As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
“over the years, pioneering producers in Christian television expanded into interview programs, documentaries, concert specials and drama…. But despite all those brave attempts, a curious thing happened. Preaching on television endured.” - The Baptist Paper
“For the time being, we continue to offer it as a help to those who are legitimately unable to attend church due to illness. However, to ensure it is being used for only that purpose, we put it behind a password.” - Challies
“Services like MultiTracks, PraiseCharts, and SongSelect offer tools that allow big churches to replicate the recorded versions of new worship songs. Bishop says that for larger churches with the teams and budget, those resources are ideal. But it’s not what most smaller churches need.” - Christianity Today
Deplatforming: “Use of the word has expanded to include banning, limiting, or demonetizing an individual or organization’s social media access based on the content or ideology of their message.” - Maranatha Baptist Univ
Hat tip: P&D
“American Bible Society study finds majority don’t trust technology with spiritual matters.” - Christianity Today
By Brian Richard
For pastors, the last decade has presented a perfect storm of cultural upheaval, societal trends, and accelerated change. Pastors constantly face difficult and pressing questions about how to “do church” in the twenty-first century. Since the internet has fundamentally changed almost every aspect of our lives, many ask, “Why shouldn’t the church change too?”
“AI and ChatGPT … make a tantalizing, almost irresistible offer: They’ll do your work for you. They’ll write the sermon, exegete the passage, draft the lesson plan, and outline the discussion questions while you get to the real work of ministry.” - CToday
Read the series.
It’s always a great privilege to speak in a new church, but it’s a privilege that also requires precise preparation!
As I have written previously in this series, I strive to ask the following questions before I go into a church to speak for the first time:
“Some 17% of U.S. adults regularly attend religious services in person and watch them online or on TV….Roughly three-quarters of this group…say they prefer attending in person” - Pew
Discussion