After my previous post, I received several requests for a copy of the template that I use to format my weekly messages. It’s actually quite simple and you can download a PDF here.
Here’s a brief explanation of how we approach the weekend message:
First, we teach thru books of the Bible
We have been teaching chapter by chapter thru books of the Bible for about three years. In order to bring variety and make it somewhat thematic, we break the books up into series. For example, the most recent series titles in our ACTS series have been: Compelled (Acts 12-16); Proclaimed (Acts 17-20); Arrested (Acts 21-24).
Second, we utilize teaching teams
We have a team of 5-6 weekend teachers who meet each Monday to help form the message for whoever is up to bat that week. I do about 50% of the weekend teaching for the year.
Third, we use a modified version of Andy Stanley’s model
We identify a central theme for the passage and then break it down into five basic parts:
- Welcome
- You/Me hook – Usually a real life question (“Have you ever felt like…”)
- God - What does God say about the issue
- Practical take aways – We aim at three lessons. I’ve tried to limit it to one, but that doesn’t work for me. Two is too few, four is too many. Three seems to be a good balance.
- Response – We are driving toward a personal response time that occupies about 12-15 minutes toward the end of the service. Response stations include crosses, candles, communion, prayer, and offering boxes.
Our approach is heavy on participation and light on programming. Not necessarily the right way, but definitely fits who God created us to be.
Hope that helps.
How does your experience differ from ours?
Hi,
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Comment by Vicky Silvers — April 15, 2010 @ 8:11 am
It would be helpful to hear more about what you're doing in #5 – the response time. Sounds interesting and fairly innovative – a bit like what Dan Kimball was doing in his old seeker services in the 90's. Would be sweet to hear more about the way Seacoast handles it; congregation response; how it works in the other campuses.
Thanks for your insights…
Comment by Steve Gwilt (@swggy) — April 17, 2010 @ 8:59 am
The response tie is the most important time for me. I seem to get closer to God at this time. This is where I feel that changes my life and where I get chance to meet the Hoy Spirit.
Comment by Fred Johnson — October 21, 2010 @ 6:07 pm
Would you please add the pdf file that you mentioned? It is no longer there. Thank you!
Comment by Jeff Iskra — October 29, 2010 @ 6:56 am
We’re using the same approach most of the time in Thousand Hills International Church in Hilversum, the Netherlands. Works great!!! Thanks for sharing, Greg!
Comment by Sebastiaan van Wessem — October 12, 2011 @ 4:04 am