ESPN. Entertainment Sports Programming Network. ESPN2. ESPNU. ESPN Classic. ESPN Deportes. ESPN News. ESPN Radio. ESPN.com. ESPN360.com. ESPN Mobile TV. Ten delivery systems for sports from one piece of the Disney family of networks (which includes ABC). Six broadcast TV options. One radio option. Three internet options. And there are options within the options.
Do you remember when it all began? Take a guess. I would tell you to scroll down but this is not an email. Ready. 1979. On a limited basis, ESPN as a lone entity began broadcasting 30 minute shows with the sports news of the day as well as events never seen on TV before. In 1980, they went to 24 hours a day 7 days a week. And from there it has grown into its present form covering every sport, professional, college, and high school. It has been an amazing 30 year growth curve. And many asked, "Who wants to watch only sports 24 hours a day?" And this is only ESPN. There are four or five more networks devoted to full time sports programming. Why so many?
The church needs to be on the same type of learning/growing curve or we will not be delivering our message in enough ways to reach a variety of people with differing needs. There are so many ESPNs because there are so many people wanting sports and the "suits" at the network have decided there are essentially 10 ways people want to receive sports. Live. Delayed. Reruns. Etc.
Jesus modeled many different ways to deliver His message. He told stories. He physically demonstrated the message. He used parables. He sang. He prayed. He preached. He had so many people to reach and He counted each one as the most valuable person alive. He didn’t want to miss one. So He developed as many delivery systems as possible.
We must ask two questions. Are we delivering the message of Christ in a variety of effective ways to reach the maximum number of people? How are you allowing the message to be delivered into your life.?
We then ask two more questions. Where does the church need to learn/grow in relation to its delivery systems? Do you need to be open to a new delivery system so that your relationship with Christ remains fresh and alive?
And two final questions. What will you do to grow/learn in relation to the above questions? Who will emerge as leaders of a movement? The answers help determine the future of Christianity.
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Young children need multiple ways of being taught to keep their interest focused. The church should never veer away from teaching and preaching straight from the word of God. As mature believers we should not need theatrics in place of a sermon to keep our interest. If we love the Lord and His word that's all the attraction we need to learn from Him. Now to bring people(unbelievers) in you can change things up but always along side the teaching and preaching of God's word.
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