In discussion with several shepherd friends today our subject was the impact that electronic media is having on church life and how Marshall McLuhan's axiom "The medium is the message" is more fitting today than ever.
In light of how electronic media tend to disconnect us from each other to the point of disembodiment we wondered how an incarnate Christ would fare in a church where we are more connected to people hundreds of miles away than we are with those who are in the room.
If media is simply an extension of our selves is there a neglected niche market for real flesh and blood ministry? When the gospel is constantly presented through TV, DVD, Internet, Ipad/pod/phones, and big screens in church there may come a time when it will seem cool and novel to share truth with someone face to face, one on one with spoken language. At that point the obscure pastor in his humble little church will be positioned to capture the moment with a new medium, the gospel incarnated in a human being.
See this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9iw6oluE_A&feature=related
Rich Earl is author of Shepherds Balm, a weekly devotional for pastors and church staff. www.shepherdsbalm.com
Monday, June 13, 2011
A niche market for the Gospel- Flesh and Blood!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
C3 ANALYSIS
Leaders from across PennDel met this week to pray, evaluate and plan for the future of C3 in the PennDel Ministry Network. In the Monday night session Pastor Steve led an analysis. Here are some of the areas discussed:
STRENGTHS OF C3
• Camaraderie
• Shared Resources
• Permission Giving
• Small Group Fellowship
• Leadership Multiplied (More Openings)
• Everyone has Something to Offer
• Depth of Relationship
• Cross Pollination
• Several Tracks to Choose From
• Safe Place (Accountability)
• Shared Responsibility
• Celebrate Wins Together
• More Horizontal
WEAKNESSES OF C3
• Camaraderie Can Become Exclusive
• Voluntary
• Institutional Management is Difficult
• Lack of Clarity
• Perception
• Duplication
• Can Lack Spiritual Vitality
• Less Sectional Fellowships
• Lack of Reproducible Things
• Loss of Diversity
• Less of Senior Adult Participation
• Vision Leakage
• Need to Re-communicate the Vision
• New People Need to be Educated
• Easier to Hide
• Challenging to Evaluate
OPPORTUNITIES
• Training
• Clarity
• New Groups, New Entry Points
• Shape the Future
• Criteria / Expectations
• Recruitment
• Openness to the Gospel