MarkHowellLive.com » Externally Focused Small Groups http://www.markhowelllive.com Pushing Boundary-Free GroupLife Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:50:33 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 The Easter Experience http://www.markhowelllive.com/the-easter-experience/ http://www.markhowelllive.com/the-easter-experience/#comments Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:34:39 +0000 Mark Howell http://www.markhowelllive.com/?p=778

]]> easter_experienceThe Easter Experience, from City On A Hill Productions, is a new church-wide study from the folks that produced H2O.  With host and teacher Kyle Idleman, The Easter Experience includes a six session DVD-driven small group study that coordinates with a six weekend message series–designed to conclude with Good Friday and Easter.

The DVD-driven small group curriculum, much like H2O, uses a highly cinematic approach.  Rather than a talking head approach, each session uses dramatic storytelling and challenging teaching to present the passion and resurrection of Jesus.

Very much a campaign in a box, you’ll find basic instructions for implementation on the Leader’s Training DVD, as well as sermon outlines, graphic elements, posters, bulletins, included on the resource CD in the Church Kit.

You’ll appreciate the high quality of this production.  The onscreen reenactment of the passion week’s key events coupled with Idleman’s observations make for a dynamic experience.  In addition, they’ve done a very good job with the Participant Guide, producing a set of questions that lead to a great discussion.  If you’re a regular reader of my reviews you know that I am always looking for studies that will appeal to the people who aren’t part of your church.  Although this is a topic that’s not necessarily on the easy end, I believe it will interest many of the friends of your members.

If there is a challenge, it is the cost of the Bible Study Kit.  At $39.99 for the DVD and Leader’s Guide it is on the expensive side, however, with orders of 10 or more kits there is a 15% discount (and higher discounts may apply with larger orders).

All in all, The Easter Experience is another great study from City On A Hill Productions.  I highly recommend it.

]]> http://www.markhowelllive.com/the-easter-experience/feed/ 0 Externally Focused Small Groups http://www.markhowelllive.com/externally-focused-small-groups/ http://www.markhowelllive.com/externally-focused-small-groups/#comments Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:08:27 +0000 Mark Howell http://www.gettingtothere.com/markhowelllive/?p=136

]]> What is a win for your small groups?  Is it a win if they simply meet regularly?  Are you hopeful that they’ll do more than just eat chips and salsa together?  Maybe you’re really hoping that the small group is actually a delivery system that leads your members in the direction of real spiritual growth?  Maybe in an effort to combat the natural drift toward a focus on fellowship and discipleship, you’re intentionally designing the experience of your groups to include some kind of balance between the 5 purposes (fellowship, discipleship, ministry, mission and worship)?

Many churches are moving in the direction of developing an External Focus.  In order to complete the move you’ll need to become much more intentional about developing Externally Focused Small Groups.  One of the best resources I’ve found is over at the Leadership Network.  Packed with great examples of churches that are already implementing the idea, it will help your small group ministry move with intention.

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