The thought of doing “church online” seems completely foreign to many of us. First, don’t copy the other churches that do church online. If you’ve never done church online before, try this idea. I call it, “The Living Room Experience”. It’s a low cost, intimate, and connected alternative for your next online church service. I made a video about it HERE.
Here’s what you do:
Set Up In Your Living Room
Take a corner of your living room and make it nice. Put out 3 chairs and some nice background. Don’t do this in front of any windows. Make sure you’ve got lighting facing you (not behind you). Have a guitar or piano present. Make it cozy looking. Use your iPhone set up on a tripod or just mounted on some books and you’ve got yourself a mini living room set. You want to be fairly close to the camera. The preacher should be seen from the waste up.
Use Facebook Live
The easiest to stream is Facebook live. Use your church Facebook page or a group page to stream from. Have a church member follow along and comment and engage people that comment. They will be your online host.
Keep the Service Short
You don’t need to be longer than 40 minutes. You can start with a welcome, then do a few songs, then right into the message. Save any announcements and offering for the end. Make your message personal. Get close to the camera (waist up) and talk right to the camera. Avoid looking down or all around. The living room experience should feel like I’m in your living room.
If you’re thinking about doing church online, you don’t need to set up your stage like you normally do and preach to an empty room. Bring people into your living room and do a personal and intimate service. Remember, they are also in their living room so it will feel natural.
What are you going to do this Sunday?
Jeremiah works as an Effectiveness Coach with the ABNWT District of the PAOC. He is a passionate and creative leader who believes that the church is the hope of the world. He uses collaboration, innovation, and inspiration to challenge churches and their leadership to engage in the only mission Jesus ever sent his church on: making disciples.