Is it the end of the “Preacher” era? Today, information, content, and access to the best communicators across the world is available at our fingertips.
But what’s less accessible?
Genuine friendship, meaningful relationships, and a sense of community where we live. Is the emphasis shifting right before our eyes from, ‘listen to this sermon’ to ‘let us help you find community’?
The Impact Of Digital Overload: Community Over Content
It’s happening online. Information overload is real and people don’t want or need more informational content from the creators they follow. People want access and to grow in like minded groups.
Could it be that this transformation is also needed within our churches? Not to say that preaching should or will go away, it shouldn’t. But perhaps more-so the need or emphasis of how the church can best serve people today is?
The busyness-loneliness epidemic that was beginning to surface around 2015 only confirms that people want & need more connection, even more today. If the emphasis is, ‘listen to this preaching’ and does not include, ‘there is support and a group of people for you’ churches could miss opportunity.
There’s more access to preaching than ever before—YouTube, social platforms, podcasts allow us to listen to our favorite preachers anytime, anywhere. Is the preacher or the preaching “the draw” to church anymore? What people need, what they value, has shifted.
I recently was listening to Pat Flynn’s share some of his observations about how and why Info-Marketing no longer works anymore… He said, Selling information doesn’t work anymore.
And it really made me think, this reality is shaping not just markets and media. I started asking, How is this overload impacting our spiritual communities, and what does it mean for the church?
The Loneliness Epidemic and Church Response
In the US, We live in a society that has increasingly become more busy and lonely.
Such busyness is often perceived as “the new normal” of the 21st century. It almost seems as if some carry busyness around like a badge of honor.
Or, if we say we’re not busy we feel ashamed or embarrassed. It’s interesting that there is another feeling that more and more people are identifying with: Loneliness. In 2013 Barna put out a report that stated: While loneliness among Americans has risen, the desire to find one’s place among a few good friends has likewise increased.
In 2023 the US Surgeon General released a report on the epidemic of loneliness and isolation, stating that, Social networks are getting smaller, and levels of social participation are declining distinct from whether individuals report that they are lonely…
We feel busy and lonely. We want purpose and friendship.
If it’s possible that we live in a culture that is becoming more busy and lonely, what should we do?
The Early Church Modeled Relational Ministry & Partnerships, Should We?
The Bible uses words like body and family to describe what our relationships should be like and why we should be connected.
There’s no doubt, God places tremendous emphasis on relationships. The book of Acts describes the formation of the early church. Below are just a few examples of how the early believers pursued the things of God in the context of Christian community.
Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 3:1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.
Acts 5:42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
Acts 12:12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.
Acts 16:6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.
Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.
Acts 28:14 There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.
Do you see the common thread? Notice the words that are used: they, fellowship, Peter and John, many, companions, we. Why was it like that? Because…
We were created for relationships.
Rethinking Church Engagement
Pat’s observations are true for us online, and I believe true for the church. People crave places and opportunities where they can live out their faith in meaningful, actionable ways alongside others who share their values and beliefs.
This shift challenges us to rethink how we engage with our congregations and with those outside of it. It used to be much easier to draw people to hear a famous speaker or preacher, but now… you can probably find them online and listen to so much of their content that you get tired of it.
Sermons still need to be preached, Sundays still need to happen. But the emphasis may need to change. My early days of pastoring were in a time when Sunday’s were game time – Everything was about Sunday. I think this is shifting towards facilitating, curating, and creating spaces where people can support each other and grow in faith collectively… from sermon-based gatherings to community and relational engagement.
What does this mean for you?
Addressing this may start with how you think about church and what you emphasize or prioritize as most important…
- Is gathering people in large groups or small groups more important?
- Is listening to one person preach or empowering many to teach more important?
- Is using internet to disperse content or create connections more important?
- Is sharing information or implementation more important?
Some of these questions are not easy and may require both/and scenarios. However, if churches ask the right questions, they can identify their strengths and weaknesses, reconcile extremes, and prioritize their goals to create a balanced approach.
