The document discusses the importance of effectively communicating the gospel in the context of modern media influences and societal changes. It highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in faith, challenges faced in reaching the audience, and shifts from traditional to contemporary media formats. Emphasizing relationship-building and cultural relevance, it outlines strategies for sharing the Christian message in today's skeptical and diverse environment.

1. Media and Society
WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND

2. Faith facts
“I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength
believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him. But the
Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me
with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.”
Explanation to the third article, Small Catechism

3. Faith facts
 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved.”
 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not
believed?
 And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never
heard?
 And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
 And how are they to preach unless they are sent?
 As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who
preach the good news!”
Romans 10:13-15

4. What’s our role?
 Understanding some of the barriers to the
Gospel
 Ensure the Gospel is proclaimed in ways
people understand

5. Hearing and listening
Media and its messages
shape the hearers

6. Hearing and listening
We need to understand
• Environment in which people hear
• Vocabulary they use
• Attitudes they live with

8. Paradigm shifts
 Printing press
 Hearers also become readers
 Personal choice of content
 Mass but controlled sharing of ideas
 Prime communication vehicle for the Church
 Long-term accessibility

9. Paradigm shifts
 Broadcast media (radio and television)
 Hearers also become passive listeners and viewers
 Increased personal choice of content
 Increased sharing of ideas
 Limited use by the Church
 Short-term accessibility

10. Paradigm shifts
 Online media
 Hearers are readers, viewers, and creators
 Almost unlimited choice of content
 International sharing of ideas
 Growing use by the Church
 Constant accessibility

12. Transition

13. That was then…
 limited choice for entertainment
 viewing was often a family activity
 common ground for conversation

14. That was then…
 respect for institutions

15. That was then…
 news from limited sources and viewpoints

16. That was then
 high regular attendance
 major peer group/community
 denominational allegiance

17. That was then
 a voice heard in society

18. This is now
 multi-source
 personalized choice
 perceived need for immediacy
 sceptical of institutions
 constant communication

19. This is now
 constant news and information

20. This is now
 declining regular attendance/membership
 aging congregations
 reduced church peer/community interaction
 declining denominational allegiance
 a voice virtually ignored in society

21. Where are people at?

22. Mainstream media messaging
 Mostly “a-religious” often “anti-religious”
worldview
 Moral ambiguity and relativism
 Religious scepticism/disrespect/ridicule
 Interest in spirituality
 Underpinnings in science (modern)

24. Mainstream media messaging
 “tolerance” as long as you agree with me
 strong belief often branded as fanaticism
 Church viewed as mostly irrelevant

25. Online media
 All over the map!
 Social media contacts/friends tend to support
your beliefs
 Facebook friends
 Twitter followers
 Blogs
 Opportunities for planting seeds and sparking
conversation

26. Effects of media
 Does media reflect or shape society’s values?
 Broadcast media
 Social media
 Online media

27. Understanding media
 Commercial media are in the business of
delivering an audience to an advertiser
 Broadcast
 Newspapers
 Facebook
 Google
 Youtube
 Give people what they want because it
builds an audience for advertisers

28. Attitudes
 Secularism
 Religious ridicule

29. Attitudes
 Church attendance is another Sunday
morning choice in a list of activities
 Religious life competes with other options
 WIIFM

30. How do we reach this
media-shaped people?

31. Back to the future - Acts
First vs. 21st century
 knowledge of the true God
 biblical illiteracy
 multiple religions
 surrounded by sensuality
 spirituality vs. Christianity

32. Back to the future - Acts

33. Back to the future - Acts

34. Back to the future - Acts
 Reliance on the Holy Spirit
 Took a common starting point and taught
the truth
 Strong awareness of “where people are at”
 Culturally relevant
 Preached with boldness

35. It boils down to
who you know,
not just
what you know

36. Who you know
 Build relationships: “friending and following for
the sake of the Gospel”
 Earn the right to be heard
 Show who you are and Whose you are
 Immersion in God’s Word

37. Faith facts
 Fundamental belief that the Holy Spirit is
already at work in some way.
 The Holy Spirit is the only agent by which a
person can say Jesus Christ is Lord
 We are news bearers/messengers and
story tellers. “All I know is that once I was
blind but now I see!”

39. Mission is being
salt and light
in an unsavoury,
dark world.

40. Questions and comments
ian@adnamsgroup.com
www.adnamsgroup.com