Ways To Make a Sunday Service More “User Friendly”

to Unsaved Guests

My goal is to help you win in ministry

• The Start to Finish Church Experience Through The Eyes Of An Unreached Guests

• Connecting Guests to Each Other• Pathways Without Pressure• Small Things May Be Tipping Points• Acting Your Size and Age• Building The Listener’s Confidence That

They Can Understand and Apply the Bible• Making Every Moment Meaningful for

Adults and Kids

My Experience Start to Finish1. I had a hard time finding the time & and place on

the website2. I saw that they believed some things I do not

believe and wondered if that matters3. I did not see signs coming up to building and

wondered if I was in the right place4. I did not see signs as to where to park or what

door to enter5. I noticed very few cars and I wondered if very

many people were coming to this church

Parking

Walk inBanner for entranceDirectional signs in hallways

My Experience Start to Finish6. I wondered which room I was supposed to go

into (no sign)7. I needed to go the washroom, but I did not

want to ask anyone where it was8. Most everyone had printed name tags, but I a

hand written one9. I saw the refreshment table so I went over got

some coffee, then I saw I was expected to pay for it. I only had a $20.

10. Others had a program but I did not get one

My Experience Start to Finish11. I noticed lots of clutter on the stage12. Nobody talked to me besides the official

greeters at the door13. It was time to start but nothing was happening

yet14. Lots of chairs were not being used15. The seats I would have liked were taken16. There were papers or pens on the empty seats,

so I wondered if they were saved17. The chairs were very close together. I hoped

no one would sat next to me.

My Experience Start to Finish18. Without explanation the first thing that

happened was a children’s song19. We were welcomed and then told stand up and

get to know the people around us 20. Someone passed me a sympathy card for me

to sign for someone I did not know21. Then came a song that reminded me of a love

song to Jesus.

My Experience Start to Finish22. After repeating that song several times, we did

another and an another23. The announcement time seems long, and they

gave a lot of details. 24. They said the card I was suppose to fill out was

mainly for visitors, and the others were to do it to so they could keep attendance.

25. The message was good, but it was hard to always connect from the screen to what I was supposed to put in the blanks.

My Experience Start to Finish26. Sometime I felt bad that I did not know some of

the Bible stories that I was suppose to27. Overall it seems like this service was for those

already fully convinced not for some like me28. After the message they passed the offering

plate to get the card and a offering29. Afterward I hung around for their “10 minute”

party.

1. Bring pleasure to God

2. Present the Gospel as good news

Determine your goals for your Sunday services

Why Be Sensitive to Seekers?

"So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?"

1 Corinthians 14:23

3. Create an environment of grace and truth

DETERMINE YOUR GOALS FOR YOUR SUNDAY SERVICES

Picture of a greenhouse

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

“The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one.” John 17:22

4. Inspire commitment

5. Connect people to each other

6. Involve people in corporate

evangelism

7. Make every second count

DETERMINE YOUR GOALS FOR YOUR SUNDAY SERVICES

8. Appeal To Men As Well as Women9. Help people learn to correctly

interpret and humbly apply the Bible

DETERMINE YOUR GOALS FOR YOUR SUNDAY SERVICES

Project: Which of these goals do you need to work on most? How are you going to do it?

Mistakes and Dangers

Mistakes and Dangers

1. Not designing services with the

unreached in mind

2. Become lax

3. Gravitate towards Christians

4. Loss of momentum

How To Do A Small Church Service well

1. Make good first impressions

You never have a second chance to create a first impression!

?Results

?Results

Our actions here make a difference

What unchurched guests are thinking as they come in:

• Will these people accept me?• Do these people want me around?• Do these people understand me?• Are these people for real?• Will I be embarrassed?• Will I be pressured?• Will my buddies see me going to

church? • Will I be singled out?

How to Do Small Church Well

2. Be exceptionally hospitable

Always be eager to practice hospitality. Rom. 12:13b NLT

Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. I Pe 4:9

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." Heb. 13:2

Design a strategy for greeting guests• Pick friendly people who match

your primary target• Place greeters and ushers in

strategic locations• Use both males and females• Train them in what to say• Train everyone to be hospitable

Consider the “5 Minute Rule”

3. Use name tags

NAME TAG HOW TO’S1. All name-tags must be the SAME

2. First name only3. EVERYONE wears one

4. Place nametag TABLES in key traffic areas

CONNECT GUESTS TO EACH OTHER

1. Name tags2. Refreshments3. Connecters4. Next step events5. Bible Fellowships

How to Do Small Church Well

4. Use communication cards

The Pathway Without Pressure

Why use a card?1. Reveals how GOD IS WORKING in

people’s lives

2. Encourages EXPRESSIONS of impressions

3. MINI-STEP toward Christ & church

4. Enables FUTURE communication

5. It keeps you IN TOUCH with your flock.

6. Helps EVALUATE and track progress

How to use a card?1. Use an actual card

2. Tailor it for the week

3. Put one in every program

4. Announce it early

5. Clarify it is for everyone

6. Talk about it wisely

7. Use it for your invitation

Don’ts related to cards1. Don’t ask for ages2. Don’t ask if divorced3. Don’t put too much on it4. Don’t ask regulars fill out everything

How to Do Small Church Well5. Refreshments

How To Do Small Church Well6. Set the room up wisely

• Right # of chairs• Lay out, and spacing

How To Do Small Church Well

7. Tailor messages to your cultural target

How To Do Small Church Well

8. Make it easy to get involved

How To Do Small Church Well9. Celebrate church family wins

Project: What are some other things you could celebrate in a service? How can you honor

people?

How To Do Small Church Well

10. Give them programs

Why?

What to include?

How To Do Small Church Well

11. Right amount and type of music

Why sing less than most churches do?

• Most men prefer less• When the group is not singing with

enthusiasm it communities the wrong message

• Men want to get to the message, and like a shorter service

How to Do Small Church Well

12. Planter: connect with everyone

Project: What Happens When You Do Small Church Well?

What do you need to work on in order to do small church well?

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY TIPS1. Make it fun

Why does it need to be fun?

2. Do it during adult service3. Make it safe

• Sanitary• Secure

4. Goal to serve at one service and go to another

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY TIPS

Big Deals Biblically1. Going after the unreached2. Thinking like the unreached3. Serving the unreached4. Proclaiming the gospel to the

unreached5. Being hospitable6. Building people together