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Video Teaching Versus Live Teaching in a Multisite Church

When the multisite movement really began gaining public traction 10 years ago the predominate models that were held up were using video to deliver teaching across their campuses. Since those early days the multisite movement has begun to grow up a bit and today about 50% of the 8,000 (ballpark) multisite churches are delivering teaching via video while the other 50% are using live teaching in their locations. But what are the pros and cons? Which model is best for your church?

Video Teaching:

  • Simply put the biggest “win,” when it comes to delivering teaching via video is consistency. Consistency in vision, language, culture, and leadership coming through one clear consistent voice simply cannot be overstated in its value.
  • Leveraging the gift of a great communicator at every location instead of good communicators at every location.
  • Embracing the technology of video teaching provides a certain nimbleness and flexibility for the church to respond to opportunity and expand the reach of the Gospel.

Live Teaching:

  • Some people simply will never accept teaching delivered over a screen.
  • Less financial investment in the technology needed to support video capture, delivery, and playback.
  • There are actually few communicators gifted enough to transfer effectively across video (they’re not growing on trees).
  • Natural succession planning allows each campus to become it’s own independent church in the future more easily.

Don’t hear what I’m not saying. I’m not making a case for either option. I don’t believe one is better than the other. I believe better communication is better communication period. Whether it’s delivered via video or live. But I do believe there is a right decision for each multisite church based on the factors listed above among other things.

So what’s missing? What would you add to the conversation?

Photo Credit: kevin dooley via Compfight cc


Posted in Leadership

2 Responses to “Video Teaching Versus Live Teaching in a Multisite Church”

  1. Nick Blevins October 19, 2015 at 1:42 pm #

    We were discussing this some at the coaching network with Tony a couple weeks ago. I agree that few preachers are good at live and video teaching. I also think a plus for video is that you can leverage the leadership gift within some campus pastors who don’t preach and would never plant a church or lead a campus where they teach often.

  2. Peter Redwine August 6, 2016 at 1:23 am #

    Hi Paul,

    My dad visited SVCC-CG with me last week. My parents are in the process of moving from the Seattle area to Tucson. They attended a Missionary Alliance church there. The worship was awesome! To praise God with my dad to music and lyrics that connect us to Him (and each other!) was so awesome! It’s been years since we’ve been able to do that.

    But even better, and the point of this reply to this blog post, is that my dad was extremely impressed with how well done the video sermon was. He had been dubious at first, but really enjoyed it. It didn’t hurt any that it was the best sermon Robert has ever given. We also got to enjoy being part of Baptism Sunday, including the opportunity to watch an entire family get baptized! In any case, thank you for your part in the direction SVCC is taking.

    PS – Next week we get to adopt our youngest foster son, which is also the fruit of seeds planted by SVCC nearly three years ago. Hopefully the other two foster kids will be ours permanently within the next 60 days.

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