Oh my. These guys must have stolen my iPod. They’re playing my favorites. The band opened session two with Chariot by Gavin DeGraw for the prelude. Sweet tune.

Session two was all about how we create, compel, convince. It was about the process of capturing people’s attention over an extended period of time. That allows us the opportunity to share the Gospel message to more people.

When we plan weekend experiences well in advance, it allows for better elements. Better flow. We can involve more people in the process. Volunteers can serve. Hundreds of volunteers. There are people who can do things you can’t do. If you give them enough lead time, they can creatively contribute elements to support and enhance the message in ways you could never have imagined.

Mark Beeson walked us through the service planning process at Granger:

1. Map it out. One year out. Schedule blocks of weekends for each series. Discuss general teaching topics.

2. Pick a theme. Two to three months out. Brainstorm the "packaging" for the series and confirm the general topic of the series. For example, we picked our current series theme, "Lost," on May 25. The series started two weeks ago.

3. Sweat the titles. Six to eight weeks out. Senior Management Team decides specific topics and message titles. Brainstorm specific service elements. (Mark showed videos of actual series brainstorming sessions involving the senior management team and the arts teams.)

4. Promote the series. Four weeks out. Create postcards for direct mail and for the church to distribute to their friends. Create video teasers to promote the series during the weekend services.

5. Build and rehearse. Two weeks out. Build stage sets. Rehearse music and dramas. Get the congregation jazzed about what’s coming.

6. Launch the series. Lot of emphasis that first week. It’s an "on ramp" to invite your friends.

This was a very practical session on how we approach the weekend services at Granger. Mark encouraged pastors to say "what," and then let your teams figure out the "how."

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