Message Preparation (Part 2)

Today, I'll tackle a common question: Where do the ideas for a message come from?

LONG-RANGE PLANNING
I try to plan our message series out at least six months in advance. Right now they are planned through December. This does not mean I know what I am preaching on exactly but the main themes and concepts are mapped out. This reduces my week-to-week stress and greatly increases our creative team's ability to do engaging things like dramas, stage decorations, video, special music etc.
These concepts/ideas for message series come from the following sources:
--Other speakers and churches
--My own prayer & Bible study
--Seasonal considerations (I'll explain that below)
--What haven't we talked about lately?
--What are people experiencing or struggling with?
--Our staff

SEASONAL CONSIDERATIONS
We plan series according to the following seasons:
--Growth patterns (We typically grow in the Fall and first of the year. These are good times to do series on felt needs or everyday living issues or church vision)
--Special holidays (Christmas & Easter)
--Where our church is and where we are going
--What people are experiencing (i.e. - New year = people open to new things; Fall = people are regrouping and ready to get back into routines that were disrupted by summer vacations)

BALANCED APPROACH
We try to divide our communications into couple of themed areas. For example:
--Spiritual life (growth, habits, etc.): how to grow in your walk with God
--Felt needs/topics: money, sex, relationships, family, emotions, hard times, etc.
--Doctrines (Christianity 101 type stuff): the Bible, Holy Spirit, grace, etc.
--Relationships: marriage, dating, friendships
--Church/Church life: vision & values of RBCC; small groups; serving; evangelism
--Seasonal: Christmas & Easter; occasionally Mother/Father's Day; patriotism

Here's how this might look in a typical year:
--New Year (Jan-Feb): Spiritual life & felt needs
--March: Church life/vision
--April: Easter themes
--May: relationships
--Summer: loosely connected; stand alone messages since attendance fluctuates
--Start of school: spiritual life & felt needs; church life
--Fall: felt needs; spiritual life
--December: Christmas themes