Comments on: Jesus Killed The Video Star

By: P. Mikey

P. Mikey — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:27:45 +0000

I think it depends on the church. If they want to replicate themselves into a satellite campus that’s cool on occasion. Each campus needs to have it’s own community pastor to be head over that satellite. The main issue really comes down to what are they doin’ besides that Sunday mornin’? are they doing the small groups to deepen the understanding and discipleship of the church? if not, then it will come across as extremely shallow… there’s a lot of variables that will depend if this works or not.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:05:41 +0000

I just happened to stumble across this blog. Some really cool ways of thinking about technology issues in the church and how they related to making disciples.

I planted a church several years ago. Recently, we transitioned from a “traditional” structure to a network of house churches. One of the challenges was preaching/teaching. My leadership team ran through several scenarios, and after a lot of prayer and thinking and brainstorming, determined that video was the best way to go. So that’s how I preach--through in-house produced DVD’s.

We’ve seen some real benefits from this format--and it works hand-in-hand with our new structure as a house church network. Our churches are going in the same direction--they all view the same video each week. The video is followed by application-based discussion (led by the host). We also post the videos online (and also a blog) so that our people can view them ahead of time and not come to church “cold.” While there are always things to improve, we found this format plus the “community pressure” of the house church environment has really contributed to the disciple making process for us.

By: MamasBoy

MamasBoy — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:52:12 +0000

Good discussion.

I have a question/comment.

Is there one good way to disciple? A corrolary question to that would be, what is the most important aspect of discipleship?

Here’s an idea to throw around. Perhaps, the most important thing about discipling is the attitude of the person being discipled: their own docility to the Holy Spirit. It may sound weird, because at first glance it cuts the disciplers some slack, but I don’t intend to cut them free from all responsibility. God certainly will hold people accountable for leading others astray. I just think that if the people being discipled really love God and are seeking Him, then He will bring about effective means for them to be discipled. It may be a multi-layered approach in style with everything from large group lectures to one-on-one interactions, all of it littered with rampant human imperfection and sin, but maybe that’s all part of the lessons God wants to teach us.

By: Steve Dahl

Steve Dahl — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:13:57 +0000

6 one way 1/2 dozen the other? To quote Bill Murray in Meatballs, “It Just Doesn’t Matter.” There’s people being fed and led via video and via a live pastor. It’s just a taste issue. I think to spend time on this is fruitless. I wish I had your free time to think about this crap. I think discourse and thought are important, but I think this is a waste of time issue and discussion. People are always trying to build a better mousetrap with the church and from what I see, these new mousetraps don’t do any better than the church did 25 years ago without the benefit of bad drama, music that didn’t make Jesus cool, but rock worse, and Chuck E. Cheese-esque youth centers.

By: tim

tim — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 02:37:36 +0000

it’s funny how we put things up “for discussion” and then get offended when anyone disagrees. i don’t think blogs are a bad place for thinking out loud. i think this is only the case if you can’t accept the fact that some people are going to disagree, some people are going to misunderstand, and some people may call you out for something, even if it’s something you didn’t really realize you said or thought. but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t utilize the forum. just be prepared that not everyone’s going to agree. then sit back and enjoy the ride instead of getting all upset about it. that should go for everyone here. what’s the fun in “discussion” if we all have to agree and coddle each other instead of actually discussing?

By: Maris Bush

Maris Bush — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 02:23:53 +0000

Shaun there are some of us that can go with your thoughts and really process them without assuming that they are always negative. Its hard to speak your thoughts sometimes without feeling attacked for it. I found this out when we started our adoption blog. I never knew there was so many people who disagreed with adoption until I started voicing my passion for it. Love your blog and your honesty. Thank you for being willing to think outside of the box and voice those thoughts. We really appreciate you and your heart.

By: ryan

ryan — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 23:42:46 +0000

"If Jesus were a rabbi in a Protestant church today would he bother training eleven guys to do what he does in the places he can’t be? Or would he just have community pastor Peter press play on the DVD?”

do protestant churches have rabbi’s?

By: Alex Workman

Alex Workman — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 12:53:48 +0000

God has blessed me with incredible men in my life that have disciples me, walked along side of me though crap, and we have just done life together. I know that I am only 21 years old, a recent graduate of college, and don’t know a whole lot… It is though the process of me being disciple that I have learned to, in turn, disciple.

With my graduation I have left the church that I have grown up at and work at for 4 or 5 years to help plant a church in Orlando. We want to do church based on relationships and not programs. Come visit if you are ever in Orlando…

Sorry for my typos on my previous comment…

By: Janel

Janel — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 03:11:06 +0000

Great discussion, Shaun and thank you for thinking out loud. Wrestling with this stuff is good, I think.

Thanks for stopping by my blog and I can’t wait to hear about Uganda!

By: Shawn Bashor

Shawn Bashor — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:01:14 +0000

I like when you think outloud Shaun…