Church tech is for enabling the mission of the Church: making disciples. Technology should make the work of the Church easier and more effective.
It must always serve the mission and not the other way round. We’ve already seen that we’re doing Church tech wrong when it gets in the way of this mission. Another area we could do Church tech wrong is discipleship.
They’ve been many posts on discipleship on ChurchMag. There are many other blogs, articles and teachings you can find elsewhere. I thought I’d cover a hidden-in-plain-sight aspect of doing Church tech that might be detrimental to those serving.
In the digital age we use or build technologies and create content that help us do so. (It would be folly not to harness tech.)
Possible Danger
While we build tools and create content to disciple others, it’s possible not to be discipled ourselves. Because we hear the sermon a second or third time when we edit, we can think we’re fine. We can be lax about being intentional in our own spiritual growth.
Our personal devotional life can take a back seat. It is possible to be on church staff and or volunteer and be in a sterile spiritual state. While trying to make sure others don’t fall, we could be falling ourselves.
The responsibility is even greater for those leading others. It can be easy to think that those we lead progress spiritually, because they’re fulfilling all their tasks. Because someone builds a follow up system, doesn’t mean they’re beyond care themselves.
Doing all the important things to disciple others must never be at the expense of the well being of those who serve.
Thus
Remember: while we’re making disciples we’re also still disciples in the making.
You’re doing church tech wrong when discipleship is not planned for.
You’re doing church tech wrong when you don’t have a clear discipleship plan. You’re doing Church tech wrong when your discipleship plan is only that; a plan.
Church tech teams are sometimes one of the departments where many hours are spent on work. Despite the often pressing deadlines, we must keep personal relationships with God vibrant. We must guard time in the Word and prayer.
It is important to have a discipleship strategy for those serving. Besides checking in on work, it is important to check in on their well being. What is God saying to them? What are they saying to God?
Leaders, remember you not only lead functions but people. Let the fruit of your endeavors multiply as the disciples who serve continue to be discipled also.
Speak your mind...