Lights, Camera, Action!
I hate to sound like a broken record, but man! When it comes to camera work, editing, etc., North Point Community Church
and her satellites just have everyone else schooled.
I know, North Point didn’t get there overnight; but I’ve seen churches with the same or more resources to pull from and they still look like something I would see on the local Christian TV station at 2am. In addition, a lot of the techniques used at North Point aren’t rocket surgery – it’s just letting talented people do their thing and use the gifts God has given them.
But the real reason I admire North Point is they put it all out there for everyone to see. Successes, failures, etc., doesn’t matter. If other churches can learn from them, then it’s available, and usually for free.
Anyways, here is the video that is the finished product; for the full story behind the production of this spot (which was used in their 10B4 video announcements), click here.
I have a honest question for you…you might actually want to re-post.
Where is the line with the church brings to much entertainment, "world", into the services? When does it start taking away from Jesus?
not at all stating that NP is, just something I have been thinking about…A Call to Anguish by David Wilkerson.
Those are all great questions.
As for the line between entertainment and Jesus, I totally understand where you're coming from. When I was on the launch team at Four Points this was one issue we wrestled with constantly because we wanted to craft an environment that both believers and seekers could worship (mostly in the case of believers) and learn in. My answer is going to sound a little weird. You've crossed the line when you take the focus off Jesus and put it on something else.
The problem with that answer is how a person interprets that.
Some will say that if your church has cameras and a projection system, you've brought too much of the world into it.
Others will say if you take away the Christianese (calling the pulpit a stage, calling pews a bench or seat), you've brought too much of the world in.
Others will say that if you do a secular song in church or use concert-quality lighting or have professional musicians (these are all things I've heard personally over the past few years), then you've brought too much of the world in.
The bottom line for me is, there is a difference between entertaining and engaging. Every church should strive to craft engaging environments. You should want the environment to draw them in so that they participate instead of spectate. But all too often, people confuse engage with entertain, because, if you are describing a service that was engaging, you'll use a lot of the same words you would if you were describing one that is entertaining. The difference is to engage someone is to bring them in, making them part of the experience. To entertain someone is to cater to their flesh.
Well that poses this question…are we getting it right?
If 80% of all "Christians" are pew warmers, non-tithers, 1 day a week warriors for Christ…are we actually engaging them or just entertaining them? Do the numbers/stats support that we might be off?
Depends on the church.
I don't know what the statistics are now, but when I was at Four Points, the 80/20 percentage was flipped the other way. Now that doesn't mean everyone gave a ton of money, but people gave what they could.
Ed Stetzer once said, "Quit asking me to give to your vision; instead, give me a vision that I can't help but give to."
Well that is 1 church and its not about $$$ that is just one example. My point is simply, if half to majority of the American Church is content, if it were not so I have a hard time believing we would be in the state we are in in our country.
Are we just entertaining them or engaging? Is the church buildings for the lost or the saved?
That is one of the great debates in the church.
If we look at scripture, we won't find anything like the current incarnation of the local church in scripture. But that's what 1,900 years difference makes. While some will argue church is for the believers (which there is scriptural evidence to support that), there are plenty of examples in scripture where the believers welcomed the unchurched into their gatherings.
I think the problem is most churches have this mindset of expecting unbelievers who visit to either change within a few visits and accept Christ, or drop off and never come back. They don't want to give unbelievers a chance to test the waters and, as Philippians 2:12 says "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling". The majority of churches think that if they play the right songs and preach the right message they won't only lead people to Christ, they'll make them get saved. And Paul was pretty clear when he said in 1 Corinthians 3:6, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow."
I am actually about to do a personal study on the commands of Christ and definitions of content luke-warm "christians"/goats. I am honestly bothers by the fact that we are so complacent in comparing ourselves to others and ignoring the commands of Christ because others around us do. If we are to love God with all our Heart, Soul, and Mind…but pray a few minutes a day…maybe and read once a week, month, year…
If we Americans are the Rich man, if we are just as laeodicia(sp?) says, We are rich, wealthy, we don't need you God. I Know that God is the only one who knows peoples hearts, and whether or not they are truly seeking after Him and those who are stagnant in their walk with Christ, being comforted by others around just like them.
This is rather off topic but I am really troubled by these questions I am asking myself.
Andy Stanley preached this several months ago, but I still can't find the link. Anyways, he quoted Proverbs 30:8-9, which says, "……give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD ?'……"
Found it.
” target=”_blank”>http://www2.northpointministries.org/player/playe...
It's probably about 35 minutes long.
thanks will listen to it today if I get a chance!
it cut off your post to … link wont work.
it cut off your post to … link wont work.
It's actually the sermon video; hopefully it works this time.
And it doesn't.
Hang on.
Worked on email. Listening now Sent from my BlackBerry
From: IntenseDebate Notifications
Alrighty, we'll do it this way.
Go to ” target=”_blank”>http://www.northpoint.org/messages
Scroll through the messages until you reach "God & Country". The logo for it looks like the continental U.S. made out of the words "God & Country".
The sermon is titled "Law and All"; you can listen or watch.
It didn't say anything about business and church operations. Great sermon! Powerful scripture in deut 8!Sent from my BlackBerry
From: IntenseDebate Notifications
Yeah, that's a totally different message. I posted "God & Country" because of the study you said you're getting into. Once I find the other message I'll post a link to it.
Thanks listening to the first week now. Sent from my BlackBerry
From: IntenseDebate Notifications
I should point out the video I posted advertising the North Point Live recording is something that was originally aired at the North Point campuses during their announcements. It's not something you would see on TV or hear on the radio as an advertisement for the church. It was created with their current church attendees in mind.