As promised, here are four church ‘meeting templates’ that I’ve used over the years in various places. They are each designed, in different ways, around hearing and responding to the word of God together.

Between using these different templates, and also utilising the different options or possibilities within each one, I’ve never found any problem injecting plenty of variety, week to week.

1. The standard

This one is loosely modelled on the theological logic of the Morning Prayer service in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. This template gets right down to business; it leaves announcements and family news to the end.

Introduction

• Welcome; a short word on why we gather together (to hear God’s word and respond together); an opening prayer;

• Particularly welcome visitors and newcomers, and flag anything that you think they need to know or be ready for as we start the meeting.

Confession and gospel assurance

• A reminder that we come to God and to his word as sinners in need of his mercy. A Bible verse can be read to make the point (e.g. Ps 51:17; Joel 2:13);

• Then a joint prayer of confession (like the classic ‘we have strayed from your ways like lost sheep’); or can be led as an individual prayer by the meeting leader or another member, perhaps based on Ps 51.

• A declaration of the forgiveness found in the gospel (a Bible verse and/or statement);

• A song or two of gospel-based joy and thanksgiving—this can either be the conclusion of the confession/assurance cycle (i.e. confession, word of assurance, then song of joy), or can done as an alternative the above (i.e. a set of two songs with appropriate commentary—one that meditates on our sin and the cross, followed by a song of gospel joy and thanksgiving);

• (This opening section focuses the congregation on who we are and why we’re here; we’re redeemed sinners, gathered together in the gospel, ready to hear God’s word—rather like Israel saved from slavery and gathered around the mountain to hear God.)

• (This whole section can also be replaced with the Lord’s Supper, serving a similar function: starting with a confession of sin, and then remembering the cross and responding in faith and rejoicing in the blessings of the gospel as we share the supper together).

Bible readings

• One each from OT and NT, with brief context-setting intros only as required;

• A short response to the readings can be inserted here: standing to say a short psalm or a creed together; or a short, reflective song.

Sermon

Response to the word

• This can take various forms. The idea is to practise (as well as model) an active engagement with the word, discussing it together, reasoning together over the Scriptures, seeing the word as something to be responded to in repentance and faith. Such as the following:

  • A question time (people text questions in; respond to as many as possible);

  • Discussion in two’s and three’s about some key question/aspect of the sermon’s message—send in responses and questions by text to be read out;

  • A testimony or interview with a member about about the life implications of the sermon’s main message;

  • A book review;

• As an alternative to all of the above, this can also be an appropriate time to share the Lord’s Supper together, as a response of faith to the gospel message in the sermon.

Prayers and thanksgivings

• Some of the prayers can be focused on the themes and message of the day, picking up what we’ve discussed in responding to the sermon;

• As we pray for various people and ministries and events, pray for them in light of today’s word.

Song

• If possible, a song that connects well with the main theme of the sermon and/or our response to it; this is a final way of standing and declaring together that we believe in the word we’ve heard, and want to respond to it.

Family news and close

• A transition towards life and ministry as it will unfold in the next week—what’s happening; events or news we need to share together;

• Conclude with a brief reminder and exhortation related to the main theme of the day (not a mini-sermon repeat, or an extensive reflection!);

• Close in prayer, or by saying the Grace together, or some other suitable closing Bible verse.

2. Standard variation

This meeting starts on a lighter note, with family news up front (Part 1) before transitioning into ‘hearing and responding to the word’ (Part 2). I’ve often used this template in meetings where the children are present for the first part of the meeting before they go out to Sunday School or kids’ church.

Part 1: Family time

Brief welcome

Opening song or two

• Brighter, up-tempo songs;

• Possibly a classic hymn you want the children to know and learn.

Kids’ Spot

Family news

• Find a name for ‘announcements’ that makes sense; I often used ‘family news’ but it can be ‘Ministry matters’ or whatever;

• Welcome visitors.

Prayer and transition

• In this template, prayers for our concerns and needs happen at this point, following on from the family news, and praying for the things we’ve announced.

• You might then we need a 2-3 minute break for kids to go out (and for parents to make sure they are settled etc.). This can be done via a song or just as a break in the meeting for people to say hello to the people around them.

Part 2: Hearing and responding

Introduction

• This is also transitional; it gives the congregation space to re-focus on what we’re about to do—to listen to God’s word and respond;

• Keep this pretty short; explain what we’re about to do (hear and respond to our God together); tease the main theme a little, but not in much detail.

Confession and gospel assurance

• Depending on how much time you have available, this can take various forms, such as:

  • A corporate prayer of confession followed by a word of gospel assurance from the leader and a gospel-focused song (not too rousing or up-tempo, given we are about to sit quietly and listen);

  • A song (or pair of songs) that reminds us of our sin, the gospel, and the joy of forgiveness;

  • Sharing the Lord’s Supper together (including some form of confession).

Bible readings

• One each from OT and NT, with brief context-setting intros only as required;

• A short response to the readings can be inserted here: standing to say a short psalm or a creed together; or a short, reflective song

Sermon

Response to the word

• This can take various forms. The idea is to practise (as well as model) an active engagement with the word, discussing it together, reasoning together over the Scriptures, seeing the word as something to be responded to in repentance and faith. Such as the following:

  • A question time (people text them in; respond to as many as possible);

  • Discussion in two’s and three’s about some key question/aspect of the sermon’s message—send in responses and questions by text to be read out;

  • A testimony or interview with a member about about the real life implications of the sermon’s main message;

  • A book review;

  • A song that captures the kind of response the sermon calls for;

  • Depending on the theme of the sermon, prayers of confession might also be appropriate here.

• As an alternative to all of the above, this can also be an appropriate time to share the Lord’s Supper together, as a response of faith to the gospel.

Close

• Draw the threads together briefly, and recap any announcements that are significant.

• Close with a final song (if not done above in ‘Response to the word’) or with a prayer or benediction.

3. Early sermon

It can sometimes be useful to bring the sermon up close to the opening of the meeting, to allow more time for response—e.g. when the passage is reasonably straightforward in its meaning, and contains a strong challenge to godliness or repentance.

Welcome and opening prayer

A song of joy or thanksgiving

Bible readings

• One each from OT and NT, with brief context-setting intros only as required;

• A short response to the readings can be inserted here: standing to say a short psalm or a creed together; or a short, reflective song.

Sermon

Response to God’s word

• A question time (people text them in; respond to as many as possible);

• Discussion in two’s and three’s about some key question/aspect of the sermon’s message—send in responses and questions by text to be read out;

• A testimony or interview with a member about about the real life implications of the sermon’s main message;

• A book review;

• Depending on the theme of the sermon, prayers of confession might also be appropriate here.

• As an alternative to all of the above, this can also be an appropriate time to share the Lord’s Supper together, as a response of faith to the gospel.

Prayers and thanksgivings

• Some of the prayers can be focused on the themes and message of the day, picking up what we’ve discussed in responding to the sermon;

• As we pray for various people and ministries and events, pray for them in light of today’s word.

Song

• If possible, a song that connects well with the main theme of the sermon and/or our response to it; this is a final way of standing and declaring together that we believe in the word we’ve heard, and want to respond to it.

Family news and close

• A transition towards life and ministry as it will unfold in the next week/s. What’s happening; things we need to share together;

• Conclude with a brief reminder and exhortation related to the main theme of the day (not a mini-sermon repeat, or an extensive reflection!);

• Close in prayer, or by saying the Grace together, of some other suitable closing Bible verse.

4. The two-parter

When the passage raises a ‘big issue’, either doctrinally (e.g. predestination) or ethically (e.g. euthanasia, work, raising children),  or where it’s just a tough passage to wrap our minds around, it can be useful to divide the sermon in half in some way—so a 10 minute talk and a 20 minute talk at two points in the gather. For example:

• if there is important and complex OT background, do that in part 1, and the passage itself in part 2;

• where there is a passage with strong or complex practical implications, do the teaching/theory in part 1 and then tease out the implications at length in part 2;

• where you’re dealing with a topic rather than a passage: introduce it, deal with the obstacles, misunderstandings and alternatives in part 1; lay out the biblical teaching in part 2;

• where there has been something very significant happen in the congregation that you want to speak about at some length.

Welcome

Opening song

Bible reading 1

Sermon/input/teaching part 1

Break

• Take a short break for people to discuss (in three’s or four’s) the issues raised in part 1 (in preparation for part 2);

Family news

• Transition back from the break with announcements and family news

Song

• A quieter, more reflective song to prepare for the rest of the content.

Bible reading 2 (if required)

Sermon/input/teaching part 2

Response to the word (prayer)

• Because this kind of meeting often goes a little longer, there is usually not as much time for different sorts of responses. Prayers and thanksgivings related to the message are an essential element of response, but as time permits you could also include a brief question time.

Song (reflecting main theme if possible)

Close

• Close in prayer, or by saying the Grace together, of some other suitable closing Bible verse.

I hope you find these useful. Feel free to use them, change them, or even just discuss them as a staff team as a way of re-examining the way you normally do things in your part of the world.