Everyone who is responsible for what happens on Sunday morning during the worship service has a set of things that they must see every week.  While I am sure we all have different views here are a few of the things that my team and I shoot for when we are planning out worship services.

1. Experiential – the time that we have people together needs to be capitalized on so that we help them experience Jesus during the service.  Too often we neglect that people have come to experience something.  As leaders in the planning of a worship service it is our responsibility to help them have that experience.  Rather than just throwing some songs that we like together and expecting people to follow us.  You have to create an experience.
2. Participatory – if we put together the best worship band and have the greatest speakers but no one participates then we have missed it.  It is our job to bring  people before God and to assist them in how they can be a part of what is happening.  There are so many creative ways to do this and really help people come alive in Jesus.  If people are participating then they are engaging with Christ.
3. Image driven – in our culture “image is everything” according a popular slogan by Cannon.  However, it has been lived out in virtually every aspect of our lives.  When we use images to drive home a thought we can better connect with our people and expect them to understand where we are leading them too.  You do not have to spend lots of money to make this happen well, it is best done on a budget.
4. Connected – in the age of the seeker sensitive church I think we have lost the drive to help people feel connected in there first few minutes with us.  We have been told that they want to come in and just hide.  However, I have found that people are waiting for someone to talk to them and make them feel at ease.  There are so many ways that a church can overcome this and really help others feel like they belong to the family.  Find ways to help your people communicate with one another during the service.
5. HYPE – the first two songs of a service have to bee really upbeat.  This allows you to attract and draw people into the experience that you have planned for them.  This also allows for you to create some excitement as you get  the service going.

What are some of the things that you think are most important as you plan and develop the worship service?  Share them here.