1. Temperature: better a little too cold than a little too hot.

Spurgeon walked around his building one snowy night in disguise throwing rocks through the windows of his church to allow cool air inside. Johnny Carson supposedly keeps his studio at 66 degrees so his audience won't fall asleep. People who don't like it that way bring an extra sweater.

Evaluate your temperature:

2. Lighting: better a little too bright than a little too dim.

A bright room sets a cheerful atmosphere. Preaching would be twice as effective if churches painted their ceilings brighter colors and added more lighting. Always make it brighter where you want the people's attention -- the plafform.

Evaluate your lighting:

3. Sound: better a little too loud than a little too soft.

Learn from public theaters. They keep it loud enough for even the elderly to hear. Watch out for "dead spots" where it is difficult for people to I hear. Install a sound system that is comparable what people have in their homes and cars.

Evaluate your sound:

Fit the room to the size of the crowd. Set up th room with fewer seats so it looks full, but with the option to add chairs. Full means allowing for some space between those who don't know each other. 85% full is "comfortably full." 95% full is "uncomfortably full."

Evaluate your seating:

5. Style: better a little too contemporary than a little too traditional.

Teach the people to "gather to celebrate; be alone to meditate." Do what the Bible says and "sing a new song" to the Lord. Relate to today's generation, not to those of the past. Consider what the unchurched must wonder when we sing of raising our Ebonezers!

Evaluate your style:

6. Length: better a little too short than a little too long.

It is best having people leave your worship service wishing there was more than wishing there was less. Use more illustrations, stories and applications to make the sermon seem shorter.

Evaluate your length:

7. Voice: better a little too low than a little too high.

Speak a little slower and a little lower. Listen to the best radio announcers -- low and slow. This will relax your congregations. And you too! None of us need any more anxiety! As we learned in Communications 101, nervous speakers tend to talk too fast and raise their pitch.

Evaluate your voice:

8. Goal: better a little too healing than a little too exhorting.

The auditorium is full of mostly broken hearts, not hard hearts. Your ministry will begin growing faster the day you stop preaching "Get On The Ball For Jesus" sermons and started preaching "Jesus Can Put Your Life Back Together Again" sermons.

Evaluate your goal:

9. Feel: better a little too informal than a little too formal.

Informal means warm and relaxed, not sloppy and poorly planned. Casual contemporary dress should prevail. Aim for excellence, without being stuffy. Do things differently. Don't print the order of service in the worship folder. Remove the pulpit completely from the platform.

Evaluate your feel:

10. Welcome: better a little too non-threatening than a little too threatenin.

Make the welcome time fun and non-threatening. Welcome guests but allow them to remain anonymous. Encourage guests to relax and enjoy the service. Ask them not to give to the offering.

Evaluate your welcome:

Evaluations

A "1" or "2" on individual scales indicates an area that needs immediate attention.
A "6" or "7" indicates a good healthy situation.
A "3" to "5" are points that need further evaluation.

Add all circled numbers to tally your total score

A score of 10 - 30 is poor. You need to redesign your worship services.
A score of 31 - 50 is fair. Carefully evaluate each area to see where strengths and weakness are found.
A score of 51 - 70 is good. Keep up the good work.