Stage 1: Explanation

Stage 1: Explanation

Everything starts here. The Senior Pastor has to boldly lead by clearly stating what the purpose is for your church’s weekend service. 

Now that may seem obvious and almost unnecessary. After all, the weekend is when we go to church, it’s when church doors are open, and so the thought of explaining why we would actually do a service could appear strange. But, it’s not ok anymore to show up, open the doors, turn on the lights, sing some songs, “babysit” the kids, preach a sermon, and call ourselves a church that’s reaching the community.

In fact, if that is ok with you, then this resource for your weekend services probably won’t be a big help.

Church attendance is an all-out fight. A fight for priority in people’s lives. A fight against sports schedules. A fight against whatever went on the day before that urges us to sleep in and stay home.

Sundays are no longer special, sacred, or even a day off. They are simply the 7th day (not the 1st day) in the average person’s schedule.

So add all of that up and hopefully now you realize that the same old service will not get it done. Our services need to be well done, on purpose, covered in prayer, and clear to everyone – week after week after week.

Everyone needs to know why your church does a service. Those that attend every week need to know why your church meets on a regular basis. Those that only attend on Easter and Christmas need to know the reasons you exist. 

Consistent, excellent, purposeful, life changing, God working, inspiring, moving, convicting, special, felt like home– these are all characteristics of your service that people will talk about, and that you can remind them of as you communicate throughout the week.

So how do you determine the purpose for your weekend services?

This is best done as a team, even if the leader already knows what direction to take. Schedule a meeting or series of meetings to work on this. Have the group write down their ideas. Different themes will come up here such as seeker sensitive, discipleship focused, expositional teaching, attractional, traditional, blended, contemporary, feed the flock, corporate worship and family gathering.

Have the senior leader or leadership team share their God-given perspective on the purpose. Listen as they talk about how they consider the service to be successful. A great sermon? Powerful worship? The Holy Spirit moved on hearts? People lived out the action step throughout the week?

There is not a perfect purpose to the service or a “one size fits all.” But this stage is critical so that everyone understands and can begin to row in the same direction.

Once this purpose is crystal clear and everyone in the meeting understands and is ready to communicate it, then it’s time to take the purpose, or the “why”, to the different venues used to communicate with your congregation.

Opening the service, closing the service, during announcements, during the worship set, and yes – especially during the sermon – are when you need to effectively share the explanation for why your church continues to show up every seven days and have a service.

Andy Stanley, pastor of a church in Atlanta, calls it “Clarify the Win.” He said “People start showing up and they join your church with pictures of what they think church should look like. From the time they walk through the door, they start trying to conform your church to the image of their own picture…when you clarify the win, you help your team stay on the same page.”

If the win is powerful worship, then the preacher that regularly prepares a lengthy teaching from the book of Romans may need to adjust. 

If the win is practical teaching, then the worship team needs to understand that 45 minutes of worship will not be the norm in an hour long service.

If prayer for the needs of the people attending is at the top of the list, that will affect the time given to other elements, and the most time and creativity needs to be centered on making people’s needs known and putting them in touch with a prayer counselor during the service. 

If a simple takeaway / action step that lasts throughout the week is the win – then the planning team needs to focus on theming every aspect – music, stage set, handouts, lobby setup – so that from the first step onto the property, people understand the takeaway and it is reinforced as they move from parking lot, to lobby, to kids ministry, to the auditorium, and then on the way back out as they exit the campus.

Everyone needs to know why your church does a service. They find this out when you pray, plan, agree, and communicate with them.

By the way, here’s the fun part. Once will not be enough. Vision leaks. Over time, people will forget and personalities will naturally take the service in their own direction. “Clarify the win” often and creatively. Say it to the volunteers, to the staff, and to the congregation so that everyone is crystal clear why you are doing what you are doing.

Now when they make the decision whether or not to attend, or whether or not to invite – they are clear on what you are doing and can make an informed decision.

Remember, your words and explanation will eventually become their words and explanation. But, your lack of explanation allows others to clarify the win.

Be clear. Do the work to figure out your church’s purpose for a service. Then tell everyone over and over.

Your team, your congregation, and your community will stand up and take notice. In time, as you are consistent, word will spread, people will be drawn to your church through God uniting them with this explanation, and your church will grow!