My presentation from the Discipleship Matters workshop What Do You Mean Contemporary?

Introduction

About 3 years ago, Pastor John told me that he wanted to use sermon slides in worship. So without much of a clue, we embarked on a journey to include electronic media in worship. Along the way, we have made mistakes: the screen has probably moved a half dozen times, we’ve made poor image choices and the sound system has been a nightmare. We’ve learned a lot, through trial and error, attending conferences and experiencing diverse worship styles. Finally, I think we’ve come to a better understanding of why we use electronic media in worship and we’re still learning and experimenting every day.

Why use electronic media in worship?

1 Corinthians 14: 6-12

“My friends, what good would it do, if I came and spoke unknown languages to you and didn't explain what I meant? How would I help you, unless I told you what God had shown me or gave you some knowledge or prophecy or teaching? If all musical instruments sounded alike, how would you know the difference between a flute and a harp? If a bugle call isn't clear, how would you know to get ready for battle?

That's how it is when you speak unknown languages. If no one can understand what you are talking about, you will only be talking to the wind. There are many different languages in this world, and all of them make sense. But if I don't understand the language that someone is using, we will be like foreigners to each other. If you really want spiritual gifts, choose the ones that will be most helpful to the church.”

Electronic media is a form of communication, a language of images, symbols, icons and metaphor. Shane Hipps, author of The Hidden power of Electronic Media writes, “as images displace the written word for communication, our thinking patterns and preferences change.” If we don’t incorporate this language into the church, we will be like foreigners to a growing segment of the population.

a picture is worth a thousand words

You’ve heard the saying – “A picture is worth a thousand word”. In fact, a picture conveys something words can’t. For example how do the following words affect you?

The girl is sad.

For most of us the words are just a statement that conveys an idea with no real impact, but the image evokes emotion and captures a real world experience.

multi-sensory learning & retention

Words and images are processed by the brain in different ways. Words engage the left brain with rational & linear thinking. Images engage the right brain with intuitive & non-linear thinking. Words are well suited to articulate arguments, categories or abstractions. Images are well suited to present impressions and concrete realities.

Using images during the sermon has the added benefit of reaching children. They are better able to grasp some portion of the message, if they are engaged by the images.

What NOT to do

don’t try to compete with TV

It’s pretty much impossible for most churches to try and compete with popular electronic media culture, but too often that is our motivation. I learned this lesson at Ginghamsburg. This is a large church with many folks on staff that do image and video production, but one of their mantras don’t try to compete with TV. In fact, they were still using PowerPoint to deliver images to the screen because it was available and met their needs (they only use the fade transition). The mandate for them is to “communicate the gospel in a language that is easily understood in today’s visual culture”.

don’t underestimate the power of electronic media

Choose your images carefully. This should be a collaborative effort with the team involved in making worship happen. Less is more: the most important image is the theme image.

It is very easy for an image to undermine the message. One example I heard recently was of a church with a remote site at a theatre. The message is pre-recorded and played back during worship. The theme one Sunday was about being of service and the background image used for the recording was of a large, luxury style kitchen. While the message was probably one of serving with humbleness, embracing a Christian worldview, the image evoked consumerism and the secular worldview.

Finally, the use of electronic media in worship is not for entertainment, but to reinforce the message and to engage participation. At its best, it’s thought provoking, indigenous and authentic.

don’t use technology for technology’s sake

Many in church leadership assume that while the methods of delivering the message may change, the message never changes. Their approach to the use of electronic media in worship is that of a technology tool. Often they will purchase pre-packaged solutions from experts to take advantage of the tool. Not only can these steps leave a congregation with an expensive package that no one locally really knows what to do with, but it also misses the point of the impact electronic media will have in the church. I have come to appreciate Shane Hipps explanation that “whenever methods or media change, the message automatically changes along with them.”

What TO do

think globally, act locally

There are so many resources available online: free and to purchase. I’ve also found it extremely helpful to go to conferences and other churches to observe what they do and talk to them about their processes. However, all the resources in the world won’t help if you don’t dedicate the time and resources to develop media in terms of your local context.

be relevant

Don’t to it because someone else is doing it, do it because you have people willing to share their gifts and willing to take a chance and step out of their comfort zone. When we started down this path, I had very little experience working with images, but I was interested and others were interested and now we have a few people that work with images on any given weekend. We also have a larger pool of people willing to project those images onto the screen.

look for the bare necessities

• hardware (projector + screen + computer)
• software (from powerpoint to custom church software)
• people (media specialists & projectionists)
• media resources (more @ squidoo.com/kimxtom)
• Shane Hipps. The Hidden Power of Electronic Culture: How Media Shapes Faith, The Gospel, and Church. Zondervan. 2005.