Is digital ministry biblical? Dr. Stephen D. Lowe, Professor of Practical Theology in Liberty University's School of Divinity, and his co-author Dr. Mary E. Lowe join Jeff Reed on Becoming theChurch.digital to talk about their new book, Biblical Foundations for an Ecology of Digital Ministry, which came out the day before the show.
Steve argues that the question isn't whether digital ministry works but whether it fits the mission of God. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob built altars across Canaan, Jesus went to Tyre, Sidon, Samaria and Decapolis, and today, he says, we can plant digital altars in digital spaces. He also makes the case against the superiority of the physical gathering: the ascended Jesus ministers to us now from a distance, interceding for us. Mary says the line between real life and virtual life is a misnomer for her students, that telling your story persuades a skeptic better than arguments do, and that the question to ask is how we build relationships, online and in person.
They also get into baptism and communion in the New Testament, what digital ministry gets wrong, what seminaries learned about distance learning that churches haven't, and the one chapter a skeptical pastor should read.
In Steve's words: "It's not a pragmatic issue. It isn't a matter if it works. The more important question is, does it fit? Does it fit the mission of God?"
CHAPTERS
0:00 Welcome, and Scattered through 1 Peter
3:25 Meet Drs. Stephen and Mary Lowe, and their new book
12:57 Hold the rope: where seminaries stand on digital
19:36 Tradition, Scripture and an innovative early church
22:24 How to talk with a skeptic: tell your story
29:18 The next decade: does it fit the mission of God?
35:44 When is digital the wrong play?
40:50 Baptism, communion and the church in homes
49:55 Is physical better? Ministry at a distance
54:57 What digital ministry gets wrong
58:27 What seminaries figured out that churches haven't
1:06:05 The future of denominations
1:12:58 One chapter for a skeptical pastor
1:18:18 Closing thoughts
Follow the Lowes:
Dr. Mary E. Lowe: https://www.instagram.com/marylowe2014/ · https://www.facebook.com/mary.adamslowe · https://x.com/maryloweLU
Dr. Stephen D. Lowe: https://www.instagram.com/steve.lowe.49/
Going deeper:
The book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HH1ZFT58/?tag=thechurchdigital-20
(As an Amazon Associate, theChurch.digital earns from qualifying purchases.)
What is a digital missionary? https://thechurch.digital/guides/what-is-a-digital-missionary/
Church online: https://thechurch.digital/guides/church-online/
Hybrid church: https://thechurch.digital/guides/hybrid-church/
---
This season: Scattered, one Bible study through 1 Peter for the whole digital church, at your own pace, with a short devotional every morning. Optional live sessions Tuesdays at 5:00 PM ET on Twitch: https://thechurch.digital/scattered/
Becoming theChurch.digital is the show for church leaders figuring out digital ministry in public.
https://thechurch.digital
@bethechurchdigital
This one has already happened — see what's coming up.
Chair and Professor of Christian Leadership, School of Divinity, Liberty University
Concord, VA
Mary E. Lowe, EdD (Nova Southeastern University), is Chair and Professor of Christian Leadership in the School of Divinity at Liberty University. Her doctorate specialised in spiritual formation in theological distance education, and she also holds an MA in…
Scattered · 1 Peter One Bible study for the whole digital church, at your own pace. Read 1 Peter wherever you are, write down what you hear, and find the rest of us doing the same.
