How to Lead Church

Prepare: Use the Talk Series Outline provided on the church website to find the main point for that week. Read and reread the Bible Passages. 

Ponder: How do you want people to respond to God's Word? Do you want them to rejoice? To confess their sin? To live with renewed hope? 

Your role as gathering leader is to help people corporately respond to God's word - this is a whole church action and should involve everyone.

Plan: How are you going to facilitate this response? 

There are a number of 'tools' at your disposal, these include:

Confession, Creeds/Statements of Faith, Call and Response, Interview, Singing, Quiet Reflection, Prayer, Lord's Supper, or any other creative response you can think of. 

We have created a library of standard resources you can use on this website - check the homepage

The congregation comes to church with a variety of emotions from the depths of despair to the height of delight. Starting meetings with the Glory of God provides a deep understanding of the wonder of God’s character and is the only way for all of the congregation to interpret the varying emotions they bring to church. Focusing on God's Glory draws the whole congregation together as one church before God. As you focus them on God you are preparing them to hear God's word.

Key Question: How am I drawing the whole congregation together as one church under God by showing them his GLORY?

1. Start with a Greeting which focuses on God. Or may you wish to start with a Psalm, Prayer, or Doxology

2. Consider a song(s to point people to God's glory.

3. You may wish to use a confession or creed to prepare people to hear God's word, this depends though on how you have structured the response to the Bible talk as well.

Checkpoint: Have I pointed to God's Glory?

This is the high point of the gathering. As such we should always pray before the Bible is read. You can find prayers for the ministry of God's word here

The Bible Talk and Bible Reading are the CORE of this section (and the gathering), but consider whether to include another aspect - most gatherings struggle with two Bible Readings straight into the Sermon followed by prayer. 

Key Question: How am I going to help people HEAR God's Word?

For example: If there is an Old Testament reading that is not explained in the sermon, can you respond to that reading - and give it a clearer place in the gathering - by singing in response afterwards? E.g, Old Testament Reading / Song: Only a Holy God / New Testament Reading.

Can you place a song about listening to God's word between one of the Bible Readings or between the Bible Readings and the Bible talk?

Perhaps it is fitting to have a confession between the Bible Readings?

And remember, it is the preachers role to preach - not yours. You don't need to preach your own mini Bible talk - having prepared people, you can now join in hearing it preached, before helping people respond.

Checkpoint: Have I been challenged by the WORD and applied it to myself?

Rather than simply stirring people to try harder we are intentionally leading people each week to the throne of Grace. If the Bible talk doesn’t land there then the gathering leader should consider how to get there with song/s and prayer. We never want to end with the idea of people having to try really hard to please God.

Key Question: How am I creating space to humbly respond to God's word and leading people to the throne of Grace?

Ways to respond to God's Word include:

1. Confession and Assurance

2. Creed or Statement of Faith

3. Prayer

4. Call and Response - this might be something you write based off a key verse in the talk. Remember, church shouldn't be a spectator sport.

5. You could consider interviewing someone about the personal application for them, group discussion, or a quiet reflection. 

6. Songs can be one form of response, and can be used in combination with another form of reflection. Ie, Bible talk > Song that responds and allows people to move around > Prayer, Interview, etc

Checkpoint: Have I led people to the throne of Grace? Have I given them time to respond?

Having drawn together under God and been reminded of his glory and grace, we now ask, how then shall we live? How are we as individuals and as a congregation going to serve God, each other, and the world this week? How are you, as the gathering leader, going to send people out?

Key Question: How am I going to SEND people into God's World?

This may look like:

1. Rereading the main verse or restating the main point. or

2. Giving a challenge or question for people to consider

End with a concluding prayer or blessing. As a general rule it is good if your first and last words are about God!

Checkpoint: Have I sent people to live in a continuing response to God's word?

1. Don't feel the need to make announcements. Only make the announcement if it has to be made. Don't say the word announcement, phrase it as something that we are doing as a church family or as a response to the sermon.

2. If you are including a 'Ministry Profile' place it at the start and have it followed by prayer - meaning the gathering will look more like what you can see opposite: