Who’s the best judge of a sermon’s effectiveness?

A homiletics professor?
A fellow minister?
A person in the pew?

A homiletics professor should be able to evaluate things like whether or not you are fair to your text.

A fellow minister will probably listen for the manner in which you present your thoughts.

But, those in the pew can quickly let you know how your words have affected their lives. In my mind, that’s what sermons are supposed to do. We preach to enable people to be more Christ-like in the way they live. And, the person in the pew is in a good position to judge whether that’s happening in his or her case.

Unfortunately, most pastors don’t get all that much feedback from their people. I don’t believe that’s because they aren’t curious about what’s happening. It’s just that they haven’t been trained as to how to go about accessing that information.

Maybe a good way to begin is by just asking people in a message, “Are there specific ways my sermons are affecting your life, and if so, can you let me know what those are?” A similar question could be put to a church member in a private conversation: “Is your life any different as a result of all the sermons you’ve heard me preach, and if so, how?”

It’s great to have people listening to our sermons Sunday after Sunday. Now may be the time for pastors to start soliciting more feedback from them as to the effect of their words.

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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?

Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?

David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.

We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.

For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.

You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.

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The Family Module

The purpose of the Family Module was to provide assistance to the family of Circle Church, both on a social and a physical level. Because of the interest of several of its members, it also includes responsibility for our Christian Education program, as it pertains specifically to Sunday morning and also generally to the home environment, which was the most essential framework for a child’s spiritual development.

Outstanding financial needs within our congregation caused this module to establish an emergency fund which did not have to be approved by the monthly Council meeting, but was readily available as crises arose.

Socials were planned on a bimonthly basis in order to encourage our geographically widespread families to build closer relationships. A parents’ seminar extending over a seven-week period took place. The first two weeks dealt with a child’s growth and development. The following five sessions specialized in answering the problems of parents in raising children, as well as in setting patterns for spiritual training.

The Christian Education program at Circle Church modified its basic purpose somewhat from the traditional role. Whereas the historic emphasis of Sunday school had been on content—viewing that one hour a week as the primary instrument of biblical training—we felt that the home setting was more important, with the church program strictly supplementary.

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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?

Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?

David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.

We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.

For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.

You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.

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I’m continuing to narrate the events at our very special Easter Service developed and presented by the Circle Church Arts Module.

As the films ended, footsteps were heard at the back of the auditorium. The same young women dressed in the clothes we had seen, came hurrying breathlessly down the aisles. They huddled in excitement with the staff on the platform before dissembling to spread the word through the audience, “It is true! He has risen! Pass it on! Jesus Christ is alive!” As we whispered to each other, we all shared in the excitement that must have gripped those stunned disciples.

This was followed by a love feast of celebration. (After all, there is such a thing as the “culinary” arts!). Small groups of ten or twelve—formed by turning the chairs of every other row around—were served the contents of large decorated cartons, which had been placed in position earlier that morning. Cheese, grapes, and dates, homemade bread, and juice were shared, as we discussed the reality of what had been presented that morning and how it related to our lives.

Following the feast, the sermon stressed the need not to be just momentarily ecstatic, but to be wholeheartedly committed to do the work of Christ’s kingdom. We were reminded that this was what He himself emphasized in His remaining hours on earth after the resurrection.

Another communion service followed, this one celebrated joyfully. A roll was broken and passed, and juice was poured from a common cup into smaller containers. It was a meaningful morning for all of us. And, just a sample of what creative people can do if given the opportunity.

After brainstorming services for four years, the staff was more than relieved to have these talented and energetic people sharing that burden. They were scripting readings, writing dramatic presentations, and creating visuals. They were working in conjunction with the Music Module and Family Module to provide a summer emphasis for our Christian Education program that stressed music and culminated in a children’s recital. They published a manuscript of Circle Church creations that provided an incentive for our people. They also held a symposium for burgeoning abilities. The ideas were limitless. And, I was greatly encouraged by their enthusiasm.

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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?

Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?

David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.

We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.

For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.

You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.

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A small Circle Church writer’s group formed within the general body of this larger Arts Module with plans to critique one another’s work, hold conferences, and provide projects through which talents could be developed. A smaller number studied dance to determine how this can be meaningfully incorporated into worship. Others with interest in the graphic arts were available to provide material for the projected media, as well as any illustrative visuals needed.

This Module recently planned the entire Easter service for the church. They began by encouraging home observances of Passover on Thursday or Good Friday. Research was done into the historical nature and symbolism of this ancient event. Written explanations were given the congregation in the Saturday evening Catch-All. Foods to be served as well as their meanings were suggested. The members were encouraged to open their homes to one another. And, they were asked to observe Communion at the end of the evening, as Christ had at the Last Supper. The attitude of mind they wanted us to achieve was one of sorrow, as if we were aware of Christ’s impending passion, but not of His triumphant resurrection.

The response was overwhelming; well over one hundred people participated. Personally, my heart was moved by the time-honored questions that our children asked, “Why do we observe Passover? What is the meaning of bitter herbs mixed with sweet fruit? Why do we eat flat bread?”

The evening ended with Communion. Borrowing an idea from another home group, we lit the individual candles from a larger one—symbolizing our lives deriving their light from Christ, the Light of the world. After observing the Lord’s Supper, we extinguished our flames and left without saying a word. Our silent actions depicted Christ’s coming death and our deep sorrow.

On Easter Sunday we came to church in a spirit of mourning. Mimeographed sheets were distributed at the door that discouraged talking during the pre-session and explained to visitors what had previously occurred. The first part of the service dealt, in heaviness of heart, with our reaction to His death. Members of the Arts Module had prepared a ten-minute multi-media presentation depicting the realization of Christ’s resurrection. Girls from the church were photographed getting ready in the morning, walking to a modern-day cemetery, finding the empty tomb, and then running, leaping, exulting with joy at the unbelievable implications of their experience.

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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?

Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?

David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.

We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.

For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.

You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.

Share and Enjoy