Posts by Mark Howell
7 Key GroupLife Deal Breakers…and the Workarounds You Need to Know
Deal breakers. We know them. Sometimes they’re in the fine print. Sometimes they come out later. But we know them. Pretty much every endeavor has them. Every occupation. Every business. Every relationship. Deal breakers. In the land of grouplife there are deal breakers and then there are deal breakers. Here are what I think are…
Read MoreA New Film Series from Lisa Chan: True Beauty: Be Still
A few months ago I had the chance to preview the first segment of an interesting new film series from Flannel (Nooma, Francis Chan’s Basic, Ed’s Story, etc.). Featuring Lisa Chan, True Beauty: Be Still “explores the pressures, perceptions and expectations that women face and inspires viewers to let go of these lies and to enjoy being at…
Read MoreLooking for a Position? Have a Position to Post?
I hear about small group ministry positions all the time. Sometimes referred to as a discipleship or spiritual formation role, but I usually know about several. I also hear from people looking for a new role. Happens very frequently. I’ve been thinking about how I can help, and here’s what I’ve come up with. I’ve…
Read MoreYielding to What Is Doable and Practical and Popular
Ever find yourself settling for what you’ve always done? Or settling for what is familiar rather than what might be next? Most of us play the role we play because we have a burning desire to connect people or make disciples or help people grow in Christ. We have a bag of tricks that work…
Read MoreNow Taking Applications: My 2013 Small Group Ministry Coaching Network
Looking for an opportunity to grow in your ability to connect beyond usual suspects? I want to invite you to join my 2013 Small Group Ministry Coaching Network; an experience designed to give you the tools and strategies you need in order to build a small group ministry that works in the 21st century. The…
Read MoreMix and Match Leads to Missed Opportunity
Mix and match. There are things you can mix and match. You can mix and match fashion. You can mix and match cuisine. Nothing better than fusion. It can be fun to combine things. The problem? It doesn’t work every time. Sometimes it makes for a comical development. Like when Johnny Cash mixed and matched…
Read MoreReview: Embracing Obscurity: Becoming Nothing in Light of God’s Everything
Had a chance over the weekend to take a look at a challenging book with an interesting concept. Embracing Obscurity: Becoming Nothing in Light of God’s Everything might be the most counter-cultural idea I’ve seen. Maybe ever. It also might be the most needed. At a minimum…it’s right at the top of the list. The premise?…
Read MoreFAQ: How Long Should We Give a Strategy to Work?
How long should we give a strategy to work? More to the point, when should we conclude that a strategy will never accomplish what we’ve clarified as a win? Ever wondered that secretly? Ever blurted it out in a meeting? It’s a frequently asked question here at MarkHowellLive. And to be honest, it doesn’t always…
Read MoreCreating Your “Refined” Preferred Future
If you’ve been along for very much of this conversation, you’ve seen this diagram. Adapted from an idea of Glen Hiemstra’s, I use this diagram all the time. Whether I’m working with our team here at Canyon Ridge or I’m off consulting, this diagram works its way into the discussion. Today, I want to point…
Read MoreTemple Courts and House to House
“Temple courts and house to house.” Ever used that line to connect small group ministry to the very beginning of the Church? You know you have. That phrase is probably top 5 in the all time most popular ways to describe the importance of small group ministry. The line is a kind of paraphrase from right…
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