Is That Really Church?
on Jul 15 in Art and Media, Church, Leadership, WorshipSomething is on the horizon.¬† Some will consider it exciting.¬† Some will consider it heresy.¬† I wonder what you’ll think.
LifeChurch.tv is launching a website called VideoTeaching.com.  The site goes live July 21.   In a nutshell, churches can download a real pastor, giving a real sermon, and show it to their own church.
On video.
The possibilities might include…
* Instead of inviting guest speakers into churches, a “guest speaker” could actually be a gifted communicator, but on video.
* For the pastor who just needs a preaching break every 4-5 weeks, this model might work perfectly.
* Looking into the future – For the church with a great leader, who is not a gifted communicator – could this possibly be an every-week answer for them?
I’d love to know your thoughts on this.¬†¬† What are the benefits?¬† What are the drawbacks?¬† Could you deal with a video preacher if there was a strong leader, or a compassionate shepherd on staff at your church?
Or would you simply feel like you were watching TV?  And is that a bad thing?
Leave your thoughts here.¬† There’s actually a poll going on over at Collide Magazine, so go there and vote.¬† And subscribe to their magazine.
Crazy changes in what the church can look like.  So glad to be alive right now.
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I’ve given MUCH thought to that. In particular the idea of is a “web church”….church? I think we already seeing those things fleshing out in churches all over. I guess the question that I’m wrestling with is how do we live out the “one another’s” from the New Testament if we for example the only church you attend is virtual/online, etc. It’s my personal ministry philosophy that life change happens in the context of relationships. Can that happen online, video chatting, etc? I think to an extent but not in the fullness of what’s intended. Still processing through that.
This video-teaching thing I am not into.
I’ve been working on my credential lately and with each class I have the option to take the class on-line, or attend an on-sight class with a real instructor. My trek through credential school took me longer than most because I went out-of-my-way to make sure I could be on-campus. I learn very little from a video-teacher. I like the personal connection I feel when I am listening to (and yes participating with) a teacher. I like discussing what they are teaching (during if possible or) afterward. I don’t even like talking on the phone with my friends! I’d much prefer a face-to-face cup of coffee where it is not just a mental connection, but spiritual. God has designed me to be a person of relationship; it is foundational to me.
Even when I personally teach. I interact with the “crowd.” I can have the same “lesson” prepared and teach it differently every time depending on who’s in the room (or spiritually speaking, “where the Spirit is leading). To pop in a teaching video looses the connection of the message. If our teachings are nothing more than biblical information transference, than videos are a fine resource. If our goal, however, is transformation, the personal connection is invaluable.
Gary, Thanks for the post. And thanks to both Connie and Alan for your insights and sharing the learnings you’ve had in your journey.
We are very excited to see VideoTeaching.com launch, but it comes from the results and life change we’ve seen happen through it within the ministry of LifeChurch.tv. As a multi-site church that leverages video teaching across our campuses, it has been amazing to see the life change that occurs in peoples lives.
In fact our fastest growing campuses and fruit of people accepting Jesus have been in campuses that get their primary teaching via video week after week.
It is from those results and the evidence of God’s work through it that this idea was hatched and we are thrilled if making these resources available can help other churches and ministries see the same results.
If you have any questions or feedback we would love to connect!
Best,
Tony Steward
Online Community Pastor – LifeChurch.tv