MarkHowellLive.com

One of the most common questions in small group ministry is how do I find enough leaders? Right on it’s heels are two other very common questions: How do I recruit leaders (once I’ve identified them)? How do I develop leaders (once they’ve been recruited)? (All three of these questions were well represented in my [...]

One of the most frequent questions I’m asked is how to choose a small group model (or system).  It’s also one of the most important questions.  You’ll find some helpful hints in my article on how to choose a small group strategy or system.  In this article I want to simply highlight what I think [...]

Reminder: Two of my core assumptions are (1) if I want to make it possible for everyone to be part of a group, I need to lower the bar for leaders (and raise the bar for coaches and coaching) and (2) part of lowering the bar for leaders is that I need to provide material [...]

“I can’t find enough leaders to take care of the number of people who want to be in a group.” “Many of the people with the most potential to lead are just sitting in groups as members and won’t leave to start a new group.” Sound familiar?  Those are two of the most common complaints [...]

Yesterday we talked about the core philosophy that drives an exponential group system.  If you missed step one, you can read about having a crowd-to-core philosophy right here. Today I want to talk about step two in the process: Diagnosis: Brutal Honesty About Your Present.   Sounds harsh.  Brutal even.  But without an honest evaluation [...]

What makes a group system exponential?  What makes a church exponential?  I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, but my convictions on the matter string together some important concepts acquired over the years. But before we get to the keys to building an exponential group system, let’s define it.  In some ways it’s kind [...]

I’m regularly asked how Saddleback can have more adults in groups than they have in worship.  People everywhere scoff when they hear the numbers.  And I have to admit, it is pretty wild.  After all, during Life’s Healing Choices, their most recent church-wide campaign, they had over 4,500 groups with over 35,000 people in them [...]

I’m asked about G12 a few times a year…not near as much as free market, semester based, or sermon based…but often enough to have had many conversations over the past few years.  Here’s what I know about the G12 small group philosophy: First, at it’s essence G12 works like this: the key leader forms a [...]

Looking for a leader training resource?  Finding the Flow: A Guide for Leading Small Groups and Gatherings, by Tara Miller and Jenn Peppers, is one you should take a look at.  New from IVP, it’s full of great leader training ideas, practices, and philosophy.  This is a book length training guide.  At over 240 pages [...]

I’m often asked whether groups should be open or closed?  It’s one of those questions that kind of defines you as a grouplifer.  Open or closed?  It’s kind of like Coke or Pepsi…but not very much. There are those that are a little wild-eyed about one perspective or the other.   And then there are those [...]