Posts by Mark Howell
Review: Rumors of God by Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson
What kinds of conversations will it take to share the Gospel with those who are far from God…in the 21st century? What kind of tone will be heard as authentic (not artificial), relevant (not dated) interested in the needs of others (as opposed to self-interested)? If you’re interested in cultivating the kinds of relationships that…
Read MoreFor the City: New from Darrin Patrick and Matt Carter
Had a chance on a recent round-trip flight to pour through the newest book in Zondervan’s Exponential series. For the City: Proclaiming and Living Out the Gospel by Darrin Patrick and Matt Carter (with Josh A. Lindsey) is a great addition to the series. Written in a very personal and informal style, this is the…
Read MoreWhat Must You Do Differently Next Year…to get closer to your goal?
Albert Einstein famously said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Ever found yourself getting to ready to try something one more time, hoping that this time it would work? If you answered “yes,” you are not alone. I’m betting that’s actually a pretty normal behavior.…
Read MoreTop 5 Advantages of New Small Groups
One of the most difficult challenges any of us ever face is when we find ourselves wrestling with a new way of seeing an old problem. You’ve probably run across this drawing. It’s frequently used to demonstrate the fact that what we see initially (an old woman or a young woman) makes it difficult to…
Read MoreMissioRelate: Becoming a Church of Missional Small Groups
If you’ve been following the conversation, you know that one of the most important current grouplife trends is the idea of missional small groups. I’ve interviewed a number of small group pastors in well-known churches making the move (Josh Walters, Mike Breen, and Todd Engstrom). I’ve also reviewed a couple of the key books on…
Read MoreTop 10 Posts of June, 2011
Here are my most popular posts of June, 2011. Interesting to me that only three of the top 10 were written in June! Not 100% sure what that means. I choose to think it means the older articles in this month’s top 10 address some of the key issues in small group ministry. What do…
Read MoreCreation Unraveled | New from Threads by Lifeway
Had a chance this week to work my way through Creation Unraveled: The Gospel According to Genesis. New from Threads (Lifeway’s young adult line of curriculum), Creation Unraveled “explores how the first chapters of the Bible lay the foundation for the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Like the other titles from this series (Red Revolution, Abide,…
Read MoreWhat Percentage of Your Adults Are Actually Connected?
Yesterday I answered a very frequently asked question…after I pointed out that it is almost always the wrong question. Today, I begin sorting through what I think is a much better, much more important question (How do we connect the largest number of people?). But first…I want to set up the question by guiding you…
Read MoreWhat’s the Best Way for People to Sign Up and Commit to a Group?
What’s the best way for people to sign up and commit to a group? It’s a frequently asked question. It’s a fair question. It’s almost always the wrong question. How can it be the wrong question? Well…maybe it’s just the way it’s worded and the underlying meaning of the words, “sign up.” Here’s what I…
Read MoreMore from Kirby Holmes on Gateway’s Crowded House Strategy
Two of the most challenging first steps for an unchurched person are (1) from the parking lot to the worship center and (2) from the worship center to the living room. Searching for a way to make these steps easier? Yesterday I began an interview with Gateway’s Kirby Holmes about a strategy that might be…
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