Posts by Mark Howell
Choosing Curriculum for Your Small Group Ministry
I review a lot of small group curriculum here at MarkHowellLive.com. You might wonder what makes one study better than another in my mind. Here are the keys for me: Application oriented. It needs to be written with application built in. This plays a huge part in whether it gets added to my recommended list.…
Read MoreThink Steps, Not Programs
When you’re designing your grouplife strategy, one of the most important concepts is to think steps, not programs. I picked this practice up from The 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley and Reggie Joiner (a book that everyone ought to read). Think steps, not programs is a simple and at the same time…
Read MoreClue #4 When Designing Your Small Group System
The 4th clue when designing your small group system is to ask great questions from the beginning and every step along the way (This is part four of a continuing series. You can read part one right here.). What’s so important about the questions you’re asking? Great questions bring the power of clarity into your…
Read MoreLaunching Missional Communities: a field guide
Missional Communities are at the epicenter of one of the most important current trends in grouplife and the work of Mike Breen and 3DM is at the heart of it. In my recent 5 part interview with Breen, he mentioned Launching Missional Communities: a field guide (co-written with Alex Absalom). I’ve had a chance…
Read MoreThe Next Christians | DVD-Driven Group Discussion
One of the books that had the biggest impact on me in 2010 was Gabe Lyons’ The Next Christians. Huge impact on my thinking. At the same time, a very important confirmation of some of my core convictions about ministry in 2011 post-Christian America and the importance of the x-factor at crowd’s edge. When I saw…
Read MoreLove Talk | A DVD-Driven Study from Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott
Looking for a DVD-driven study on marriage to recommend to your small groups? Although it was released in 2004, I’m just taking a look at Love Talk: A Six-Session Guide to Speaking Each Other’s Language and this is some very good stuff! Based on their popular book by the same title, the DVD segments combine…
Read MoreKeep Your Eyes on the Edges
Where do you find yourself looking…for leaders? Are you focused on getting in good with the usual suspects so they’ll finally take you up on leaving their group helping you start a new one? Are you spending time getting to know the healthiest members of your existing groups? Hoping they’ll sense God’s calling on their…
Read MorePutting Plan B Into Action (New DVD-Driven Study)
Had an opportunity last year to read Pete Wilson’s Plan B: What Do You Do When God Doesn’t Show Up the Way You Thought He Would? Great stuff from the lead pastor of one of the most creative churches I’ve come across. Like an growing number of churches, Cross Point is doing a great job…
Read MoreClue #3 When Designing Your Small Group System
Every small group ministry system comes with its own unique set of problems. None of them are problem-free. This is a huge realization and essential for you to come to grips with the fact that every system, every strategy, has a set of problems that come with it. At some level, we’re all in a…
Read MoreBelonging or Believing…Which Comes First?
How do you think it works? Think people believe first and then belong? Or do you think they act on an innate desire to belong and then believe? What do you think? There was an interesting flare up last week after an article by Michael McKinley on the 9marks blog outlined a wolf awareness program…
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