When the staff of Circle Church was all together on Tuesday, we would analyze the previous week’s service, examining carefully the integral whole, critiquing the sermon, stating what we felt was meaningful and what was not and why.
Then, we would begin to build the service for the following Sunday. The purpose sentence of the sermon was shared along with the general direction the sermon was to take. We would discuss whether the attribute of God which had been chosen was consistent with the theme which was to be preached. In our Saturday meeting we would check final assignments for the service, as well as listen to the sermon.
Before developing any further the exciting discoveries we have experienced in worship, it will be important for me to reiterate one point and to emphasize another.
First, we have clearly defined worship as “attributing worth to God.” Second, we chose a general three-part pattern for the morning service:
- The Approach to God in Worship
- God Speaking Through His Written Word
- The Response of Obedience.
But, we were not inflexible in that form. If we needed to accomplish something that did not fit into this pattern on a given Sunday morning, we had no hesitancy in abandoning the outline and substituting a more appropriate format. The worst trap we could have fallen into would have been moving out of an inflexible traditionalism only to create a locked-in system of our own!
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Pastor, when “sermon prep day” rolls around each week, do you face the task of preparing another sermon with a frown on your face? If so, you’re not alone. Many pastors literally dread preparing their Sunday sermon. There just doesn’t seem to be an easy solution. The good news: 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.
