed on this page.
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Defines key terms, names, places, and concepts found in the Bible. Great for understanding unfamiliar terms or cultural background.
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A compact reference that gives an overview of each book of the Bible, including themes, outlines, and historical context.
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Christian Beliefs - Wayne Grudem
A concise, accessible overview of key Christian doctrines, useful for grounding your group in essential truths and fostering theological unity.
Systematic Theology - Wayne Grudem
A comprehensive, in-depth resource for studying and teaching Christian doctrine, useful for preparing thorough, Scripture-rich lessons for your group.
Living By the Book - Dr. Howard Hendricks
A practical guide to observing, interpreting, and applying Scripture, useful for equipping your group to study the Bible confidently and accurately.
Creative Bible Teaching - Lawrence Richards and Gary Bredfeldt
A handbook on lesson planning and engaging communication, useful for creating dynamic, interactive Bible studies that connect with learners
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A book or series of notes written by scholars or pastors that explains the meaning of biblical passages. Use with discernment—this is man’s interpretation of God’s Word.
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A reference tool that lists words found in the Bible and shows where each word appears. Helpful for word studies and finding specific verses.
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A dictionary for the original biblical languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek). Helps you understand the original meaning and usage of specific words.
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Simply Put: Here's a short, 6(ish) minutes long podcast that defines a different biblical or theological term, using helpful illustrations with application. Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Bible Talk: A podcast featuring conversations about the Bible and Biblical Theology. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Youtube
In the Lord I Take Refuge: Experience the Psalms paired with a short devotional Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Youtube
Things Unseen: A weekday devotional podcast featuring thoughtful reflections on the Christian life and our relationship with God. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Youtube
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The Bible Project: Free, visually rich videos that explain books of the Bible and biblical themes
Visual Theology: Posters, slides, and handouts that illustrate key doctrines and discipleship paths
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rightnowmedia.org – Bible-based video resources, including teaching series, kids’ shows, and leadership training. To request access, email erica@lifept.org
monergism.com – Theology, sermons, articles
desiringgod.org – Articles, sermons, devotionals
gty.org – Sermons, Q&A, Bible teaching
9marks.org – Church health, leadership, ecclesiology
ligonier.org – Theology, topical index, teaching series
biblestudytools.com – Bible study tools, commentaries, concordance
blueletterbible.org – Bible tools, lexicon, interlinear
bible.org – Articles, sermon outlines, Bible study
Meet the Groups Team
Staff
If you have questions about finding the best group for you, please contact anyone on our groups team and we would be happy to help.