I want students walking away from the weekend worship service (our entry level program) with the big idea. I want them to “get” the sermon in a sentence – stuck in their heads with creativity, skill and passion. I want visual learners to get it, note takers to get it, freshman and seniors to get it, I want the uninterested to be drawn in and the regulars engaged week after week.

With that in mind, I’ve felt more and more lately that the sermon, while perhaps king of the weekend, is only a part of the message. Essentially, I guess I’m trying to say that “the message” isn’t the only message. Here’s some thoughts on the breakdown of the weekend in terms of the message:

The sermon/talk – definitely 40-50% of the overall message rests on the speaker. In our current format, the speaker is the most focused part of the night on the series subject. He or she takes God’s Word and applies it directly and formally to the lives of high school students. Knowing their significance, series topics and speaker choice are a very big deal.

The music/worship – a strong 20-30% of the night’s message to me falls into this category. The songs that are picked, the lyrics of songs, prayer, other elements of worship – all should point toward the message. The right songs and the right tempo of the music are crucial to the overall message of the night. Singing God of Wonders or Let Me Sing during this Save the Planet series have reinforced the importance of this part of the message.

The atmosphere – 10-15% of the night’s message falls on the atmosphere. Did we create an atmosphere that leads people to the message? Are there banners, signage and a clear bulletin all consistent with the message? Does the weekend look thrown together or does it look planned out and prepared in advance? Is there an air of excellence – are we treating the topic of the night the respect it deserves? A good atmosphere sets up a great speaker. The opposite is also true.

The programming – In my mind, programming lands at 15-20% of the message of the night. If you know me at all, you know I love programming and highly value it. Why? Because I believe it is a crucial part of the message. The clip from Wall-E during the opening of the night sets the tone for caring for creation. The cinderblock we smashed as an example of the way we treat the earth will be remembered for a long time.

I understand the importance of the message. I understand God chose preachers and they should … well, preach. But I also understand that the message is way, way bigger than the 30-minute talk.

JG

Weekend Teaching Series: The Refinery Grand Opening (stand alone message)
Message Title: The Power of Baby-Steps
Sermon in a Sentence: The grand opening of The Refinery calls for a landmark message on the vision and dream for students’ lives.

Weekend Scale of Difficulty: 9 out of 10. Challenging learning everything in a few hours in the new building. We had some good creative moments, cameras to deal with, and a few sound and video glitches during the service. There were some microphone problems as well.

Attendance: up 99% from the previous weekend, 109% from the same weekend last year
Service Length: 71 minutes
Understandable Message: A+ Fields delivered a fantastic talk on his vision and dream for the Refinery, connecting it with his own spiritual walk, as he described the 5 stages: interest, invitation, inspiration (investigation), involvement, incredible journey. He encouraged students to make a commitment today to invite friends, serve in a ministry, or accept Christ, relating it to his decision 30 years ago to become a Christian. Very powerful!

Volunteer/Student Involvement: A/A+ Student band, students on cameras, students on the sound board, students on lights. We’re off to a great start using students in the new building. Volunteers did a solid job getting in the right spots and spending time in relationship with students. Smiles from ear to ear.

Element of Fun: A A character named Uncle Zed read a children’s story to the incoming freshman. Zack and Ryanne picked some students out of the crowd and played a Refinery trivia game. The best question was how many rolls of toilet paper would students use in The Refinery each weekend. The answer 38. We made that up, but it made for a good game. As students walked out, we gave them a pin that said “I put the FINE in REFINERY.”

Positive Environment: A- The worship songs kicked the energy in the room over the top. It peaked on the third song. Super positive!

Music Playlist: “Hallelujah” (Paramore Cover), “Cannons,” “Take it All”

Favorite Moment: The packed house at the 6:30pm Saturday service. The energy was amazing, and students kept piling in. Seeing the dream fulfilled with full capacity in our brand new high school room was an incredible moment.

Notes: We pushed this weekend really hard. We texted our students every day. Students brought their friends, and students who haven’t been to HSM in a while came back.

Overall grade: A+

You know me, and I know style. Here’s what I think are the hot looks for those male youth workers out there this summer:

The shaved head – an emerging trend in youth ministry, probably taken from worship leaders that sported them for a while. Hopefully we won’t also start frosting our tips next, too. WARNING: Have a bunch of sunblock ready for those outdoor events, and make sure you’re keenly self-aware how far your ears stick out before you start cutting that much off. PS: This one is often used to disguise premature balding, and can be used in combination with any of the following 3 other hot styles.

The soul patch – I’m sporting this right now, and loving it. Not too much maintenance, it is a bit understated and not quite as mainstream. It’s like discovering a great small-time band before they go big. Then everyone gets on the wagon and buys the album so it’s time to discover something else. That’s the fashion express train I’m riding. I’m also hoping that worship leaders won’t try and also take credit for this one.

Van Dyke – The classic goatee, really this one never goes out of style for a male youth worker. While it might be a bit cliche for the veteran (let all the young guns sport it) it is still helpful for a youth worker who is being misidentified for a senior in high school instead of a pastor. Go to any youth worker convention and you’ll see that this one is everywhere.

Chin Puff - this variation on the goatee calls for a strip of facial hair from the lip to the chin. Some like it full on, others prefer a Zorro-esque thin line. Either way, many won’t be bold enough to pull this one off so you’ll folically dominate your local youth pastor gathering later this month. If someone else in your network has this look, either flatter them by sporting it too, to demonstrate your superiority by bringing yours to the table.

JG