Sticky Church Blog Tour

The next stop in SMALL GROUPS.COM blog tour for the new book Sticky Church, (Pastor Larry Osborn) moves us to chapter 7. Today's guest blogger is Rick Howerton, of The Gypsy Road.

Two things Howerton highlights it the chapter deserve special mention: he points out that in the text, Osborn calls us to consider that . . .

1) Spiritual disciplines are exercised more often when people gather in small groups because, “a small group takes our good intentions and puts them on the calendar.”

2) One of the best gifts a church can give her kids is parents who are growing and that growth takes place when parents are in a healthy small group.

Theses statements raise many questions and issues; but if they are remotely true, then certainly small group ministry is something that every church should seriously pursue.

Howerton's review . . .

Chapter 7: Still More Ways That Small Groups Change Everything
Post written by Rick Howerton on The Gypsy Road.

Whoever titled the book Sticky Church deserves a bonus. Make it big too. If there’s one question church leaders are asking it’s, “How can I get guests to stick?”

And if I were a wealthy person (which I’m not so don’t call) I’d give Larry Osborne a million bucks myself. Why? Because Sticky Church points out that small groups are what guests stick to. The insinuation… Slam a guest up against a healthy small group and they just might stick. Thanks, Larry. I’m glad another influential senior pastor has given small groups the value they deserve.

While I don’t agree with everything that is espoused in Sticky Church I can state that I am psyched about the info found in the chapter I was asked to blog about, “Still More Ways that Small Groups Change Everything.”

A few amazing facts Larry points out in this chapter:

• Small groups foster deeper honesty and transparency than any mainstream ministry utilized in the average local church.
  
• About transparency in small groups and how it affects the entire church… “…the honesty that naturally takes place in small groups begins to leak out into the entire church.”
  
• Spiritual disciplines are exercised more often when people gather in small groups because, “a small group takes our good intentions and puts them on the calendar.”
  
• One of the best gifts a church can give her kids is parents who are growing and that growth takes place when parents are in a healthy small group.

Okay, Larry… I can’t pay you for your comments but I can sure thank you for them. So… thanks. Thanks for reminding the world small groups are the glue that holds a church together.



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Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.