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If we started from scratch, or could start over, what would our church schedule look like?

BASIC, IMPORTANT
Worship/Celebration Service. A few up to thousands! Sunday service of worship (singing and prayer), ordinances, and expositional sermon — weekly. Child-care and children’s worship during the same hour are important (though we should think carefully about classes above grade 4, for older than that can enjoy and benefit from good worship and sermon.)

Community Bible Study Group (ABF or Home ABF). 8-70 is good for numbers in this groups, and the larger numbers are reserved for singles groups or an ABF for seniors in a large church!
Sometimes they work best before or after the worship service at the same building; often some meet in homes (and these are good for those who serve in worship or children’s classes on Sunday morning.

Recommended: Have both Sunday groups and home groups. Sunday will appeal to some who do not like to drive in winter evenings, and others whose week is scheduled full.

Home groups are great for those who teach and serve in worship Sundays as well as others who prefer another day for this group. Home groups should meet with twice a month or every week, and should have not only the teacher but a host leader, a care captain (assigns care and follow-up of consistent absentees or pain issues), and a missions chair (helps the group adopt one of the missionary families the church supports, to help this group have strong support and prayer for them).

It works well when the group discusses a few questions tied to the sermon for the start of the study.

Under this heading we would also put some age-group activities for children and youth.

Discipleship/Accountability Group. 3-7 all men or all women.
This group needs a leader who invites the men or women privately, seeing potential for them to grow in character and church leadership and strength. It is not a printed program for the church. (Neither are the community groups called true discipleship, which is more than content and community.)

ESSENTIAL and MORE
Outreach/Evangelism events and projects. To reach the unchurches, to “get the church on the map,” to benefit the community.

Serving, teaching, leading, overseeing. There must be a clear procedure for the pastor and staff and volunteers to help people find a place to serve others and not just benefit from the church.

Socials and larger community building and team-building. The dinners and breakfasts and events to help the general crowd of the church are important but should not be so frequent as to start filling the calendars of the families with church events. (Some of us grew up in environments where the church family had schedules that had them at the church building 4-5 evenings a week — and there we often talked about evangelism of friends and neighbors, who only knew we were always at church!)

For the pastor and staff and leaders of all these to plan: care, counseling (with technical and complicated long-term counseling handled by a Christian counseling ministry in connection with the church), systems of discipleship and growth, evangelism and social action.

BEST FOR LEADERSHIP: A pastor who serves and leads Sunday and weekend ministries with many volunteers, all serving with the “boundaries” set by one board of oversight (See “Soccer Field Model,” where the one board has:

Foundations. (doctrine, constitution, statement of faith)
Resources. (finances, building plans)
Guidelines. (policies and working papers that guide ministries and procedures)
Goals. (plans for the future, mood of the church, product seeking to produce)

This pastor and board of oversight are called by the church membership. Other ministry leaders are appointed, as with teachers, musicians, building care people, shut-in ministries, care people, youth workers, children’s teachers, and more

Lessons learned in 55 years of church pastoring and coaching In no apparent order

NOMINATIONS

…Most churches have a nominating committee that is set up by the previous nominating committee or the present board of oversight (often called the board of elders or the church board).

…Good people who can see the big picture of the church should be the ones placed on this committee.

…The pastor should chair this committee and should not miss a meeting of this team.

… If a name is presented that should not be on ballot, someone should simply say, “Let’s wait,” giving no other reasons. Often there are confidential reasons or statements that could be gossip that are given. This should not be. If the pastor knows confidential reasons that a certain name should not be on the nominations list, suffice it for him to say, “Let’s wait.” This obviously shows that only strong people of biblical principles should be on this committee.

… Only one person should be nominated for any one office or board position. No one should go home a “loser” in a church meeting and that’s what is happening when you have two names.

… There should not be nominations for things like Sunday school teachers, or church keyboard players or ushers, or, I think, even care people, or assimilation people, or care deacons. Why can’t these be appointed by the pastor with the oversight board, just as we do for teachers of eighth grade boys or ABF leaders? (This might be a major change in some systems.)

… Policies for who can serve in these key roles should be made by the oversight board and kept on file. Policies can be changed by another oversight board, but should not be in the constitution, nor bylaws, so they have to go to the congregation for changes.

… The old habit in writing that if anyone has “ought” against someone whose name is put in nomination, used by many churches in the past, clearly brings up a crisis condition. Someone will be hurt by this, in most cases. Which means the nominating committee and oversight board that approves the ballot before it goes public, must be very careful and must know their Bible:-)

Needed beforehand: assurance of eternal life connected with faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the one who paid fully the judgment for our sins and credits us with His righteousness when we trust Him as Savior and Lord. See Romans 3:21-26.

Purposes of this service:
…to look up and seek strength and comfort from our Lord
…to look back and give thanks for a life to be celebrated
…to look inside our own hearts and spirits to find strength and comfort.

DECISIONS ABOUT PARTICIPANTS

1. Director. The one who makes decisions about timing for each and quantity of items. This married partner or child or good friend or pastor should know what the departed and the family want so there is not unnecessary debate or time spent planning.
2. Music: who will sing what song if there is to be a solo … lead worship songs…accompany on instruments.
3. Testimonials of remembrance: who will speak about the life. (Very important to limit to an appropriate number and to hold them to a time limit. People who do not speak a lot do not know what three minutes is, or even five :-). Usually two -four is the maximum for assurance of attention and timing.
4. Main Scripture devotional-homily: usually the pastor or someone accustomed to this. It is good for the departed to have discussed ideas and emphases about this when possible.
5. Scripture reading: Usually one or two about comfort or resurrection hope. Often a good place to have children who can or grandchildren, so they can have a part. It is good for the departed you have selected scripture he or she desires to point to hope and comfort from our Lord.
6. Responsive reading: one that is written using verses especially embraced by the departed one or giving an emphasis… This is a great way to involve the audience.

DECISIONS ABOUT PLACE

1. Location: Think through the advantages of a church setting because of the connection with worship and the cross and the resurrection. Obviously the chapel of a funeral home is easier as to arrangements and the convenience for the funeral director.
2. Burial setting: Some prefer to have the graveside service for family and close friends only, and this can be before the public memorial-celebration of life.
3. Gathering meal: Often there is a fellowship meal after the service to mix people and to help those traveling. This is a good time to have short spontaneous remembrance stories if someone can emcee this in a good way.

RELATED DECISIONS

1. Time: Why not the best time when the most can be there? Without being so long for the family. The rhythm used to be day of death…then usually one or two days in between…day of calling hours or visitation…funeral-celebration the next day. In recent years because of weather or Covid or distance of family, the time between the death and the service is longer.
2. Video: Often a short video (2-3 minutes) can bring in a family member or special friend who would have been a part of the service, but cannot be present.
3. Honorariums: the funeral director often includes these in his billing — instrumentalists, main speaker, soloist — if not family members. But often this is left to the family.
4. Calling or visiting hours: the evening before or the hour or two before the service, or both? If the visitation time is the evening before, a good but infrequent practice is to have the presiding pastor close that evening with the family and close friends — with a few thoughts, verse(s) of comfort, and closing prayer. This is appropriate and also helps end the evening and send family home for rest.
5. Writing of the obituary: while this is for the newspaper and the website of the presiding funeral director, this can include strong and warm words from the one who has departed, if that is her or his wish. Many times this can be done beforehand so there can be approval.
6. Notifications: A list should be made of who will be notified immediately, and who will make the call or text.
7. Burial place and memorial stone: Should be done beforehand, but in an unexpected death it is an immediate need.
8. Bulletin or handout: Can be planned to be a good memory piece, with careful writing, verses, picture. Can have a written thought that gives assurance and peace if written by the deceased in anticipation of being “absent from the body, present with the Lord.”

You ask about advertising budget, a subject I like to talk about!   Remember first these  “truths,  which we hold to be self-evident”:

*** Over 80% of guests who visit a church for the first time were invited by a friend.

Nationally that is true.

Therefore we put a lot more effort into helping people realize this fact and make friends of people who do not go to church. Many of the people in our strong churches have very few friends who do not go to church. One reason is that we keep them too busy at the church, and another is that they do not try this hard work.

So happy church attenders are our first priority. If they’re happy and enjoy their church they will talk about it.  (Notice I did not just “faithful”

or “saved” church attenders, for some of them are grouchy or only want to talk about politics or hobby horses, and do not represent Christ and the church well.

*** Every church should have events and  ministries to get “on the map.” Races or Pickleball or care for single moms or care for people with children of special need.   Rest home visits. 

*** Churches with bulletin boards outside should make them interesting and not churchy and have phrases that people want to read as they drive by.   One of my favorites was there on an August day that reached 101 degrees: “You think this is hot!”

*** Then the smaller outreach budget should go to support local endeavors and to show that you were glad to be a part of the community.

An ad in the Kiwanis magazine,  the county fair booth,  the Christmas parade display…..

*** Then a small card that a person of the church can give to a friend to invite him or her.  I would put a little money into that.  Not churchy or trying to convert, just a joyful look at the church and time of services.

*** Then the 15 to 20 second video that you make of the pastor with a smile and a joyful word about a theme or life – something that people can pass on to their friends by way of email or their social media.   Too many make these teaching times — great for a different purpose.

You can say a lot in 20 seconds, and not lose attention of someone who did not ask for this!

And smart phones make amazing quality video and audio!

*** Then true PR – a 30-second commercial on local cable TV that reaches your area. You would be good at that. I could help you write them or give you about sample scripts that I have. A third of our church visitors came because of the radio or TV spots.  I never asked people to receive Christ as Savior and never invited them to the church. It just was positive and showed that I was excited about who Jesus is and what He can mean in our lives.    Go for it!

They were at recognizable sites in the community.

*** Then buy at a good rate an ad in a community paper or neighborhood book of coupons, not a big newspaper that is expensive.

Lincoln would have agreed these truths are self-evident!

BOUNDARIES…The very clear policy on “Boundaries” adopted by the board of oversight. This is about moral and financial policies and is enforced immediately when broken.

“HIT BY A TRUCK” PROCEDURE…The very clear steps and reassignment of leadership authority or pulpit responsibility to be in force immediately in the case of a tragedy or illness that prevents leadership capabilities for the pastor. There should be no question.
This is true in a church with a large pastoral staff — who is “number 2”? It is equally true when there is one person on staff. There also have been cases where a pastor abruptly resigned on Thursday! Or where severe flu hit Saturday evening! Just to say, “That has never happened here,” is not wise.

SECURITY PROCEDURES … Policies developed by the security team and approved by the board of oversight as to what to do when there is a breach of security or public danger because of an active shooter or invasion of the public gathering. You do not want to be deciding on the spot. Many small churches have assigned no security responsibility.

FINANCIAL POLICIES FOR CHECK-WRITING AND HANDLING OF MONEY… There are still churches where one person counts or handles the money or writes the checks, and that should change immediately with written policies written by the strong financial team and approved by the board of oversight.

EMERGENCY IN THE PULPIT … Even a very small church should have steps and a person or team assigned for someone approaching the pulpit for a questionable purpose, or what to do if the pastor of any age faints or has another medical emergency while up front. This involves another staff person if there is one and a person dear the pulpit who has security responsibilities. Some churches say they will play this by ear, and that is not sensible.

A ‘TRAGEDY’ SERMON … The pastor must have a sermon developed to use if a tragedy of major proportions happens the week before that Sunday. No one, the Sunday after 9/11 should have been preaching on Leviticus or James or anything but verses about tragedies and comfort and God’s teaching about pain.

MEDICAL EMERGENCY IN THE BUILDING … It does seem best to have a medical person assigned to take the lead in the sanctuary or building, if there are regular attenders who have such training; also to have several people trained to use a defibrillator if there is a heart attack in the building. You do have one?

LIABILITY AND EXEMPTION STATEMENTS IN THE CHURCH CONSTITUTION OR BY-LAWS. Not that anyone would sue a church!

I  grew up like some of you trying to live in “the will of God,” and searching for it when it was not obvious.    Sometimes it tied me in knots.

“Be sure you know what college is God’s will for you!”

“Don’t ever marry someone if you are not sure she is the one God has for you!”

“Are you sure it is God’s will for you to be a pastor?”

I was taught you could miss God’s “perfect will” for your life and live in his “permissive will.” Holy smokes.  I put myself in Gideon’s class – not a bad association – and was  putting out fleece so that God would clearly lead me. One time as I was graduating from seminary I decided that if the next car that came down the road were a red Rambler – that’s an ugly car you could not miss, and there weren’t many of them –  I/we would know it was God’s will for us  to go to Africa as missionaries.  We had already passed the missions board, and we also had an invite to go to Wooster as an associate pastor with a good veteran,  or to teach writing at Grace, or to keep my full-time job as a writer-editor for a Christian publisher.

Yikes!  A blue Rambler came!   Serious.  Did that mean we should go part-way, maybe to Paris!

Another time, after 17 years as a pastor, I admit with some shame, I lost 20 pounds in 12 months worrying about leaving the church in Ashland we loved so much to take the giant one in Akron.  Worrying about hurting feelings, but mostly,  What does God want me to do?

Proceed to today.  Now I like to give talks on the will of God, and try to free other people from the bondage and crush of their past pressures about “God’s will” as people defined it.

Here are my main points, in very abbreviated form, with high hopes they will be as freeing to you as they still are to me:

The Bible is God’s will for us.  Study it and obey it, because we are accountable for that.  We have freedom to choose in the areas not covered in the Bible.

“Love God and do as you please.”  (That’s a quote from Martin Luther — and you do know you should quote either him or C.S. Lewis or N.T. Wright at least once a month.)  And of course

Luther meant that when we love God we obey him as to his clear revealed Word, including its principles for applying and seeking wisdom.   And we will thank him for free will on matters of liberty, which by its very label says we are free to choose.

“You can’t make a mistake.”  That’s what my friend George said to me when he was helping me make a prison break from the worries ingrained in me from childhood, as I was deciding about Akron.  And he clearly meant what I now mean,  that if your motives are to glorify God and love others, you can and will do that no matter where you live or what you do.

“The windshield is often foggy but the rear-view mirror is clear.”   God is so great, kind, loving, and understanding, that he will guide us with his overall sovereignty and invisible shepherding, so that we will rejoice in our decisions and his will and our freedom all of our days. And we will know that he was with us, giving us the desires of our hearts.

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”   What we will hear when we see him, if we will put him first and not our handcuffs of tradition and worry.

I think every pastor should be sure of the following in August:

• Sermon series for all fall and four Sundays of Christmas. (And four from Habakkuk fit so well with the hard questions of life, like Ukraine, China, pain, etc)

• Simple goals for September through August, 2023!  Best based on your main values or missions statement.  Easy to form

• What you will do Christmas Day, Sunday, this year.
  • Duplicate services Christmas Eve and Day so people come one or the other.
  • Sunday service on Saturday evening.  None Sunday morning or a video service they can watch with family.  (Three families will 🙂
  • Large churches: repeat services Friday and Saturday and maybe one or video Sunday.
  • Nothing that weekend.  Please reject this one.

• Think through with oversight board the advantages of having fiscal year be September — August rather than calendar year.

• Think through the oversight board’s review of the pastor and when and how.  (I have a really good one.)

• See what day your wife thinks you should take as your day off this fall.  (If she says Sunday, take this as a flash warning.)

• Read Deeper by Dane Ortlund.  Best book on personal growth.

• Rethink your master schedule and allow someone like me to critique it.

• Reevaluate staff meetings.

• Make sure your personal discipleship group is starting with the TLC factor in mind– Time together,  Love,  Content of Scripture that meets the heart.  (I have a great two-year guide, all verses on church and character.)

You’ve got to recognize that this (Roe overturned)  has happened.  Andthat it is a spiritual and emotional war cry for many.

  I would include in the pastoral prayer — that people would have a new view of life as given by God… And for peace in our states because of  anger and conflict.

You quoted me as not taking sides on politics. Indeed.   But I think this is  one issue that has become very political but is based on a view of life that is not political but scriptural. I would not be afraid to include it in the sermon and just say how the view  of life and the soul has so changed.

Jeremiah quotes God as saying,  “I formed you in your mother’s womb.”
See Psalm 139: 13-18.

Be tender and warm.  It is a very hard issue for many to speak about.   And many who trust Scripture are changing their minds, I fear.
It is a great time to be a shepherd!  Of love and truth!

Believe in Jesus and His Word

As in honoring and teaching and practicing His ways and Word
As in preaching and teaching Christ-help rather than self-help
As in being known for love and the virtues of our Lord.

BYOL — Build Your Own Leaders and board of oversight

As in having your own true DAG (Discipleship-Accountability) Group and ways at the church

• Instead of talking about “discipleship” or thinking all programs make it happen.
• Instead of announcing “leadership training”
• Instead of perpetual church bosses unless they can embrace an updated vision

As in having a workable model for one true board of oversight.

• Instead of a calendar board or one that is a  building-grounds committee
• Instead of duplicity of time with board and staff

Craft a good “Master Schedule” and work it!

As in scheduling your marriage and family and worship and exercise.
As in best use of 168 hours per week.

• Instead of seeing what happens as you go.
• Instead of majoring only on what we like to do

Give your best sermon ever!    Each time.
As in true exposition rather than self-help, and your best preparation time, and rather human but realistic understanding of keeping attention to reach the heart

Love your people.
As in the church and out…listening…smiling …. telling them…. showing them …. putting them first….knelling to talk to wheelchairs….thanking ….being there….

While Sunday is not to be a review of current events or a tragedy or an applause for something good that happened in the nation, this one hit so many hearts and has so many huge questions attached.

I would do one or more of these:

* Have a short section between songs of trust where you read a few verses + and then pray a prayer of faith that God will make all things come under his judgment someday, and for wisdom to believe His ways are best, and for comfort for the families …..and wisdom for lawmakers.

* Include it as a strong section of the P-R-A-Y (Praise, Repent or confess, Ask, Yield) pastoral prayer that the church and people need every week,   asking God for comfort and us for a godly view of life and evil.

* Refer to it as an aside or direct application of one of the verses you are exposing in the sermon.

* Have it immediately as part of the greetings and welcome with a prayer then for the suffering…to deal with the elephant in the room.

(* Include thoughts in your next monthly pastoral letter to your people.)

The pastor looks around to see what is happening to the sheep.