Easter is this weekend, and you will likely have some guests at your church – perhaps many. Make sure that the language that you use throughout the services is understandable to them. If you truly need to use a “church-y” word in your message, explain it. Don’t assume knowledge.
That goes for the service host/announcement time, as well. Remember, guests don’t know the layout of your building (or the terminology that you use for different rooms). They don’t know your staff, so saying something like “If you’re new today, connect with Pastor John after the service” is meaningless. One that I find especially irritating – because it’s so avoidable – is the use of acronyms. Using verbal shorthand only works when everyone knows what you’re talking about. For instance, don’t let your service host say something like: “We have several spots open in our SLGs – it’s not too late to get plugged in!”
If you’re a newbie, you’ll likely be scratching your head: “What in the world are SLG’s?” Even if you grasp from the context that they are some sort of group, the question is what kind? Are they “Student Led Groups?” Or “Serving & Leadership Groups?” Or “Senior Ladies Groups?” Write out what you’re going to say, and have someone read it over to make sure that it’s guest-friendly (because the alternative is guest-unfriendly).
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