Posts by Mark Howell
Model What You Want to Happen at the Member Level
I’ve said many times “Whatever you want to happen in the lives of the members of your groups, has to happen first in the lives of their leaders.” I’ve also pointed out that life-change at the member level begins with you. It would be crazy to expect things would happen to anyone else if they’re not…
Read More5 Steps to Take If Your Small Group Ministry Struggles
What do you do when your small group ministry struggles? I’ve written about the 10 powerful benefits of a thriving small group ministry and also about the 5 easily overlooked secrets to building a thriving small group ministry. But what do you do when your small group ministry struggles? 5 Steps to Take If Your Small…
Read MoreDon’t Miss “Jesus Is”: A New DVD-Driven Study from Judah Smith
Had an opportunity this week to preview a new study by Judah Smith. Jesus Is: Find a New Way to Be Human is an 8 session small group study that reveals the character of Jesus in a powerful way. Judah Smith is the Lead Pastor of The City Church, a multi-site church with thousands in…
Read MoreTwo Great Questions for Self Awareness
I read an article over the weekend by Bill Taylor over on the HBR Blog and came away with two great questions for personal reflection and self awareness. Taylor is the co-founder of the Fast Company magazine and the author of two of my favorite books (Practically Radical and Mavericks at Work). I’ve discovered more great…
Read MoreTake Advantage of This Short-Term On-Campus Strategy
If you’ve been paying attention you know that we tripped across the essence of a very intriguing idea at the 2012 re:group conference. North Point was testing a short-term group experience (6 to 8 weeks) designed to be an easier first step into community (without the 12 to 18 month commitment required of the groups…
Read MoreNew from North Point: [7] Seven Questions that Rattle in the Minds of Most Men
[7] Seven Questions that Rattle in the Minds of Most Men is a powerful new study based on a 7 week study that has been offered at North Point over the last several years. Now available from North Point Ministries, this is a resource you need to be aware of. Developed as a way to help men…
Read More20 Frequently Asked Questions about Small Group Coaching
Do you have a question or two about small group coaching? Maybe you’re nostril deep in the swamp of trying to build an effective coaching structure. Maybe you’ve just run into a snag. And maybe you’ve given up altogether. If you’re trying to build an effective coaching structure, don’t give up! Remember, whatever you want…
Read MoreHere are 6 Great Examples of a HOST Ask
If you’ve been along for very much of this conversation, you know that I believe the most exponential way to launch small groups is with a church-wide campaign that utilizes a HOST ask strategy (an open invitation from the senior pastor to host a small group). There are lots of ways to launch groups. I…
Read MoreQuotebook: Making Choices Deliberately
I’m reading a powerful new book called Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. This paragraph caught my attention in the first few minutes and I immediately thought about our many discussions about the intentional design of next steps. I also thought about the buffet vs plated meal challenge that faces many, many churches. “The way…
Read More5 Ways Senior Pastors Can Affirm the Value of Small Group Leaders
In yesterday’s post I wrote that a very important thing a small group leader needs to know is that they are appreciated by their senior pastor. Can it happen in churches of all sizes? Absolutely. Whether your church is small, medium or large, your senior pastor can do a short list of things that will…
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