Let’s Have Some Fun Again!
I hate talking about the pandemic. Enough already! But, just for a second, it does seem the 2020+ experience sucked the fun out of everything and everyone. I think it’s time for us to have fun again. I think it’s time for our churches to be fun again.
When I recently visited Auburn Community Church (ACC), it was full of energy and fun. It was serious. It was a baptism service. But it was FUN! It was refreshing. It was spirit-filled, and it filled my spirit.
That’s what joy can do. Your church can be Spirit-filled while filling the spirit of every attendee. And you can be entertaining without becoming entertainment.
Here are a few suggestions:
1. Have Fun, but Have a Point.
It is possible to take God seriously and ourselves not so seriously. I loved leading a fun church. Our music was fun. We laugh throughout sermons. We occasionally replicated game shows to begin our services. Having fun is entertaining, but when there is a purpose, it stays clear of becoming entertainment.
What’s the point, you ask? To make church fun again means breaking down barriers. I know God can reach any heart, but the job becomes easier and more successful when a heart is open. When it comes to a person’s heart, fun can open up what might have walked in closed.
Remember, application is the goal because application leads to transformation. An entertaining movie or television program is entertainment. Its purpose isn’t life application or lasting change (except for the movie Top Gun, which birthed a generation of want-to-be F-16 pilots, including me). An entertaining sermon, however, presents truth and application in a more memorable, engaging way. People naturally lean into entertaining, so we should leverage it in church.
I recently preached at Rivertown Community Church and we had a great time in the beginning of the sermon. Then we made a really important point. You can watch it here: Gavin’s Message at RCC.
2. Plan For Fun.
As you plan your services, consider how you can incorporate the emotion of joy, humor, laughter, and fun. Be creative. For in-person services, you have the parking lot, walkways, front doors, lobby, hallways, and auditorium as your canvas.
Let me give you an example. One October, I taught a sermon series called “Scared to Death.” I wanted to make this a three-week experience. I wrote the content over a month in advance (that’s another topic for another post. Or grab this course!). I knew my first week introduction was about being scared to death at a summer camp. The counselors took us on a campout and pretended a bear was circling our campsite, trying to decide which camper to eat first. This went on for about 5 hours. And yes, this was 1985, before attorneys and caring parents.
As I told this story, during a dramatic moment, I deiced to make church fun again by having a volunteer dress in a bear costume and trot out on the stage! It was hysterical!! The bear was available for selfies in the auditorium for the next two weeks.
