Elevate Your Congregation's Engagement: Creating and Sharing Sermon Notes
In today's digital age, providing accessible and interactive sermon notes is a powerful way to enhance your congregation's engagement with the weekly message. By leveraging the capabilities of Planning Center Publishing, Church Center, and YouVersion Bible events, we can create a seamless experience for your church members. Follow this step-by-step guide to set up and share your sermon notes effectively.
Step 1: Set Up and Create Your Sermon Notes in YouVersion Bible
If you don't have a YouVersion account:
Go to the YouVersion website (www.youversion.com) or download the YouVersion Bible app from your device's app store.
Click on "Sign Up" or "Create Account."
You can sign up using your email address, or connect with your Google, Facebook, or Apple account.
Follow the prompts to complete your account setup.
Once you have an account, log in to YouVersion.
Navigate to the "Events" section. In the app, this might be under "More" or a menu icon.
Click on "Create New Event."
Choose "Sermon" as the event type.
Fill in the sermon details, including title, date, and time.
Add your sermon notes, scripture references, and any additional resources.
Save and publish the event.
Step 2: Generate a Shareable Link in YouVersion
Once your sermon event is published, locate it in your YouVersion Events dashboard.
Look for the "Share" or "Get Link" option.
Copy the provided link – this is what we'll use in Planning Center Publishing.
Step 3: Create a Sermon Notes Link in Planning Center Publishing
Log in to your Planning Center account.
Navigate to the "Publishing" module.
Select "Add Item" or "Create New."
Choose "Link" as the item type.
Name your item (e.g., "This Week's Sermon Notes").
In the URL field, paste the YouVersion event link you copied earlier.
Add a brief description to encourage engagement.
Set the publication date to align with your sermon schedule.
Save the item.
Step 4: Display the Sermon Notes in Church Center
Still in Planning Center Publishing, locate your newly created Sermon Notes link.
Click on the item to open its details.
Look for the "Visibility" or "Display" settings.
Ensure that "Show in Church Center" is toggled on.
If desired, you can also set it to display on your church's website if it's integrated with Planning Center.
Step 5: Promote and Share
In your church announcements or newsletter, let your congregation know about this new feature.
Provide clear instructions on how to access Church Center (via app or web).
Encourage members to bring their devices to the service or access the notes throughout the week for deeper study.
Best Practices for Engagement
Update your sermon notes link weekly to keep content fresh and relevant.
Use compelling titles that spark curiosity and encourage clicks.
Include discussion questions in your YouVersion event to promote small group conversations.
Consider creating a QR code linking directly to your Church Center sermon notes page for easy access.
By following these steps, you're not just sharing information – you're creating an interactive experience that extends beyond Sunday morning. This approach allows your congregation to engage more deeply with the message, fostering spiritual growth and community connection throughout the week.
Remember, consistency is key. Make this a regular part of your weekly preparation and watch as engagement with your sermon content grows over time. Happy publishing!
Jason Silbernagel
Co-founder, Threefold Solutions
P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support.
#1: Need help with implementation? Reach out to us at info@threefold.solutions or contact us here.
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