Posts by Mark Howell
Thinking Thursday: The Power of Motivation
How do you motivate the small group leaders and coaches in your ministry? Or maybe I should be asking, “Do you do anything to motivate your small group leaders and coaches?” This TED talk by Dan Pink, author of Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us, will definitely give you something to think about.…
Read MoreEasily Create Bible Studies for Your Small Groups with SmallGroup.com
Looking for an in-house way to easily create Bible studies for your small groups? Have the topic and theme but no one to write the study? Have the ability to write the study yourself but really need to spend your time on more strategic things? You need to take a look at a new service…
Read More7 Must Have Resources for Training Small Group Leaders
A while back I posted an article about resources that equip small group coaches. Last week it dawned on me that I had never put together a similar resource for equipping and training small group leaders. Note: I should point out that just like in my article about resources that equip small group coaches, I…
Read More4 Obsessions of the Extraordinary Small Group Pastor
I’ve written quite a bit about small group pastors. I’ve shared their most important contribution and what they need to know on day one. I’ve talked about their most common rookie mistakes and biggest problems. What I haven’t written about is what a small group pastor needs to be preoccupied with, obsessed with, in order to succeed…
Read MoreDon’t Miss Scott Boren’s Latest: Leading Small Groups in the Way of Jesus
Spent some time with a new book from M. Scott Boren this week. Leading Small Groups in the Way of Jesus is his latest (and might be his best) in a long list and you are going to want to know about this one. The essential premise of Leading Small Groups in the Way of…
Read MoreDoes Your Small Group Ministry Need to Grow Exponentially?
Does your small group ministry need to grow exponentially? Or can it grow incrementally and meet the needs of unconnected people? Remember, unconnected people are always one tough thing away from never being in your church again. Unconnected people are always one tough thing away from never being in your church again. Share on X See…
Read More3 Strategies that Launch a Wave of New Groups
Three Very Important Discoveries for Small Group Pastors The first very important discovery for small group pastors is that there are no problem-free small group systems or models. A breakthrough happens when leaders learn that every system comes with a set of problems and wise leaders simply choose the set of problems they’d rather have.…
Read More6 Things You Need to Know about Small Group Ministry
Sometimes things seem more complicated than they really are. Small group ministry is truly one of those things. It’s just not that complicated. 6 things you need to know about small group ministry: 1. There is no problem-free small group strategy or system. It really doesn’t matter what system, strategy or model you choose. Every…
Read More5 Obstacles to Building an Effective Coaching Structure
“Coaching does not work here.” I’ve heard that line many, many times. Maybe you’ve said it yourself! Very often, though, there are some incorrect assumptions that undermine coaching success. See also, 5 Assumptions that Set Up Small Group Coaching to #FAIL. There are also some real obstacles to building an effective coaching structure. 5 Obstacles…
Read MoreFight Back with Joy: A Powerful New Study from Margaret Feinberg
I had the opportunity to preview a new study from Margaret Feinberg this week. Fight Back with Joy: Celebrate More, Regret Less, Stare Down Your Greatest Fears is a new 6 session study and it is one you are going to want to add to your recommended list. Margaret Feinberg was recently named one of 50 women…
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