BIG IDEA

I read a blog by Tony Morgan today that I'll not give word-for-word, but it could have been written by me or our team here at KFA - www.kenoshafirst.com

We have been involved in something called the BIG IDEA for a couple of years now. It's basically the concept of 'one thought for the entire day, no matter what room you go to,' when you come to church here. As T.M. pointed out, you can go to a lot of churches and be surprised at how little connection there is between the various elements of what goes on.

'It’s as if there was no planning. I’m guessing everyone prepared their portion of the service separately. The message stands alone. The worship stands alone. The announcements stand alone. The videos stand alone. The special music stands alone.'

'You can go to a lot of churches and be surprised at how little connection there is between the various elements of what goes on.'

At KFA on a given Sunday, we're not singing about peace - using a video about God's love - and preaching on the Second Coming of Christ on the same weekend. We have come to understand and embrace the vision and value of communicating one powerful message and theme throughout the entire service -- music -- message -- video -- creative elements -- small group questions -- reflection pieces -- children's curriculum -- etc.

We start with ONE BIG IDEA - what is today going to be about? What's the ONE THING we want to say?

So if you send your child to JourneyKids ministry down the hall, they're getting it, too - the same message, only in child appropriate ways. And on that weekend when the adults focus on Hosea and Gomer, they kids may not be hearing that particular story, but they're still talking about having a pure love for God. That way, when you gather back in the car after the service, you're all talking about the same thing -- and we've helped families connect. 'Faith at home' happens.

And the Holy Spirit is not left out of the process either. We ask Him to guide us through our various stages of planning and seek to hear His voice - and when we do, we see greater retention, better application and genuine transformation happening as a result of His work.

QUESTION: If you are a pastor or part of a leadership team from another church, would downloadable BIG IDEA information/aids be helpful to you in your ministry? Might you occasionally or regularly use something like a supplied message outline (making it your own, of course) -- song & chorus ideas -- creative element message options -- life group study pages -- children's ministry curriculum --- that were all tied to a BIG IDEA for the day? Would that be useful to you at all?

** Would you mind taking the poll at right to help us know if it would be?

And be blessed.