According to research provided by Leadership Network about 50% of the approximately 8,000 multisite churches out there are delivering preaching in their weekend worship services via video. Even though 8,000 churches are doing it successfully I’m still frequently asked if video teaching really works. So here are a couple of thoughts that may help:
#1 I never watched Jesus preach His best Sermon live
I never saw Jesus preach His best sermon (the sermon on the mount) live, but it’s changed my life. It was written down for us to read because that was the medium that was available at that time in history. My guess is if iPhones existed at that time someone would have recorded that incredible sermon and posted it on YouTube for all of us to see and hear first hand.
#2 Everyone is against it in principle until they experience it
Most people are against the idea of video teaching until they personally experience it. I’ve seen firsthand people quickly forget that they’re watching video preaching and begin to interact with video by laughing, nodding their heads, raising their hands when asked to by the pastor, and even stand up and walk to a volunteer to say yes to following Jesus. All through video teaching.
#3 The Early Church had Multisite tendencies
While the Apostle Paul was busy going around planting new churches and developing young leaders to care for and lead those new churches, those same churches were busy listening to Paul’s teaching. Not live mind you, but rather they would pass around his letters from church to church to read out loud for the church to hear.
#4 It’s a Proven Model
The truth is video teaching is working. The fact that more than 8,000 multisite churches are delivering teaching via video demonstrates that it’s a proven model. In fact at the church I serve at we even have a traditional campus that is video. It’s a full on traditional service with a choir stained glass windows and an average age demographic of 70. And it’s working.
Interested in learning more? Check out this article I wrote earlier this year: “Video Teaching Versus Live Teaching in a Multisite Church”
Photo Credit: pvj photography via Compfight cc
Posted in Leadership
To anyone looking for a sound rejoinder, pick up a copy of Jared Wilson’s The Prodigal Church. I think he expresses well the concerns and cautions of video teaching without poo-pooing its “effectiveness.”
As to #4, the qualifier has to be what exactly is proven? That you can have more sites and bigger numbers, sure. But that it is effective for deepening disciples and growing godly preachers and teachers is unproven.
It’s almost as if from #3 you’re arguing this is a move toward a more apostolic means: i.e., fewer communicators is more biblical. I don’t really think you mean that…but let’s not lose sight of Paul’s context. We’re talking about literally passing around the letters of the Bible when there were about 11 preachers (generous) in the WORLD.
The reason Jesus’ communication is so incredible–aside from being God in flesh–even in written form, is because he was present to the people around him. He played off of their responses and reactions and spoke according to who was present.