THE 5 STAGES OF
WEEKEND SERVICES

Our goal is to work with churches who see the need to constantly improve their weekend services. Every weekend service is comprised of five main stages. Learn more about them here.

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. This is best done as a team, even if the leader already knows what direction to take. 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. 

Andy Stanley 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.” 

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. 

2. PREPARATION

This is where details are nailed down, signed off on at all levels, and then prayer, set building, music selection, charts, rehearsals, lighting cues, volunteer recruitment, sermon prep, and many more activities can begin. No one can be allowed to regularly “wing it” and claim creative license. Yes, the Holy Spirit leads, but that’s not an excuse for procrastination or lack of preparation. The Bible also talks about doing things “decently and in order” and if you are striving for clarity and excellence, 99% of the time – details should be discussed and worked through ahead of time. 

Ideally, all service elements need to be rehearsed in a “run-through” style rehearsal with full music, sound, video and lights. This experience gives teams the opportunity to make tweaks before people are actually in the seats. If possible, include greetings, announcements, closings and even sermon elements. 

3. EXECUTION

It’s go time. No stopping or turning back at this point. If the explanation has been clear and the preparation has been thorough – this is the high point. A God-given confidence fills each team member as plans & prayers meet the people in the seats. These attendees have taken time out of their weekend and even brought friends and family members to experience what God has to show them. As Nancy Beach says “opportunity hangs in the balance.” 

4. EVALUATION

Well, how’d we do? Did we hit the target? This is best handled as a formal exercise with an informal approach. Take the service apart piece by piece and allow your team to chime in with statements like “it worked”, “this didn’t work like we thought it would”, or “I loved it when _____ happened.” 

This is when we get better as a team. It requires leaving our defensiveness at the door, while maintaining a balance between grace and truth. It’s a tough stage, but once people get used to it and know they have a voice, you’ll see immediate improvements. Make sure to do this in-between multiple services if you have them. Some tweaks can be made on the fly while others cannot be fixed until next week. 

If the speaker demonstrates vulnerability here, that will pave the way for musicians, actors, hosts, and production team members to be vulnerable as well. 

5. CELEBRATION

Tweet it. Instagram it. Snapchat it. Tell stories. Release balloons. Order pizzas for staff meeting. Grill steaks for your volunteer teams. Make a huge deal over incredible services that hit the target. 

Make sure everyone knows that God inspired, people worked, and lives were changed. Share baptisms, salvations, marriage restorations, and any other win that happened because of the service. 

Celebration causes people to keep coming back, to invite friends and family, to give financially, to serve, and to love their church!