Sermon Cinema is a valuable resource for creating a multi-media experience that easily reaches the iGeneration.
Kyle Thompson and Marc Harper are the Co-Founding Directors and Content Producers of Sermon Cinema. After hearing a sermon on reaching a sight and sound generation in 1993, Kyle later created a consulting and production company to meet the increasing media needs of churches.
Their theory is simple. People learn and retain more from what they see, hear, and feel. As church leaders, it’s each of our responsibility to reach out to people who aren’t Christians and train up those who are. Whenever it makes sense, why not use the power of cinema to supplement your teaching, preaching, and reaching?
“Preach the Gospel always and if you have to, use words” - St. Francis of Assisi
HT - Greg Atkinson Church Video Ideas
What do you think about using multi-media in church?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
my church does some excellent multi-media in the services. We just finished a series using Back to the Future as the theme with random movie clips, a Delorium (sp?) parked out front, and cardboard boxes for stones (the scriptures were from Nehemiah. We have also done some other great series and actually had someone ask once if they were actually at church (it looked more like a theater production that week!)
I like it and it often makes the message easier to relate to b/c it is put into terms I can understand and apply quicker.
There are so many benefits for churches using multi-media. More and more churches are using feature film clips and short sermon illustration videos to supplement their worship time or during the sermon. The one opportunity that I haven’t seen many do is using short narrative films for outreach and evangelism. Churches can get a collection of short films and host a film cafe or film festival. Films are a great tool use to start spiritual conversations.
cross81 & Doug - thanks for your positive feedback.
If others are interested in academic perspectives on this subject, I can highly recommend any of the books by Quentin J. Schultze. Also, The Hidden Power of Electronic Culture by Shane Hipps who has been interviewed at The Digital Sanctuary here.
Doug put it very well.
That is why we started WingClips.com because movies speak the language of our culture just as music does. Some of the most moving times I have had in church were when a film illustrated a heart-felt moment in a story. Jesus didn’t just speak, but he became flesh so we could also see His works.
We post great movie clips that can be downloaded and used in sermons or teachings to share the truth in a power visual way. The Bridge clip from the film “Most” and the cross scene from “To End All Wars” has been used hundreds of times to visually show the gospel.