What are your thoughts on drama and movie clips in church services?

John Piper says we should guard the powerful role of preaching in worship.

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[lucasdasilvamaria]

John Piper is an example for the men of this age in that he has his convictions about everything being able to argue and stand for them not always going with the flow.

[SpcMedia21]

i do not like dancing and music and dramas in church

[BritneyAddicted4EVA]

I like it when he says in the short run. :)

Pastor Piper is through and through Biblical and I thank God for that. He will always encourage you to think about it and make a valid, Bible guided decision. I hold the same position. I know the effect entertainment has on me and if drama started to replace preaching I'm pretty sure that it would impact the Church greatly. And entire worship might become sort of "gummy". Music we should have, it is the mean by which we can worship and enjoy it. :)

[merryredollie]

love John Piper

[lifeInAFallenWorld22]

There's a lot of good movie clips from Christian films that would do a church service justice in the right circumstances. But I understand where he's coming from: the church need to be less of entertainment and less of trying to attract church goers and should be more about bringing people closer to Christ through biblical honesty and making Christ happy rather than satisfying the church goers with gimmicks. The church needs to produce true Christ followers rather than mere church goers.

[ProdigalSon222]

whats funny is that he is saying this on a video to youtube

[joshak0703]

I'd have to ask, does the media being used glorify God and point to the cross and resurrection? If so good. If not, reconsider. Let us remember 2 things, the Spirit can use whatever means necessary to reach someone, so Let's NOT limit the power of the Spirit - EVER! Also, didn't Jesus use parables that the culture of the day would understand and relate to? He shared his ministry often through stories. So in a sense Jesus relied on creative story telling. So to me, it's no big deal.

[yunghabesh]

mayn at 1:05 i was like "dang i love this guy", pipers the man

[theomathetes21]

As long as media/drama isn't done at the expense of preaching, how is it harmful? It can draw people into the sermon even more. Yes, faith comes by hearing, but the message has content. Picturing that content can make it more understandable. Christ wasn't slain invisibly, He isn't abstract, He lived out the real drama of life, crucifixion and resurrection on this earthly stage. But many do clips/drama at the expense of preaching the Word, and that is the worse tragedy! So I see his concern.

[ItsTheMudDuck]

Agreed, I don't think anyone will go to hell BECAUSE OF THIS, but maybe because of their lack of faith in the power of God's Word. Jesus never had His disciples act out what He was saying, neither did Paul. However, the Bible does say that thousands came to the way every day. No movies, no skits, just verbally presenting the Gospel, allowing God's Holy Spirit to work on those He wishes, to let those who have ears hear, thru the power of God's Word. Faith comes by hearing!!!