Hosting Workshop

Hosting Workshop Slides( Google Sheet)

Here’s my goals for us today

1. Elevate the role of hosting. It’s an important role
2. Give you some tips/tricks to do it well
3. Have some fun

Here’s what we’re going to cover today, in our time.

1. WHY IS HOSTING IMPORTANT
2. WHAT HOSTING IS NOT
3. WHAT HOSTING IS
4. HOW TO HOST WELL

But before we do that, I want you to close your eyes and imagine you are watching your favorite movie or TV show. Put yourself in the middle of the it—just before the good part, just before the high point of action. The killer is about to be revealed, or maybe the actors are going to kiss, maybe it’s the car scene. Whatever it is, it’s the pinnacle of the show. Are you there yet? Raise your hand when you’re there.  Now open your eyes.

***Bad Commercial*** (video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICppcKiwrPw

Okay, that’s a bad commercial, but it’s an effective commercial because it draws you away from your movie, your show, your streaming, and causes you to notice it.

You laugh, but unfortunately, this happens often in churches, including some of our Zero Collective churches. The worship team/leader has put in a ton of time and effort picking out songs, practicing, and having his/her team show up early for rehearsal. The communicator or Lead Pastor has put in a ton of time into preparing and listening to God about what He would want him/her to say, and the person in charge of hosting has either not prepared or unfortunately, and maybe unintentionally created a hurdle, a breaking point, a stop if you will in the service because they have not mastered the opportunity to connect the worship with the sermon.

We’ve all been there, experienced this, and felt uncomfortable for the host as well as ourselves. But what if I told you it could have been avoided? What if I said that if the host had simply applied some of the tips we’ll discuss today, things could be different? Would you believe me? But before we get into how, let’s talk about why this matters. We always need to start with the why.

WHY IS HOSTING IMPORTANT?

Hosting is an opportunity to shepherd God’s people, and whenever you get the chance to shepherd God’s people, it is a rich time connecting them to Him and the other believers.

Here are three reasons why hosting is so important. I’m going to go over these quick, but they are important.

1. Sets the Tone and Builds Engagement

The host helps set the emotional and spiritual tone for the service. A warm, authentic, welcoming host invites people in—especially guests—helping them feel seen and included. Effective hosting bridges the gap between “watching” and “participating,” drawing the congregation into the worship experience rather than leaving them as observers.

1. Creates Transitions and Flow

Hosting provides the connective thread that ties together songs, prayer, teaching, and other elements. Without it, the service can feel disjointed or abrupt. A skilled host introduces moments smoothly, explains what’s coming next, and keeps focus on the purpose of each part—worshiping God.

1. Bridges the Gap

Hosting balances the sacred flow of worship with practical communication—like explaining the next steps, giving opportunities for people to give, or talking about special events—without breaking the flow of the worship. This allows people to experience God and understand how to take action in the church.

So, those are the three reasons WHY hosting is important. Now, let’s discuss what hosting is; however, I’ve found it’s sometimes easier to define what something is NOT before we define what it is. So, here’s the top 5 things Hosting is not…

HOSTING IS NOT

• Hosting is NOT a commercial interruption to the service.
• Hosting is NOT about the person hosting. Please don’t make it about you.
• Hosting is NOT you trying to sell people on something.
• Hosting is NOT the time for your stand-up comedy routine.
• Hosting is NOT a time to make announcements; although you will be conveying information, you are NOT making announcements. In fact, eliminate that word from your vocabulary regarding hosting.

So if Hosting is not any of those things, what is it?

WHAT IS HOSTING

Hosting is an opportunity to do three things.

1. Welcome and Connect.

Hosting helps set the tone for the entire service. It’s the ministry of hospitality—welcoming people warmly, creating a sense of belonging, and preparing hearts to engage with God. A good host bridges the gap between the platform and the congregation, making everyone feel seen and valued, whether they’re first-time guests or longtime members.

1. Guide people through the service.

Hosting provides direction and flow. The host helps transition between moments—worship, announcements, offering, and teaching—in a way that keeps people spiritually focused and emotionally connected. Through tone, words, and posture, the host invites people to encounter God, not just attend a service.

1. Represent the culture and vision of the church.

The way a host communicates tells the congregation what it values. The person hosting embodies the church’s heart, its joy, its authenticity, and its mission. This person reinforces the “why” behind what the church does and models the culture to the congregation. This is why finding the right person to host is so important! Not everybody who hosts for you represents your church well. So here’s my question to the Worship Pastors and Pastors in the room: Do your hosts represent the culture and vision of your church, or are they simply people who are willing to do it because no one else said yes?

Tell Story here of FL and First Impressions Coordinator

HOW TO HOST WELL

Okay, let’s get into the specifics and practicals of how to do this well. Before we do, let me ask those of you who host a question. Do you get nervous before hosting?

Me too. It’s good to be nervous because it shows you care. But here’s the deal: I can’t promise you won’t get nervous, but I can promise that if you prepare well, you won’t be nearly as nervous. Because this system works—I know I’ve used it, and I still use it every time.

So let’s jump in, How to Host well…First thing you’re going to need to do it well, is you need a bunch of information.

1. Connect with both the Worship Pastor and Communicator BEFORE you host
   1. From the Worship Pastor:
      1. What needs to be communicated
      2. How often are you on stage (1x, 2x, more?)
      3. How much time do you have each time
      4. Are there any special parts to the worship service
         1. Baptism
         2. Communion
         3. Salvation response
         4. Child Dedication
      5. What song are you coming up after
         1. Does the song end high or low energy(match the energy of the room)
      6. What mic are you supposed to use
      7. vii.Where are you supposed to stand
         1. Do you have room to walk around, or will you block the cameras
      8. viii.Are the slides in the proper order for what you are communicating and are they accurate?
      9. What camera should you pay close attention to
   2. From the Communicator:
      1. What is the message about
      2. What is his/her main point
      3. What does he/she hope people take away from today
      4. Ask this question, “How best can I set you up today?”

Ok, now that you have all that information, you can go and host, right? NO! Now actually comes the challenging part: you have to take all that information and put it in some logical order

1. Gather the information you need to communicate and look for a theme. Think of a theme as a thread. You are stringing together a bunch of random things with one single thread. What is your thread? How are you connecting the song, the information needing to be communicated, and, more than likely, the offering and setting up the communicator’s message with a single thread?

I’ll be honest with you, this is the most challenging part of the process. More than standing up in front of people, more than anything else you’ll do with hosting, finding a great theme is the toughest part of hosting. But here’s the deal: when you find a great theme/thread, hosting is a ton easier.

1. 1. Possible Themes:
      1. Core values
         1. Raw/vulnerable
         2. Intentional apprenticing
         3. Yes, Before How
         4. Discerning over Deciding
         5. Collaborative
      2. Prayer
      3. Community
      4. Next Steps
      5. Growth
      6. Celebration
      7. vii.Family
      8. viii.Behind the scenes
      9. Invitation
      10. Seasonal
      11. Belonging
      12. xii.Purpose
      13. xiii.Future forward
      14. xiv.Working together
      15. New Beginnings
      16. xvi.Mission
      17. xvii.Gratitude
      18. xviii.Hope
      19. xix.Calling
      20. xx.Impact

1. Now that you have all the information and have decided on a theme, it’s time to discuss the specifics of communicating that information. Do these 3 things, and you’ll knock it out of the park.

• Be Clear
  • Know what you are talking about before ever getting up.  If you don’t know something, find out FIRST
• Be Concise
  • Know your time limits
  • People don’t want to hear you ramble on
• Be Consistent
  • Be yourself, don’t be someone else.
  • Be AUTHENTIC.

1. There are four primary sections of Hosting.

1. 1. Acknowledge the Moment

1. 1. 1. Start your theme/thread here
      2. This can be a time of prayer, meditation, celebration, or lament.
      3. IMPORTANT: MATCH the energy of the room
         1. If it’s high and upbeat, don’t be a Debbie Downer
         2. If it’s slow and somber, don’t come blasting into the room
      4. Listen to how the Holy Spirit directs you towards

1. 1. Items to be Communicated
      1. Continue your theme/thread.
      2. Put the items in a logical order for you
         1. Do it by date
         2. Do it by importance
         3. Do it alphabetical
      3. Know the items/things you need to communicate
         1. You don’t need to memorize dates/times; people can read the screen, but give them a reason why it’s important.

1. 1. Offering

1. 1. 1. Continue your theme/thread.
      2. Connect a story to giving
         1. Stories inspire movement and change. Information doesn’t.
      3. Don’t use the cop-out of just saying Thank You for your giving
      4. What does the Bible say about tithes/offerings?
         1. Matt 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
         2. Numbers 18:26 “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the LORD’s offering.
         3. Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
         4. Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will overflow, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
      5. Know the different groups you are speaking to
         1. Person that’s never given to a local church before —> Maybe today you need to take that next step
         2. Inconsistent givers —> You give irregularly, or you give when you hope to get something in return
         3. Regular givers —> What does it mean to do more? Do you need to increase your giving?

1. 1. Prayer
      1. Continue your theme in setting up the message
      2. Don’t repeat the stuff you already talked about
      3. This doesn’t need to be long, but it does need to be authentic
      4. Remember, you’re talking to God, and others are just listening in

Last bit of Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s

• Be prepared. I typically spend 2-3 hours preparing to host. It gets faster and easier the more you do it, but I would block out at least a couple of hours getting everything together.
• Be yourself
• Have fun

Don’ts

• Don’t be a distraction
  • Make sure what you wear is not distracting
  • Make sure your microphone is not a distraction
  • Make sure you don’t just look to one side
  • Make sure you don’t just look at the people in the room
• Don’t memorize everything
  • Know your theme and know the main details. But don’t memorize it all. Instead, point to the screen for the details. People can read behind you. Your job is to add a reason why this is important.  
  • They’ll know if it sounds rehearsed or if it sounds fake.  People don’t resonate with fake.

****PASS OUT SHEETS****

OK…let me walk you through a scenario of how I would do a typical hosting on a Sunday morning, and then we’ll give some people a chance to try it as well.

  HOSTING WORKSHEET DATE Sunday, Nov. 2

From the Worship Pastor: Corey Post_________

• • What needs to be communicated?
    • Mission’s Giving Fund
    • Mission’s Reach the Forgotten
    • Baptism
    • Offering
  • How often am I on stage (1x, 2x, more?)
    • One time, but includes an Acknowledgement of the Moment at the start
  • How much time do I have?
    • 7 minutes
  • Are there any special parts to the worship service?
    • No
  • What song am I coming up after?
    • Great is thy Faithfulness (ends low)
  • What mic am I supposed to use?
    • Handheld by the stage marked “host”
  • Where am I supposed to stand?
    • Stand to the right of the podium, not to block the TV
  • Are the slides in the proper order for what I’m communicating?
    • They’ll come up in order unless you change them
  • What camera should I pay close attention to?
    • The one directly in front of you

From the Communicator: Brian Blum_____________

• What is the message about?
  • We’re in a sermon series titled Brick By Brick.
• What is his/her main point?
  • Clarifying Expectations
• What does he/she hope people take away from today?
  • Clear expectation of discipleship vertically and clear expectations for our relationships horizontally
• Ask this question, “How best can I set you up today?”
  • Get my name right this time ☺.

  HOSTING WORKSHEET

Questions?

• What do the items that need to be communicated, the message, giving, and the song have in common? A lot of mission stuff, faithful, clarity
• Are there any simple themes from the list below? Faithfulness and Gratitude
• If not, what thread/theme can I easily remember? Family

Thread/Themes

Core values

Raw/vulnerable

Intentional apprenticing

Yes, Before How

Discerning over Deciding

Collaborative

Prayer

Community

Next Steps

Growth

Celebration

Family

Faithfulness

Behind the scenes

Invitation

  Seasonal

Belonging

  Purpose

Future forward

Working together

New Beginnings

Mission

Gratitude

Hope

Calling

Impact

  HOSTING SCENARIO #1

From the Worship Pastor:__________________

• • What needs to be communicated?
    • Connections card
    • Newcomer’s Lunch next Sunday
    • Women’s event on Nov. 10
    • Offering
  • How often am I on stage (1x, 2x, more?)
    • One time
  • How much time do I have?
    • 6 minutes
  • Are there any special parts to the worship service?
    • No
  • What song am I coming up after?
    • Cornerstone (ends low energy)
  • What mic am I supposed to use?
    • Handheld by the stage marked “host”
  • Where am I supposed to stand?
    • Stand to the right of the podium, not to block the TV
  • Are the slides in the proper order for what I’m communicating?
    • They’ll come up in order unless you change them
  • What camera should I pay close attention to?
    • The one on the back wall

From the Communicator:____________________

• What is the message about?
  • Sermon series titled Overcommitted. Today is overcommitted to appearances
• What is your main point?
  • Man looks on the outside, God sees the heart
• What do you hope people take away from today?
  • Your identity is in Christ, not the world
• Ask this question, “How best can I set you up today?”
  • Have people think through how much time and money they spend on appearances

  HOSTING SCENARIO #2

From the Worship Pastor:_____________________

• • What needs to be communicated?
    • Parent Meeting tonight
    • New Small Groups starting today
    • Newcomer’s Lunch next week
    • Offering
  • How often am I on stage (1x, 2x, more?)
    • One time but includes an Acknowledgement of the Moment at the start
  • How much time do I have each time?
    • 7 minutes
  • Are there any special parts to the worship service?
    • No
  • What song am I coming up after?
    • You’ve already won (ends high energy)
  • What mic am I supposed to use?
    • Handheld by the stage marked “host”
  • Where am I supposed to stand?
    • Stand to the right of the podium, not to block the TV
  • Are the slides in the proper order for what I am communicating?
    • They’ll come up in order unless you change them
  • What camera should I pay close attention to?
    • The one on the back wall

From the Communicator:________________________

• What is the message about?
  • Sermon series titled Brick By Brick.
• What is your main point?
  • God is not afraid of our depths, he desires to dwell in that place
• What do you hope people take away from today?
  • People will get in touch with what emotions lie below the surface
• Ask this question, “How best can I set you up today?”
  • Identify what’s below the surface in your own “emotional iceberg”

  HOSTING WORKSHEET

From the Worship Pastor:_____________________

• • What needs to be communicated?

• • How often am I on stage (1x, 2x, more?)

• • How much time do I have each time?

• • Are there any special parts to the worship service?

• • What song am I coming up after? Does it end high or low?

• • What mic am I supposed to use?

• • Where am I supposed to stand?

• • Are the slides in the proper order for what I am communicating?

• • What camera should I pay close attention to?

From the Communicator:________________________

• What is the message about?

• What is your main point?

• What do you hope people take away from today?

• Ask this question, “How best can I set you up today?”

  HOSTING WORKSHEET

Questions?

• What do the items that need to be communicated, the message, giving, and the song have in common?
• Are there any simple threads/themes from the list below?
• If not, what thread/theme can I easily remember?

Thread/Themes

Core values

Raw/vulnerable

Intentional apprenticing

Yes, Before How

Discerning over Deciding

Collaborative

Prayer

Community

Next Steps

Growth

Celebration

Family

Faithfulness

Behind the scenes

Invitation

  Seasonal

Belonging

  Purpose

Future forward

Working together

New Beginnings

Mission

Gratitude

Hope

Calling

Impact