Tag: Manic Monday

Manic Monday – High School Outreach

The youth ministry at Allison Park Church did something this past month that I thought was incredibly creative. Worthy of a Manic Monday post! (Read about other creative Manic Monday ideas here) Here’s what they did:

As a promotion for their outreach series The Big Event, which takes place throughout the month of October, they set-up a tailgating party at three local high school football games three weeks in a row. At the tailgate party, they had giveaways, invites to The Big Event outreach and a huge banner advertising the outreach. It worked really well to create some buzz about The Big Event, but what I think was the most genius aspect of this whole idea is that it met students on their turf.

Now you might be thinking, “Is this allowed?” Well of all the schools they went to, only one asked them to leave. My thought is – you never know until you try!

You can read more about this on our youth pastor’s blog here.

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Manic Monday-Create

Here’s my latest ‘Manic Monday‘ idea.  This really was birthed out of a talk Earl Creps did on ‘Ministering to Cultural Creatives’.   As I listened to it, I realized the American Church as a whole doesn’t do a real good job engaging the creative segment of our communities. We are often very good presenting concrete thoughts and principles but what about engaging our imaginations?  Understanding that, here’s the idea – it’s a sermon series entitled ‘Create’.

FIRST MESSAGE: Created in His Image | Big Idea: We are created in the image of God, therefore we should be creative as He is creative. [Gen. 1:26-27]

SECOND MESSAGE: Creating Spiritual Growth | Big Idea: Being creative begins with being empowered. [Ex. 31:1-6]

THIRD MESSAGE: Creating Disciples | Big Idea: Creativity is meant to be shared.  [Matt. 5:13-14]

FOURTH MESSAGE: Creating Culture | Big Idea: Followers of Christ aren’t meant to adapt or conform to culture, but to create it.  [Gen. 1:28]

Additionally, previous to the messages to engage the creatives within your church or even community, you can allow people to create sermon graphic designs.  If you have enough designs submitted, you could actually use a different graphic each week.  Also, you could present the general topics for each message and allow individuals to create short video illustrations for the messages.

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Manic Monday – Phenom

phenomlogo.jpgThis week’s Manic Monday idea is a new sermon series. With the continuing trend in our nation of a fascination with celebrity this series capitalizing on this idea. The series is called ‘Phenom’ and deals with true phenoms throughout Hebrews 11. Each message would deal with different character traits that have led to their “Celebrity Faith”. Here are a few suggested message titles:

  • Abel, the Phenom Giver (v.4)
  • Noah, the Phenom Builder (v.7)
  • Abraham, the Phenom Father (v.17-19)
  • Moses, the Phenom Leader (v.24-28)
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Manic Monday – New Location

Well, here we are again – another Manic Monday!!  This week is a great idea only if it’s pulled off right.  Let me explain.  Often through our preaching or our services we are trying to convey some important point.  That can be challenging people to reach their neighborhoods for Christ or to get involved in a small group.  It can be frustrating sometimes when people don’t quite respond the way you had hoped.  Sometimes you might even feel as if no one’s listening.  Well, here’s an idea that will definitely eliminate the number of ‘non-listeners’.  Now, I wouldn’t try this too frequently, but here’s the idea:

Depending on your service topic, change the location of where you are holding the service for that week.  Whether that’s a different area in or outside your church or maybe even off-site.  This could include having service in a gym, on a flat piece of property, in a warehouse, or even at a high school.  The sticking point here is that changing location actually makes people less comfortable – meaning they will pay more attention.  That can be good and bad – do your best to be meticulous and make it good!!  A couple tidbits of advice here:

  • Don’t change the location just to change it.  That would be a lot of work for no real reason.  Choose a location for a purpose – something that would tie into the message you are sharing.
  • Have someone other than yourself coordinate this whole service.  If you are coordinating it, you’ll be so overwhelmed with all the details your message (the whole reason you’re doing this) will suffer…and so will your congregation!  Make sure you work out the little details like sound, parking, directional signs, staging, seating, etc

I know it’s a crazy idea, but hey, that’s why it’s Manic Monday!  Just pushing back what is the norm!!

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Manic Monday-Neighborhood Cook-Out

Sorry I didn’t actually post this on Monday, but here’s this week’s creative ministry idea: A Neighborhood Cook-Out. The idea isn’t all that cutting edge, but is geared toward helping a pastor get to meet people in the community.

This Neighborhood Cook-Out would be organized by an individual or individuals in your church. They would have a normal cook-out at their home and invite all their neighbors. This could coincide with a neighborhood block party, but it would actually work better a part from any kind of overly organized activity. You can have neighbors bring a covered dish or dessert to ease on costs. Now here’s the kicker: In addition to neighbors being at this cook-out, so is the pastor. It’s a great opportunity for a pastor to not only meet new people in the community, but also to be seen as a normal, everyday person.  The pastor doesn’t need to stand up and preach a sermon or really do anything except get to know some of the neighbors that are there.

It’s a simple idea, but is based strongly on relationships, which I believe is one of the greatest tools to seeing people coming to Christ.

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