Source: PODCAST 114: Jay Kranda and the Constant Evolution of an Online Church

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by Jeff Reed: What makes a successful Digital Church? Church Online? Church overall? What is it? I’ll tell you what it’s not: our Sunday morning attendance numbers… yet this is where many of our analytics (and attention, for that matter) stop. A quote from Ed Stetzer years ago has always haunted this line of thought for me: “When you build your churches like theaters, don’t be surprised when your parishioners act like show-goers.”

I don’t believe I’m overstating here. We, the Church, we know this is bad. We know the success story to an effective church in 2020 isn’t solely found in the pews on Sunday morning… that being said, very few of us are doing anything about it? Why is that?

Well, why not ask Ed Stetzer? I almost don’t know how to properly announce Ed here. Countless books, sermons, blogs, articles, interviews, conferences… the man is synonymous with Mission & Evangelism in the Church today. What better person to ask, “How did we get here?” Although, maybe the better question to ask is, “We’re stuck, where should we go from here?”

Is this a Digital Church podcast? Maybe. Church Online? Probably. Really, this podcast episode has implications across your entire church as strategically we all need to acknowledge where we are as a church and how in 2020 we need to shift priorities in order to be a successful church.

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ON THE SHOW

Source: PODCAST 051: Ed Stetzer & Defining a Successful Church

The post PODCAST 051: Ed Stetzer & Defining a Successful Church appeared first on Passion for Planting.

by Rey DeArmas: In my time spent leading church online, I’ve encountered many who are a bit slow to consider leveraging digital platforms for discipleship. I understand, Church Online has its share of critics. However, online small groups should be an easy win for the Church and help many more people engage in spiritual community.

Here are 3 reasons you should consider starting an online small group at your church:

Your (physical) church is already online. This is a crucial point for you to understand. You are not introducing your church to a new concept. You are leveraging something they already do for discipleship. There are many digital platforms that your congregation uses. In other words, you do not even have to leverage a new platform. Use the social media methods that you already utilize to interact with your congregation and find a way to begin engaging a group of them in discipleship.
Those engaging you online need community. We engage on social media with the purpose of having a greater community. If someone is engaging with you on a digital platform, it is because they want to be more connected with the life of your church. Help them do so by providing discipleship where they are. Digital platforms can provide a convenient method for community and help engage those who have no other way of doing so.
The reward is greater than the risk. The only thing it will cost you is time. Many ways to engage people in community online are free. You can lead people through numerous online Bible reading plans or through conventional Bible studies. The point is, you can fulfill the mission of making disciples. This is just a new method for you to explore.

There are many more reasons, but these three should be compelling enough for you to consider how you can fulfill the mission Christ gave us by leveraging digital platforms.

Source: 3 Reasons To Start Online Small Groups

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