SUMMARY: In this episode, Brian and Chris speak with Mark Howell, the Pastor of Communities at Canyon Ridge Christian Church in Las Vegas, Nevada, about the nature of churches in urban and suburban areas and the difference between making acquaintances and building community. Mark suggests that the need to belong is the one of the strongest human needs and that churches who appeal to people’s need for belonging will find that strategy effective. Mark also discusses the recognition among small group environments of the desire to do more than just connect people: the purpose of groups, he argues is to connect people in such a way that they grow in their relationship with Christ.

The following links provide more information about the issues discussed in this episode:

* GroupLife Southwest 2017

* My Top 10 Favorite Posts on Small Group Coaching

* Top 10 Posts on Discipleship and Making Disciples in Groups

The Groups Matter Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study and discipleship expert in Lifeway’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at Lifeway and author of Small Groups For The Rest Of Us.

GUEST: Mark Howell is the Pastor of Communities at Canyon Ridge Christian Church in Las Vegas, Nevada and the founder of SmallGroupResources.net, offering consulting and coaching services that help churches across North America launch, build and sustain healthy small group ministries. Mark is also a writer, contributing to the Pastor’s Ministry Toolbox, SmallGroups.com, Small Group Trader, and ChurchCentral.com and blogging regularly at MarkHowellLive.com and StrategyCentral.org on a variety of topics including church growth, strategic development, leadership, alignment, and innovation. Find Mark on Twitter @MarkCHowell.

EPISODE SPONSOR: This week’s episode is sponsored by SmallGroup.com. SmallGroup.com is an online subscription service that allows churches and group leaders to create customizable, sermon-based group bible studies. Visit the Groups Ministry blog for a quick how-to tutorial, or visit SmallGroup.com to begin your free 2-week preview.

RESOURCES: If you have a question you’d like discussed on our Groups Matter Podcast, please tweet your question to @BcDaniel or @ChrisSurratt.