🧭 Worship and Discipleship Restart Planner

Purpose

This worksheet helps a legacy or plateaued church rebuild worship, preaching, prayer, evangelism, hospitality, and disciple-making as part of a faithful church restart.

A church restart is not only a relaunch service. It is the prayerful rebuilding of a worshiping, gospel-clear, disciple-making community.

This plan supports Topic 12: Worship, Preaching, Prayer, Evangelism, and Discipleship Restart, which includes rebuilding worship, preaching, prayer, evangelism, hospitality, public witness, and a practical worship and discipleship restart plan.

1. Restart Vision Statement

Write a one-sentence vision for your worship and discipleship restart.

Our church restart vision is:

Sample Vision Statement

Our church restart vision is to gather again around Christ through Word, worship, prayer, repentance, hospitality, evangelism, and a clear disciple-making pathway that forms and sends trained Christian leaders.

2. Current Worship Assessment

Describe your current worship life honestly.

What is healthy and should be honored?

What feels tired, unclear, or disconnected?

What may need repentance, healing, or repair?

What may need fresh explanation for newcomers?

What may need to change for better hospitality and mission?

3. Worship Restart Priorities

Check the areas your church needs to strengthen.

☐ Scripture reading
☐ Biblical preaching
☐ Prayer
☐ Confession and repentance
☐ Lament after grief or wounds
☐ Worship music
☐ Communion or ordinance preparation
☐ Testimonies
☐ Hospitality before and after worship
☐ Clear welcome for visitors
☐ Children’s welcome and safety
☐ Intergenerational participation
☐ Sound, seating, lighting, or room setup
☐ Follow-up after worship
☐ Invitation to next steps
☐ Other: ______________________________________

Top Three Worship Restart Priorities

4. Preaching Restart Plan

A restarting church needs preaching that brings truth, repentance, hope, and mission.

What themes need to be preached in this season?

☐ The gospel of Jesus Christ
☐ Repentance and grace
☐ Healing after church wounds
☐ Hope for a discouraged church
☐ Prayer and dependence on God
☐ The mission of the church
☐ Making disciples
☐ Hospitality and witness
☐ Training new leaders
☐ Elders, deacons, and ministry roles
☐ Forgiveness and reconciliation
☐ Spiritual gifts and service
☐ The Holy Spirit and renewal
☐ Other: ______________________________________

First Sermon Series Idea

Title:

Scripture passages:

Main purpose:

How this series serves renewal:

5. Prayer Restart Plan

Prayer must move from occasional activity to the heart of renewal.

Prayer Rhythms to Begin or Rebuild

☐ Pre-service prayer
☐ Weekly prayer meeting
☐ Elder/deacon/board prayer
☐ Prayer walk through the building
☐ Prayer walk through the community
☐ Prayer for specific neighbors by name
☐ Prayer for former attenders
☐ Prayer for grieving families
☐ Prayer for young families
☐ Prayer for new leaders
☐ Prayer for evangelism
☐ Prayer for healing after wounds
☐ Prayer after worship services
☐ Online prayer gathering
☐ Other: ______________________________________

First Prayer Rhythm We Will Start

Who Will Lead It?

When Will It Begin?

6. Honest Church Prayer

Write a short prayer your church can use in this restart season.

Lord Jesus,

Amen.

Sample Prayer

Lord Jesus, this church belongs to you. Forgive what needs to be forgiven. Heal what has been wounded. Renew our worship. Teach us to pray again. Raise up trained leaders. Help us welcome our neighbors, share the gospel clearly, and make disciples with humility and courage. Amen.

7. Gospel Clarity Review

A restarting church should be able to explain the gospel clearly.

In simple words, how would your church explain the gospel?

Does your church clearly teach these gospel truths?

☐ God created us for relationship with him.
☐ Sin has broken our relationship with God and others.
☐ Jesus Christ died for sinners.
☐ Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
☐ Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ.
☐ Repentance and faith are the response to the gospel.
☐ New life in Christ leads to discipleship.
☐ The Holy Spirit empowers believers for witness and service.

What needs to become clearer?

8. Evangelism Restart Plan

A restarting church should pray for real people and train believers to witness with grace.

People or Groups We Are Praying For

Evangelism Practices to Rebuild

☐ Personal invitation to worship
☐ Testimony sharing
☐ Gospel conversation training
☐ Prayer for neighbors by name
☐ Follow-up with wedding families
☐ Follow-up with funeral families
☐ Community meal or table gathering
☐ Bible study for seekers
☐ New believer class
☐ Micro church or home gathering
☐ Community chaplaincy presence
☐ Coaching or care ministry bridge
☐ Other: ______________________________________

First Evangelism Practice We Will Begin

9. Hospitality Restart Plan

Hospitality helps newcomers feel seen, welcomed, and guided.

Hospitality Review

Walk through your church as though you are a first-time visitor.

Can visitors find the entrance?

Is the building clean, safe, and welcoming?

Are signs clear?

Are restrooms easy to find?

Are children and families welcomed safely?

Does someone explain what to expect?

Is follow-up respectful and clear?

Hospitality Roles Needed

☐ Door greeter
☐ Welcome table host
☐ Parking or entrance helper
☐ Children’s welcome helper
☐ Coffee or meal host
☐ Follow-up caller
☐ Prayer host
☐ Newcomer class leader
☐ Website or communication helper
☐ Other: ______________________________________

First Hospitality Improvement

10. Visitor Follow-Up Plan

Visitors should not be pressured, but they should not be forgotten.

How Will Visitors Share Contact Information?

☐ Connection card
☐ Online form
☐ Guest book
☐ Conversation with welcome host
☐ Prayer request card
☐ Other: ______________________________________

Follow-Up Timeline

☐ Within 24 hours
☐ Within 48 hours
☐ Within one week
☐ After next worship service
☐ Other: ______________________________________

Follow-Up Message Template

Hello __________________,

Thank you for visiting __________________ Church. We were grateful to have you with us. We would be honored to pray for you or answer any questions about the church. Is there any way we can encourage you this week?

With gratitude,

Follow-Up Leader

Name: ______________________________________

Role: ______________________________________

11. Disciple-Making Pathway

Complete a simple pathway for helping people move from first contact to mature discipleship.

Step 1: First Contact

How do people first connect with the church?

Step 2: Welcome

How are they welcomed and helped to understand the church?

Step 3: Gospel Conversation

How do they hear and respond to the gospel?

Step 4: Prayer and Scripture

How are they helped to begin prayer and Bible reading?

Step 5: Worship and Belonging

How do they become part of gathered worship and Christian community?

Step 6: Baptism / Communion / Ordinance Preparation

How are they guided into the church’s practice of baptism, communion, or ordinances?

Step 7: Small Group, Bible Study, or Micro Church

How are they connected relationally?

Step 8: Service

How do they discover gifts and begin serving?

Step 9: Training

How are potential leaders invited into CLI training?

Step 10: Multiplication

How are disciples trained to disciple others?

12. Baptism and New Believer Next-Step Plan

When someone asks about baptism, faith, or joining the church, the church should be ready.

Who Will Meet with the Person?

What Scripture Passages Will Be Used?

What Topics Will Be Covered?

☐ The gospel
☐ Repentance and faith
☐ Baptism
☐ Communion or ordinances
☐ Prayer
☐ Bible reading
☐ Church belonging
☐ Christian character
☐ Spiritual gifts
☐ Serving
☐ Giving
☐ Witness
☐ Other: ______________________________________

First New Believer Gathering or Class

Title:

Length:

Leader:

Start date:

13. Children, Youth, and Vulnerable Person Safety

A restart that welcomes families must include safety.

Safety Practices to Review

☐ Child check-in process
☐ Two-adult rule where appropriate
☐ Background checks where required by church policy
☐ Youth ministry guidelines
☐ Bathroom and classroom practices
☐ Transportation policies
☐ Digital communication boundaries
☐ Volunteer screening
☐ Emergency contact information
☐ Allergy awareness
☐ Incident reporting
☐ Vulnerable adult care practices
☐ Other: ______________________________________

Safety Improvements Needed Before Expansion

14. CLI/CLA Training Pathway

A restarting church needs trained leaders.

Potential Leaders to Invite into CLI Training

Training Areas Needed

☐ Bible knowledge
☐ Preaching
☐ Worship leadership
☐ Prayer ministry
☐ Evangelism
☐ Discipleship
☐ Hospitality
☐ Elder/deacon/board renewal
☐ Chaplaincy
☐ Wedding officiant ministry
☐ Funeral officiant ministry
☐ Life coaching or ministry coaching
☐ Micro church planting
☐ Ministry leadership
☐ Other: ______________________________________

CLA Recognition or Ordination Possibilities

☐ Officiant role
☐ Minister role
☐ Chaplain role
☐ Ministry Coach role
☐ Local commissioning
☐ Mentor or board review
☐ Other: ______________________________________

15. Worship-to-Mission Connection

How will gathered worship lead into ministry during the week?

After Sunday Worship, People Can Take These Next Steps

☐ Join a prayer group
☐ Attend a Bible study
☐ Meet with a mentor
☐ Request baptism conversation
☐ Join a micro church
☐ Serve on hospitality team
☐ Join visitation ministry
☐ Join chaplaincy parish ministry
☐ Train as a wedding or funeral officiant
☐ Train as a life coaching or ministry coaching minister
☐ Help with children or youth ministry after screening and training
☐ Begin CLI training
☐ Invite a friend or neighbor
☐ Other: ______________________________________

Our Clearest Next-Step Invitation Each Sunday Will Be:

16. First 90-Day Restart Plan

Month 1: Pray and Clarify

☐ Begin a prayer rhythm
☐ Review worship honestly
☐ Identify preaching themes
☐ Write gospel explanation
☐ List people to pray for by name
☐ Review hospitality from a visitor’s perspective
☐ Choose first disciple-making pathway step
☐ Identify potential leaders for CLI training

Month 2: Train and Prepare

☐ Train greeters and hospitality volunteers
☐ Prepare visitor follow-up process
☐ Begin sermon series for renewal
☐ Create new believer or newcomer gathering
☐ Review child and vulnerable person safety practices
☐ Assign follow-up leader
☐ Invite potential leaders into CLI training
☐ Begin prayer for evangelism and disciple-making

Month 3: Begin and Review

☐ Launch improved worship and hospitality rhythm
☐ Begin visitor follow-up
☐ Begin new believer or newcomer gathering
☐ Track discipleship next steps
☐ Review prayer rhythm
☐ Review hospitality feedback
☐ Review safety concerns
☐ Review CLI training participation
☐ Adjust the pathway before expanding

17. Monthly Restart Review

Use these questions each month.

1. Are we praying regularly and honestly?

2. Is worship becoming more Christ-centered, clear, and hospitable?

3. Is preaching helping the church move toward repentance, hope, and mission?

4. Are visitors being followed up respectfully?

5. Are people hearing the gospel clearly?

6. Are new believers or seekers receiving next steps?

7. Are children, youth, and vulnerable people protected?

8. Are members being trained for ministry?

9. Are we tracking people, not just attendance?

10. What needs to be changed next month?

18. Final Worship and Discipleship Restart Summary

Our Restart Vision

Our Worship Restart Priorities

Our First Sermon Series

Our Prayer Rhythm

Our Gospel Explanation

Our Hospitality Plan

Our Visitor Follow-Up Plan

Our Disciple-Making Pathway

Our CLI/CLA Training Pathway

Our 90-Day Next Step

Final Encouragement

A legacy church is not restarted by one strong Sunday.

It is restarted as God’s people return to Christ, gather around the Word, pray honestly, welcome others with love, share the gospel clearly, and make disciples faithfully.

Start small.

Pray for real people.
Preach Christ clearly.
Welcome the stranger.
Follow up with care.
Train new leaders.
Build a simple pathway.
Measure faithfulness, not only attendance.

A restarted church is not merely open again.

It is alive again in worship, witness, discipleship, and mission.