The implication for church leaders is that one more shift from the communal to the individual is happening.
So what on earth does that mean?
Great question, because it tears at the fabric of what the church is about—a community.
Some thoughts:
1. It’s an opportunity for people to access your content the same way. Like many churches, a few years ago we created an app for Connexus that allows people to stream messages whenever and wherever they want across devices. Our content is available on our website as well, in addition to via podcast. Accessing your messages will become more personal, individual and portable. Embrace it.
I realize that this sometimes means people will watch online rather than attend, but it’s also a great way to spread the message more quickly than otherwise. People who love what you do will share it with their friends and talk about it on social media.
2. Still call people to something greater. As people’s experience of content consumption on an individual level becomes more prevalent, the need for community still won’t go away.
We’re more connected than ever as a culture, and many people are more lonely than ever.
As much as people want individualized access to content, they also want to be part of something bigger than themselves. Mission-driven, mission-focused and relationally rich churches will draw in people longing for something bigger and more significant than themselves.
Churches can call people to something far greater than themselves. So do it!
3. There’s a market for binge watching.
Binge watching is increasingly normal. Although it may have started back in the ’80s or ’90s when people lined up VCR tapes or DVDs and watched them in a marathon session, now it’s just far too easy to press ‘play’ from your couch without ever getting up.
Since Netflix streams entire series commercial free, you can easily power through several seasons of Suits, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones or House of Cards in a day or even a week.
New seasons of series are now being released all at once rather than episode by episode (week after week) as in the past, again resulting in binge watching for many viewers.
The implications for church leaders are actually quite good on this one.
People will consume really great content in marathons, including yours. Your audio podcast could become a place where people go through entire series in short spans of time on their commute or while working out. Your video podcast could become the subject of binge viewing. Ditto with your website. Some churches like North Point are even building microsites around each series, like this one.
Bottom line? Make sure your content is accessible in the easiest forms possible for people to access.
4. Great stories are alive and valued.
It’s fairly widely accepted that the best content being produced these days is not coming from Hollywood or even network TV, but from specialty channels like AMC, Comedy Central, USA network and Netflix itself.
Shows like Madmen, Breaking Bad and others win the ratings wars because of their rich plot lines, complex characters and willingness to take a viewer seriously. They don’t dumb down.
Many critics believe TV has become what movies used to be: a forum in which great stories are told.
The church, as I think most readers of this blog might agree, sits on the very best message on the planet.
The implication: Tell the story … well.
The Gospel has always been about God’s story intersecting with the human story. The church is uniquely positioned to tell the best story of all.
So do it, well.
Clearly people are looking for a better story. Church leaders need to bring it to them.
