Every so often, you come across a church practice that quietly but profoundly reshapes how people engage with faith, scripture, and one another. A few years ago, I witnessed one of those practices firsthand at a church in the UK. It was called Preachtastic.
On paper, the format sounds simple. Once every month or two, instead of the usual sermon delivered by a single pastor, the church hosted a service made up of three to four short, 7-minute sermons. Each sermon was delivered by a different person in the congregation. These weren’t staff or seminary-trained preachers, but ordinary members of the community—people who had been given a Bible verse several weeks in advance and asked to reflect on it and share their personal interpretation.
Some talked about how the verse had guided them through a difficult season. Others shared fresh theological insights or described how it had come alive in their everyday lives. Before preaching, each talk was reviewed by senior leadership to ensure theological soundness and support the speaker. But the tone and content came from them—their voice, their story, their journey with God.
Why It Worked
The results were remarkable.
- Engagement shot up. Shorter messages meant people stayed focused. The variety of perspectives created energy and anticipation. Each speaker brought something unique—tone, background, personality—and the service felt more like a mosaic than a monologue.
- New voices were elevated. Most of the people who preached weren’t even Christians a year or two prior. Many had come to faith in that very church. And now, here they were—up front, sharing the Gospel in their own words. It became a tangible sign of transformation.
- Outreach expanded naturally. Every person speaking brought a crowd—friends, family, co-workers. You couldn’t find a better reason to invite someone to church: “I’m preaching this Sunday—would you come?” Many of those guests stayed. Some came to faith. A few even preached the next Preachtastic.
It wasn’t just a clever format. It was a catalyst.
Theological Foundation
The format may seem unconventional, but it’s deeply biblical.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 14:26:
“When you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.”
This wasn’t a passive congregation. It was active, participatory, diverse in voice. Preachtastic channels this spirit—welcoming multiple contributions, rooted in Scripture, and designed to build up the church.
Likewise, in Acts 13:15, we see Paul being invited to share a word after the public reading of the Law and Prophets. This open format—where someone in the gathering could speak into the moment—was a normal part of worship in the early church.
Not Business As Usual—But Maybe That’s the Point
Preachtastic wasn’t weekly. It wasn’t the main meal. It was an occasional invitation to hear from the community itself. And in a time when many churches are rethinking how to reach and disciple people—especially those not raised in the faith—it’s worth considering formats that prioritize accessibility, authenticity, and participation.
Jesus’ ministry wasn’t confined to formal structures. He preached on hillsides, at dinner tables, in boats, in homes. And he sent others out to do the same—ordinary people entrusted with extraordinary truth.
Preachtastic tapped into that same current. And the ripple effects I saw in that church—more voices, more newcomers, more transformed lives—were anything but ordinary.
If the goal is to meet people where they are and draw them into the story of God, maybe the best way forward is to let more people tell it.
George Payne 