Several final checks, as to the morning service, should be included before ending this topic. Appropriate material was chosen for use in the five minutes before the prelude begins. Because our 9:30 service was earlier than the established Protestant worship time, we found it necessary to begin at 9:25 in order to remind our congregation to arrive earlier. A very special part of the service was put here—a musical selection, a dramatic or a visual presentation. This also helped to insure an attitude of quiet.
Facing the typical problem of parishioners choosing back seats, we tossed a cartoon visual on the screen, the caption of which read, “Happiness is coming to church early enough to find a choice back seat.” It helped!
Whatever was used enabled us to clear our minds in preparation for the worship which was to follow.
Another final check during the planning stages dealt with the type of involvement the congregation had in the service itself. Singing hymns and giving offerings was not enough, in our minds, and we were continually trying to find additional ways to make people feel an integral part.
Of course, it was easy to depend on the staff to participate because they were available. But, a layman could do many jobs as well or better. These jobs might have included preparing a historical introduction to the sermon, scripting and performing a multiple-reading, or giving a testimony of experience that amplified the truth in the sermon.
These were all on an individual level. Involvement on a corporate level was just as important. Corporate level expressions might have included the holding of hands to express Christian unity, a responsive reading, or the lighting of candles throughout the congregation to represent our position as lights in the world.
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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, what will you 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 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.
