Digital technology has revolutionized how we do church. With the tools we have today, tools like live stream technology, discipleship can now take place in the online space just as much as it can inside the church’s doors.
In fact, so many churches have found live stream technology useful in the realm of discipleship that a new phrase has been coined around it: “digital discipleship.”
Is your church utilizing digital discipleship? Here are three reasons why it should:
1. It’s a Biblical Command
Churches going digital is about much more than being “cool” or “relevant”; it’s obedience to a biblical command.
Jesus’ command to us in scripture is clear: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19).
In Acts 1:8, he gives us the strategy for making those disciples: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Discipleship begins by being a witness in your concentric circles of influence:
- Your local community (Jerusalem)
- Your near-local community (Judea and Samaria)
- The global community (the ends of the earth)
How do you reach your local, near-local and global community in the digital age?
Consider these facts:
- In the U.S., 207 million people have smart phones and the ability to receive HD video and digital content. Globally, that number is 2.16 billion.
- In the U.S., 46 million people have access to the Internet. Globally, that number is 714 million.
- The percentage of Americans who now own smart TVs is up to 49%.
- The percentage who own over the top, or set-top boxes, like Amazon Fire and Roku is at 51%.
These numbers are the dot on the map for where your community is. People are online, streaming video on their mobile devices and at home. If you want to disciple your community, show up on their screens.
2. It Shows Your Community That You Care About Them
Church attendance is on the decline. Only 20% of Americans reportedly go to church each week. And the number of people who identity themselves us “unaffiliated” with religion is growing.
But don’t let these numbers discourage you. Just because people aren’t entering your church’s doors every week doesn’t mean you can’t find them and reach out to them. You already know where they’re hanging out: on their devices, streaming video.
Making the effort to show up where your community already is shows them that you are willing to meet them where they are. You are willing to make the effort, and that’s what people respond to.
The easiest way to get your church on the screens of the 80% who aren’t in church is through the use of live stream technology. A media platform like MediaFusion can live stream your Sunday service and your mid-week service. It can also store all of your video content in one central location and then distribute it to all mediums—set-top boxes, live web media players, YouTube, Vimeo, social media—depending on your community’s needs.
3. It’s Cheaper Than It’s Ever Been
Going digital is cheaper than it’s ever been for churches.
Digital discipleship is a biblical command, it shows your community you care about them and it’s easier and cheaper than you thought it was.
What are you waiting for?
For the full Digital Discipleship Guide and to get your church started today, visit MediaFusion.Church or use the form below (download link will appear after submission):
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Chris Wilson says
Hi Andrea, I agree a lot that discipleship is a command and that we should use any tool available, including digital options, to achieve that. As such I think we need to look beyond just live streaming. I’m not saying there is something wrong with live streaming, I think it is great for people who can’t make it to church on Sunday (though I suspect that number is small) and the ability to record the stream and so people can watch it later (great for those who have a hard time listening for extended periods of time or learn via different methods) but surely we should talk about more than just live streaming. After all, discipleship is about everyone being involved and taking ownership over our spiritual development and not just absorbing knowledge from leaders. Tools like bible studying app, devotional ebooks, online communities where we can share what God is teaching us, tools to help us stay accountable with local partner and management tools to help us organise outreach events more. After all, livestreaming is very much setting up a tent and waiting for people to find it, hardly going out to the internet.
Looking forward to your response.