With regard to change, a pastor may respond, “My people just wouldn’t be open to many of these ideas, but they are expressing need for change.” That is the unstated theme of these blog posts. This series of posts, in particular, is full of methods which proved extremely pertinent and workable in our particular congregation. They will apply and be helpful to many groups. But, to some they will be anathema.
The important thing is not to start with methods, but with a philosophy of how a church is supposed to function. From this philosophy you can build your methodology. In an established church don’t change everything at once. This is so critically important, that I want to repeat it. In an established church don’t change everything at once.
Begin slowly. Choose a theme for the morning and coordinate your music so that it is appropriate. Maybe you can eliminate the announcements. But don’t be afraid to change just because you can’t change everything. A little at a time is most effective.
The series of blog posts that preceded this series of blog posts tried to establish what it is a local church is supposed to accomplish. In the single meeting on Sunday morning at Circle Church, we put into practice a part of that philosophy. Although prayer and interaction were present in that service, it was mostly corporate worship and the utilization of some of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that received the emphasis.
Again, we did not feel that the methods—although they were extremely exciting to us—were as important as the philosophy. How you carry out your purposes is not as initially important as whether you have purposes you are trying to accomplish?
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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.
