Every generation experiences change.
In a relatively short amount of time, the Internet has moved from an occasional tool to one of the principal ways we communicate, entertain ourselves, and do work. Staying up-to-date on emails, social media and other means of online communication is a bigger time requirement than people may realize.
New research has found that the average user spends 23 hours a week emailing, texting, and using social media and other forms of online communication. Since people are already online, we decided to launch an online campus and guess what – it’s biblical.
Let’s start by looking at Acts 2:46-47, one of the most-quoted scriptures on the Church:
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Notice it doesn’t say anything about big buildings or stained-glass windows. Just people, joining together to worship God. Marshillonline’s “temple courts” are pretty unconventional, and our Internet Campus is committed to developing fully devoted followers of Christ in a biblical, Acts 2 church model.
It works like this: Visitors can go to their computers and register to engage in a live worship experience on Saturday night or Sunday morning. They can fill out communication cards or hang out in the virtual lobby after the service to chat with other worshippers via instant message.
If you’re shaking your head, muttering, “That’s way too weird for me,” stick around. I’ll break down the 5 top reasons why we launched our online church.
- It breaks through barriers. Throughout history, the Church has experienced major turning points when someone questioned and changed the methods of ministry while keeping the heart intact. The printing press, for example, allowed the Bible to be placed in the hands of the common man, a once-heretical concept that had radical impact. And the revolutionary John Wesley claimed the world as his parish, riding on horseback all over the country to preach the Gospel outside the church. In much the same way, the online church is breaking through barriers of time and distance to communicate God’s grace to the world.
- It cuts costs. Not only is the Internet the most powerful telecommunication technology available, it’s also the least expensive. Initial equipment costs are a fraction of the cost of constructing a building.
- It takes church out of the building. Instead of asking people to go to a building with us, we take church to them.
- It reaches a bigger audience. Currently, more than 1 billion people have Internet access, and more than 217 million have high-speed connections, up from 5 million in 1999. The Internet is the fastest-growing telecommunication technology to date, adopted by the public more quickly than the television, telephone, cable television, VCR or cell phone. Now, ministries targeting specific cultures, races or ages can easily locate the people who resonate with their vision.
- It redeems technology. Admittedly, the Internet has a less than stellar reputation. You’ve probably seen the alarming online pornography statistics, and news stories of sexual predators using chat software to find and communicate with victims. New social communities, like Facebook, have gotten bad press for valid reasons. But what if the Church, which has the greatest message in the world, used all the Internet technologies available to their fullest potential? How could we change people’s perceptions of technology and its use in our world?
Do I believe having an online church campus has value in spreading the gospel? Absolutely! I believe, as Bill Hybels says, “the local church is the hope of the world.” Therefore, we must, as Paul suggests, “become all things to all people that we may win some to Christ.”
Easter Weekend Schedule – 6 Services:
Saturday, April 4, 2015
5PM – Live Worship Experience – Mars Hill Baptist Church of Chicago
5PM – **NEW Online Worship Experience** (Yep, it’s almost here)
Sunday, April 5, 2015
8AM – Live Worship Experience
8AM – **NEW Online Worship Experience**
10:30AM – Live Worship Experience
10:30AM – **NEW Online Worship Experience**
Remember, It’s all about People Reaching People #PRP.
