Creating Compelling Messages

Pastor/Leader, are your gatherings on Sunday compelling?  Are you teaching and reaching people in and outside of your church?

After all, our church services on the weekends are competing with every other option people have to invest their precious time.  They could be golfing, sipping coffee at Starbucks, reading a book, watching TV or even sleeping in.

We can shout and teach the words of Jesus all we want, but if we don’t compel people to come in and listen, our message is fruitless (see Luke 14:23).

I believe there are 3 key components to a successful weekend service that will compel those outside the church to come in and hear the good news:

1. A Relevant Topic.  Look at Jesus model when He spoke at the sermon on the mount.  He taught about real-life everyday issues such as anger, sex, marriage, money forgiveness and fear.  Don’t have people tune out, talk about what Jesus talked about.
2. A Strategic Theme.  It is not enough to just teach on real-life themes.  The topic needs to connect with a theme that’s already captured people’s attention.  If a series or message already relates with something that someone outside the church is already talking about, its easy for people to invite their friends. Think about what is popular in culture or is already trending and leverage that.
3. The Biblical Truth.  We can talk about relevant topics that are compelling and real (they are important), but without Truth, people will never experience faith and forgiveness. Life change happens happens when people redirect their focus and trust to the person of Jesus Christ.

So, here is a test for you, think back over the last 6 months of your services and ask these three questions:

1. Did we address a relevant topic or answer a question people outside of our church are asking?
2. Did we connect it to a theme that is hot in culture?
3. Did we offer biblical truth and lead people to Jesus?

When all three components are present, more people will be compelled to come to your services and hear the gospel message.  And when you begin to see lives changed, you will know your services will be compelling for all the right reasons.

(Adapted from Tony Morgan Live.com)