Are you struggling with an idea for a Sunday morning? Maybe you need a short outline to help in your personal study? If so, here is a short outline that you can use to develop your thoughts for an outline. You might divide this outline up by using each point for a separate outline.
How many times have you heard Hebrews 10.25?
“…not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25)
Many people focus on Hebrews 10.25 as the reason for church attendance, but I believe the reason occurs before verse 25. There is a deeper meaning than using this verse to speak of attendance on Sundays or Wednesdays. For instance, consider the points below:
Understand that attendance is more than numbers; it is about faithfulness and open hearts.
Hebrews 10.25 is only half of a sentence; there is more.
If you find half a sentence, read the verses before to complete the thought.
Hebrews 10.22 – “let us draw near…”
(Take note that Hebrews 10.22 is only half of a sentence; read the verses before to gain the full thought.)
…with a true heart.
…with our hearts sprinkled clean.
…with our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10.23 –“ let us hold fast the confession of our hope…”
…without wavering (the reason: “He who promised is faithful.”)
Who is the one who made the promise?
What is the promise?
Hebrews 10.24 – “let us consider how to stir up one another…”
…to love.
…to good works.
Why are we to stir up one another to love and good works? (The reason is verse 25)
After these verses, verse 25 brings on a new meaning. There is a unity factor before the Hebrews writer gets to the “attendance verse.” The unity is in the knowledge that Christians need each other because of the reasons given in verse 22-24. The fact that someone misses services could be for a variety of reasons; work, sickness, a death in the family, traveling, depression, or a personal choice not to attend services. We need to give our brethren benefit that they are trying and not completely stopping.
Attendance is more than numbers. When a church begins to focus on numbers instead of caring for souls, they lose the good news. The good news becomes the number of people instead of the number of open hearts.
I hope you can use today’s sermon starter outline at some point. Also, do not use the sermon starter outlines to replace your own study and work. Use them as a stepping stone for development.
All of us want the best for our families; both spiritually and physically. Our families are, typically, the closest people to us on the Earth and the love us despite our faults. Because of our relationship, we want the best for our families and, many times, we will go out of our way to help them in whatever accomplishment they seek.
The rewards of Christian families are great because those rewards transcend beyond this physical world and will last throughout eternity. Are you helping your family achieve heaven?
Reward #1 – Togetherness
The adage is, “A family that works together stay together.” The key word is together. One characteristic of Christian families is how they work together. The togetherness of families results in unity.
This unity is seen in several ways:
Unity in Effort – Consider 2 Timothy 1.5. Lois and Eunice made a united effort to teach Timothy the gospel but instill in him a genuine faith.
Unity of Goal – Consider Philippians 3.14. A Christian’s goal is heaven and when Christians unite in their goal of heaven, the keep pressing on to gain it.
Unity of Purpose – Consider 1 Samuel 1-2.21. Hannah had a purpose and she gave Samuel that same purpose – dedication to the Lord.
Unity of Servanthood – Consider Acts 16.34. The Philippians jailer served Paul and Silas after the startling events and his families believed God.
It is a chilly, rainy Monday around this area. Today looks to be a good day to settle down in some research or one of the many books on the “to read” list. Days like this are so relaxing. I never consider them gloomy, but a time to relax and review what is important.
Below are a few short thoughts help you keep moving on this Monday morning.
Journaling Idea: Write about your most productive day and learn what steps you took to make it the most productive day.
Five Things I Learned Last Week
1 – Relax – Some days it is good to relax and do nothing. It is good to take a break and spend some time in relaxation and refreshment. For you, this might mean stepping away from the computer, email or Facebook. It might mean turning on some relaxing music and just drinking a cup of coffee. Here is an article from the Mayo Clinic on relaxation techniques and the benefits. Read more here. By the way, have you ever noticed how much Jesus withdrew Himself to be alone?
2 – A simple card does wonders – For the past several years, our Sunday morning adult Bible class has been sending cards to people. Some of the recipients are members of our congregation and some are not. Some are local friends and some are distant. Some are people that most know, others are people have one or two know. Each week, I pass a card at the beginning of Bible class and it is passed along for everyone to sign. Doing this not only helps the receiver, but many in our congregation find encouragement in being able to encourage others. Who are you encouraging?
3 – Audiobooks are worth the price – Some of you might be ones who like a good hardcover book in your hands and others might like reading on a Kindle or other device, but there is something to be said regarding audiobooks. I have listened to several audiobooks over the years and recently I have discovered the audio narration option on a few of the Kindle books in my digital library. With audiobooks, you can listen in your car, while you exercise, in your office and just about anywhere.
4 – More clothes than I need – Do you have a closest for of clothes? So do I. I probably have more clothes now that I have had in a long time. In fact, I probably have more stuff now than I have had in a long time. Have you ever seen the “My 100 Thing Challenge”? It is an interesting read. I am not agreeing with everything, but there is a benefit in living simpler. Soon, I will be doing away with at least 50% of my clothes. Simpler should be better.
5 – Doing the same thing, gets the same results – I forget the old quote but the definition of insanity is said to be doing the same things over and over and expecting the same results. As people, we like the comfortable an stable. We like doing the same things because they are comfortable. However, the same actions get the same results. If we want to grow, we need to step up our actions and thoughts and change the input to change the output. Do not change for the sake of change, but change because it is necessary. (Personal Note: Some things do not need to changes, just our actions toward them. We might need to examine our hearts and mind, along with our motivation and purpose.)
#MondayMotivation
There are people who need a little more motivation on a Monday. Here is a video from Michael Jr. I bet you have never thought of what it was like to be the younger brother of Jesus, but Michael Jr. did. Enjoy.
Several years ago, my family and I took a month sabbatical from ministry for refreshment and relaxation. The purpose of the sabbatical was to step away from ministry and spend time in the word gaining a much-needed refreshment.
As a minister, you spend your time teaching and helping others and rarely do you get time to be taught and helped. The sabbatical was my time, and my family’s time, to step away from the “Preacher and his Family” and find rejuvenation.
During the sabbatical, my family and I traveled attended six congregations in four weeks. When we visited other congregations, I only told two of the preachers I would be showing up. I told them I wanted to be treated like everyone else and not to inform people I was the minister somewhere else.
I wanted to full visitor experience.
I wanted to know what it was like to walk in a congregation and be treated normally. I wanted to know what it was like to be a typical family and walk into a church building for the first time.
Preachers are usually treated a little different when we walk into a church building; especially where people know us. The tendency is to be sure to talk to the preacher, along with his family, and to be sure they receive a friendly welcome. It is almost as if ministers are on a different plain; typically, we think they are.
Gaining an average visitor experience has helped me as I see visitors around our congregation. Many visitors are not nervous when they arrive, just a little out of touch. They are not out of contact with church services; they are just not connected with your congregation services. They are there for the first time, and they are not sure what to expect.
Warning: Some of the words I write are not complimentary, but challenging. Take no offense to the words, but learn from my experience. I have not, nor will I name congregations or the area we visited. This is to be sure that they remain anonymous and everyone learns from the overall experience.
Let the words challenge you and make you uncomfortable. If they anger you, get up and do something about them. If you think they are right, get up and change the way your congregation is seen in your community.
I have summarized our experience into six different statements. Each statement is my thought based on my experience and also from hearing the words of others.
“Six Concerns I Have About Your Congregation”
1 – “When I visited, you asked me to full out a visitor card, talked about how much you appreciate visitors, but no one spoke to me.”
Hearing words spoken from the pulpit need to be backed up with action from the leadership and members.
Just because you talk about appreciating visitors does not mean you are following through with those actions.
Showing visitors you appreciate them is more than just giving them a card. It is having a conversation with them about them.
Ask your visitors about them? Most visitors are happy to ask about your congregation when you start the conversation asking them about them.
Conversation Tip: It is a good idea not to make fun of the state, city or location where people are from at your first discussion. It leaves a wrong impression.
2 – “I saw no joy in your congregation. As the church sang ‘To Canaan’s Land’ no one was smiling and they sang like a funeral. I thought living for Jesus was a joy, not a bore.”
Visitors notice the atmosphere of the congregation. Most visitors will compare your congregation with the congregation they attend. Their congregation becomes their standard they hold every other congregation too.
Ask yourself this question, “Do you smile when you sing “Sing and Be Happy?”
Most visitors notice the singing among every other aspect of worship. Maybe singing takes a priority because so many songs are sung during the worship? The singing service can set the tempo of a worship service.
As Christians, we do remember the death of Christ in communion every Sunday as a solemn occasion, but too many congregations leave Him in the tomb and do not celebrate the resurrection.
3 – “I saw a Bible, but I never saw Bibles. I thought Christians were people who studied the book not talked about studying the book.”
As mentioned previously, visitors are paying attention. They look around and see what is going on in worship, who is paying attention and what it means to everyone.
Church buildings need to have open Bibles and, the preacher needs to give us scriptures to open too. It is a two-way street.
There is a difference in talking about studying and studying. There is nothing wrong with exploring a workbook, but Bibles need to be opened along with the workbook.
4 – “Your services talked about being lights in a dark world, but I never heard of your congregation before today. You said your church has been around for 50+ years and I grew up here and never knew you.”
Wow! A statement like that reflects on the outreach of the congregation; both passive outreach and active outreach.
Passive outreach consists of areas like yellow page ads (yes, some people still use them), Facebook pages, websites, billboards, etc.. Passive outreach is placing information about the congregation in a way people can find it, stumble across it or search for it.
Active outreach consists of areas like door-0knocking, inviting others, handing out correspondence courses, etc.
For someone to grow up in an area and never hear of your congregation can mean a few things: (1) You are in a large city like Atlanta, etc. (2) You are a new congregation, or (3) there is no outreach.
5 – “I felt awkward because I had to sit on the second row because all of your members sat in the back and on the aisle seat. They seemed glued to their chairs.”
I have heard others say that “God’s presence must be strongest in the back five rows of our church buildings” and I can believe it. Many of the last rows of a church building and full, leaving the front rows for visitors.
Have you ever visited a church worship services and found nowhere to sit but the front row? So have I. In fact, I have attended other congregations where people have been unwilling to let me in their row. Seriously.
There needs to be some open space for visitors to come in the assembly and find a place to sit instead of having to walk all the way down to the front.
It is handy to have an area toward the back where visitors with small children can sit as opposed towards the front.
6 – “You saw that I had children and no one helped me find a Bible class for my children. There were no signs on the doors to help along the way.”
Information. Information. Information. Visitors need information, but not an overload of information.
Some congregations have a guide to show where classes are held, where the bathrooms are and other relevant information for visitors.
It is always nice to have several ushers (men and women) help the visitors find their way.
After service, be sure you assist the visitors in any way. Visitors might be looking for directions, a place to eat or other information that you can provide.
Final Thoughts:
Engaging visitors, when they arrive at your congregation, is a significant show of your hospitality. However, be sure not to overdo it out of show. Everything must be done sincerely. Visitors can distinguish between genuine hospitality and dramatized hospitality.
The relationship you have with the visitors attending your Bible studies or worship services should be built on the grace and mercy of Christ. Not every visitors will have a religious background, nor will they understand the “church words.”
While worship is typically designed for Christians, we must understand that in our culture, many will visit the worship service before any Bible study. It is important that we welcome them as we would like greeted. Think the Golden Rule.
Visitors need to know they are appreciated and loved just as anyone should be in an assembly of Christians. For a visitors to show up at your building, opens the door for a wide range of possibilities – from Bible study to conversion even to a new friendship. Take advantage of the time you have with visitors.
Each week, preachers face a daunting task of speaking to people of every age and background seeking to assist each one of them in following Jesus better than they had the previous week. It is a job of encouragement, correcting and motivating to keep pressing on in the world. Upon the responsibility, tack on the other factors of visiting, outreach, hospital visits, church errands and the like and the week for a preacher might draw to a close faster than he wishes.
Below are some “starter outlines” to assist you in developing lessons and classes. Some will be able to take these outlines and preach them as they are, but I ask you to develop these outlines yourself.
Anyway, here you go…
Outline #1 – Attitude Determines Altitude
Why is Attitude Important?
Attitudes are always forming
Attitudes are formed when we are young
Attitude problems are the result of heart problems
What must My Attitude be?
Not as the rich young ruler.
The Attitude of Christ
We need an attitude of “Yes! We can!”
How is your attitude?
Is it Christ-like?
Since attitude problems are heart problems, where is your heart?
Have you learned to be content?
Outline #2 – Do Not Mumble or Grumble
The Dangerous Attitude of Complaining
How can we be blameless and shining as lights in the world, if we complain?
Complainers bring others down.
The Dangerous Attitude of Disputing
Some people try to dispute, stir up anger and arguments
“All that is needed to make a mountain out of a molehill is a little dirt.”
Our Attitudes and Words
Do words affect people?
Replace complaining and disputing with good things (i.e. – thankfulness, faith, kindness, etc)
What will your words do today
Outline #3 – Taking it all in and letting none of it out
The Most Followed command?
Matthew 8:4 – “See that you tell no one…”
Why did Jesus say that phrase?
Do many people follow it today?
Why do many follow those words today?
Fear
Specifically, fear of rejection
Some are afraid they will be wrong
What is the solution?
We need to get off our “buts.” (ex. – I really know I should but…)
Isaiah 6:8 – “Here am I, send me”
Outline #4 – Simply Trusting God
Simply trusting God means you are like Joseph
Remember Joseph’s words to his brothers? (Genesis 45:5)
Joseph kept confidence by relying on God’s providence
Simply trusting in God means you are like Daniel
Daniel was a man of principles
He refused the kings food.
He refused not to pray.
God admires principles. (Psalm 15:1-5)
Outline #5 – Christian Repentance
Why would a Christian need to repent?
Sin
Isaiah 1:18
Christians can stray away
Demas (2 Timothy 4:10)
Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:13; 18-23)
What is your reaction to sin?
Do you deny it?
Do you try to cover it up?
Do you justify it?
Do you take responsibility?
You must live a life of action
“Faith without works is dead.”
You are salt and light
Christian’s Change
They change as they grow
Psalm 51
Outline #6 – “Lord I believe. Help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:34)
The situation: the disciples were not able to cast out a spirit of a boy, so the Father appealed to Jesus.
“Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.”
Note the verse is not a contradiction.
It may be better rendered, “Lord, I believe. Help my unfaithfulness.”
Do you believe but lack faith?
Are you in need of an increase of faith?
The father had belief, but he needed more faith.
How can you increase your faith?
Romans 10:17
Start now. (Matthew 4:18-20)
Attend uplifting events. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Find contentment and joy in God. (Philippians 4)
When in doubt, pray. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Once again, these are just starter outlines. Do your due diligence to make these a complete outline for your sermon or your personal study.
