Sunday Program Development Working towards a vision

Foundational Principles 1.Start with the end in mind 2.Consider your audiences’ “faith zones” in relation to every facet of the service Zone 1 – pre-Christian, dabbler, antagonistic but keeping a commitment Zone 2 – pre-Christian, interested, looking for something definite (relationships, help, friends, salvation Zone 3 – New Christian and new members, young disciples Zone 4 – Committed Christian, disciples neeeding depth, growth and service

Foundational Principles 3.Focus on a limited number of things you can do well Keep a “to do” list and a “stop doing” list When something is identified as too time consuming, counter productive, ineffeficient, etc. put it on the “stop doing” list and communicate it 4.Focus on key factors

Key Factors Attracting Factors 90%, Preaching and the pastor 50%, Friendliness of the church 25%, Children/ youth ministries 10%, Worship Repelling Factors 1.Disorganized children’s ministry 2.Unfriendliness 3.Worship 4.Preaching Thom Rainer, Surprising Insights from the Unchurched, p. 49

The Church Planter Focus your personal attention on what only you can do, let others do the other things Power up your preaching 1.Scripture as the source of power and authority Expository preaching and topical/thematic series 2.Prayer Personal prayer by the preacher Annointing prayer by others 3.Evangelistic intentionality The preacher recognizes the potential evangelistic impact of every message

Set-up Ministry As the senior minister show up and invest in people Put everything in carts and on wheels Turn the music on early Expect problems Get the team together outside of service set-up to –Reinforce vision –Celebrate victories –Give praise and recognition to servants Divide and assign –signs, chairs and tables, walls and decorations, children, sound, drinks, welcome center

Friendly Atmosphere How to set the temperature! Name tags –Greeters and ushers always have name tags with their service identified –If everyone is given a name tage, use the same tags for everyone People can add their service identifier Builds “high expectation” of ministry Greetings –Icebreakers “Please stand up and smile at 2 people near you” –10 minute ministry: train regulars to give 10 minutes to meeting new people immediately after services

Friendly Atmosphere Guest Ministries –Greeters outside the building function as guides –Ushers inside the building take people to the right places –You are modeling the DNA! Welcome Center –Provides literature for the day –Name tags –Refreshments

Friendly Atmosphere Signs –You will probably not have too many –Make them visible and visually communicative –Expect to make changes in sign design during the first months Attendance records –Everyone completes a card –Get addresses! –Provide opportunity to respond –Staff prays over every person

Children’s Ministry What are parent’s concerns? 1.Is my child safe? 2.Is my child properly cared for? After services what do parents ask their children? 1.Did you have fun? 2.What did you learn? What do parents need to know? 1.We care for children 2.Your children are in good hands

Questions to ask yourself How important is our worship service to the overall health of our church? What am I willing to do, to give up, to attempt in order to give God a chance to touch people in worship? If I were visiting for the first time, what would my impressions be?

Remember Your task in worship is to let God and people meet People are impressed by people, not by glitz and gadgets