Posts by Mark Howell
Top 10 Signs You’re Still in Jerusalem
A little scripture…and then a question. Just before He ascended Jesus said, “You will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8, NLT).” In Acts 8:1 we learn that the day Stephen was stoned, “A great wave of persecution began that…
Read MoreThe Story: A New Church-Wide Campaign from Zondervan
There are church-wide campaigns and then there are church-wide campaigns. That is, some campaigns are bare bones and only include a small group study for adults and outlines of the weekend message series. Others (like 40 Days of Purpose) are very robust, providing the full range of curriculum (from Preschool Children all the way to…
Read MoreGroupLife Philosophy: Defining Your Customer
Yesterday we began talking about developing an understanding about who you are designing your small group ministry to connect. The great Peter Drucker question, “Who is your customer?” has had a profound impact in the corporate world. It absolutely has a key role to play in helping all of us think more skillfully about what…
Read MoreGroupLife Philosophy: Who Is Your Customer?
Have you ever slowed down long enough to think about the design of your small group ministry? Yesterday we talked about developing an understanding of the business you are really in. Today I want to another very important concept in the design of your small group ministry: an awareness of your customer. Here’s an important…
Read MoreGroupLife Philosophy: Determining Your “Business”
According the Peter Drucker, the first question is “what business are we in?” Before you tune out, here’s how it applies to grouplife. There are several aspects to think about. First of all, let me debug the term “business.” You might not think of [quote]yourself as being in a business…but in the sense that Drucker…
Read MoreThe Greatest GroupLife Delusion
What would you say is the greatest grouplife delusion? Take a moment…and think about it. Got an idea? You may have your own idea. You should have your own idea. But for me, I’m going with a version of what Peter Drucker pointed out about product development: “The greatest self-delusion is the belief that the…
Read MoreReview: Stand Against the Wind (featuring Erwin McManus)
If you’re trying to develop a range of approved resources for your small group ministry, Stand Against the Wind is a 6 session DVD-driven study that might fill an important niche on your recommended small group curriculum list. Developed from the same message series that produced one of Erwin McManus’ most engaging books (Stand Against the…
Read MoreRecalculating: 5 Signs Your GroupLife System Needs an Update
The first time I used a Garmin (GPS) I was driving from Charlotte, NC, to Abingdon, VA. My commuter flight from Charlotte had been cancelled and the next flight would have meant a late start at the church I was to visit the next day. My host said, “Just rent a car and drive over.…
Read MoreFAQ: Shouldn’t Every Group Have a Vision to Multiply?
Where do you stand on the whole birthing issue? Are you pro-birthing? Neutral? Apathetic? Or, maybe you’ve moved on, putting your eggs in the basket of other, more effective strategies? I recently got a great comment on an earlier post (I See Dead Groups) that really begged for a thoughtful response, but as I began…
Read MoreWhat’s the Best Way to Connect the Largest Number of People?
Take a moment and imagine your congregation. Before you get too settled in, think about who comes to your church in the broadest sense. There are the folks you know by name. They’re there almost every time the doors are open. Three or four times a month. Now add in the folks that you know…
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