By Shaun Junggren
By far, one of my all-time favorite TV shows is 24. Maybe it was the non-stop action. Maybe it was the clandestine espionage and constant suspense. Maybe it was because every episode was an excuse to hook up with my buddies and celebrate all things testosterone.
Whatever the case, 24 was a breath of fresh air. It was well written, well-acted and had production values previously reserved for big budget movies. Premiering in November of 2001 on the heels of 9/11, it arrived like a providential mandate. Now Jack is Back with 24: Live Another Day.
So please allow me to hand down some church programming wisdom bestowed upon me by my sage mentor, Jack Bauer…
10. Keep Your Audience Wanting More
One of the keys to 24’s success was their mastery of “the tease.” Their marketing compelled you to tune in. You wouldn’t dare miss the season premier. Then, within the individual episodes, before every commercial break, they’d leave you on the edge of your seat.
Do the same with your church services.
Create compelling marketing that uses a bit of mystery to draw people to your next series. Once you get them there, deliver. Make them wonder what is coming next. End each week with some unanswered question that compels them to return next week. Every segment, every service and every series should leave people eagerly anticipating how you could possibly top yourselves next time.
9. Don’t Telegraph What’s Coming Next
There’s a fine line between “teasing” and “telegraphing.” Predictability kills a show and will kill your service. Don’t tell people what you’re going to do next week or after announcements--just do it. Your pastor doesn’t need to end the sermon with “next, our Children’s Choir is going to bless our socks off with ‘Jesus Loves Me’”. Instead, let him finish with an “amen” then BAM--choir starts rocking out. Train your on-mic people to not spoil the surprises.
8. Don’t Waste a Precious Second
24 employed the memorable narrative device of a countdown clock before and after commercial breaks reminding you that every second of this show was meaningful. There was no downtime. They kept things moving. They knew that they only had 60 minutes with the viewer each week and they didn’t want to give them any opportunity to disengage from the story.
Unfortunately, many church services don’t give enough attention to making every minute count. Too often, we don’t think through our transitions and leave “dead time” on stage. Don’t give your congregation an excuse for their minds to wander--our story is too important.
7. No Matter How Good You Are, You’re Better With a Team
It’s been said that Jack Bauer is so tough that Superman wears Jack Bauer pajamas. Highly trained and intelligent, Jack was capable of incredible feats. But as skilled as he was, he was always better when he had a committed team surrounding him.
Do you think you’re badder than Jack!? Sorry to be the bearer of bad news: but you’re not…and neither am I.
We need to surround ourselves with talented and/or committed people. Yes, it’s hard work building and maintaining a team. Sure, sometimes we’re capable of getting incredible results on our own. But ultimately, saving the world is a big task and we’re going to need good people around us.
6. Sometimes The Enemy Is On Your Team
I can’t count how many times a supposed “good guy” took Jack down. The same thing could happen within one of our teams.
I know it doesn’t sound very Christian-y to say, but sometimes it’s best to cut someone loose before they bring you and your mission down. To be sure, firing somebody that volunteers their time for free feels strange, but I’ve had to do it several times for the sake of mission and unity. Usually what follows is a season of unprecedented team chemistry, joy and productivity. However…
[Cliff-hanger alert: you’ll have to tune in next time to see how it all turns out!]
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Shaun Junggren has been leading, writing and recording worship music for over 20 years. For the bulk of that time he was honored to serve as the Pastor of Worship and Creative Arts at a Seattle suburban Bible church.
Like so many creative directors, he learned a lot by failing a lot. That's why, together with longtime friend/ministry partner, Kendon Shaw, he recently launched www.thesundayspark.com. "We're all passionate about creating amazing experiences with God and our people. We don't want our lack of training, budgets, facilities or workforce to snuff out that fire. That's what the Sunday Spark community is all about - keeping a fire lit in worship leaders and in worship services through training, inspiration and helpful resources."
Shaun recently escaped the Seattle rain and relocated to Nashville, TN where he eats too much barbecue and loves life with his wife and two kids.
