Most pastors know I invest a lot of time working on their sermons. My observation is that not all that many demonstrate an equal concern regarding the other parts of the service. Their brains are conditioned to think “sermon-preparation time.” If I could reprogram them, I would have them think “sermon/service-preparation time.”
A strong sermon can be disabled by a weak service. Conversely, a strong service goes nowhere if the sermon falls flat. When both are consistently poor, the sermon and the service, the church is going to be in serious trouble. But when the two complement each other, the sermon and the service fitting together beautifully like hand-in-glove, the church should be strong and vibrant.
Not all growing churches have coordinated services where all the various parts fit together in a meaningful way. Most of them do, however.
Which gets the greater attention from you, the sermon or the service?
Here are three simple questions to think about as you contemplate next Sunday’s service:
- What is the praise focus of the service, and how does this connect with the sermon?
- Does the closing hymn relate in a meaningful way to my message?
- Is there a way the thrust of the sermon can be enhanced somehow? (Example: a poem, a selected recording, a video, a solo, a Scripture reading, a testimony, etc.)
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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.
