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This past Sunday I preached naked.

Well, figuratively.  

I had no sermon text, no notes, no agenda and no idea where things were headed.  

Just a Bible and a kamikaze sense of humor.

It was a crazy experiment: What if we invited our crowd to text-in no-holds-barred questions about God and the Bible anonymously?  

I believe the Church should be a safe place to ask questions. And so we gave it a shot.

Early Sunday morning, my friend Phil helped prep me:

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We set up a free Google Voice number to which people could text questions. Each question would appear anonymously on a second MacBook where our Tech Team could copy and paste it into our primary MacBook for instant on-screen projection.  

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Live texting gave our guests a sense of the immediacy of the event—they could literally ask anything and I would see the question on the big screen at the same time as everyone else. We would open our Bibles and unpack truths. We were in this together.

Facebook blew up Sunday with people's reactions. A few:

LifeChurchMidlandMichigan

I enjoyed connecting with our crowd off-the-cuff. Seeing what kinds of questions people are wrestling with helps me as a pastor and communicator to better lead and minister to our people and guests in the days ahead.

For what it's worth, you can grab the audio of our Live Q&A here.

Scriptures: Acts 9:1-25

Jonathan Herron (website: JonathanHerron)

Jonathan Herron is the founding pastor of Life Church Michigan, a fresh, modern church for people who don’t like going to church. His first book on using the rules of comedy in leadership will be released nationwide soon.

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Talk about it...
Joe Mckeever avatar

Joe Mckeever

commented on Jul 30, 2014

Hey Jonathan, since when is lack of preparation counted as boldness? :-)

Jeff Hagan avatar

Jeff Hagan

commented on Jul 30, 2014

I would say the description given how of they prepped for this service, coupled with having the knowledge and ability to answer these questions "off the cuff" was indeed being prepared for the service. Don't you think?

Jonathan Hughes avatar

Jonathan Hughes

commented on Jul 30, 2014

It is letting the spirit lead. Did you know that God sees the parts that others see as not being honorable not being comely as being honorable worthy of honor? Who Knew? Religions never taught people that. 1 Corinthians 12: 23And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. The parts that are seen by people as being uncomely not having have any honor are seen by God as being comely worthy of honor. 1 Corinthians 2:8. Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. - King James Bible "Authorized Version", Cambridge Edition. Had Religious people seen that Jesus was who he said he was he would not have been pierced.

Anonymous Contributor avatar

Anonymous Contributor

commented on Jul 30, 2014

On the contrary. Jon showed an exponential amount of preparation. "but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect" 1 Peter 3:15

Paul Burgio avatar

Paul Burgio

commented on Jul 30, 2014

This was not a lack of preparation. It takes years of study in the Word to be prepared to answer questions in a live format. I wouldn't do this more than once a year however; the pastor's job is to equip not just quip.

Bill Williams avatar

Bill Williams

commented on Jul 30, 2014

I agree with Jeff and Paul. I don't know how anyone could pull something like this off in a way that really connects with people without a massive amount of preparation--much more preparation, in fact, than it would take to prepare a typical sermon.

Jonathan Hughes avatar

Jonathan Hughes

commented on Jul 30, 2014

The devil in the body digests the hamburger. Dispensation: Permission to do something out of the ordinary. Any When Jesus made new wine it was grape juice. When Jesus is in you he becomes flesh and blood in you because we are flesh and blood. Christ is doing something out of the ordinary.

Evang.roger Culwell avatar

Evang.roger Culwell

commented on Jul 30, 2014

I would just like to see preacher's and the people get in the presence of God and let him have church the way he want's how about that, it would be a change wouldn't it, a change well needed, let God run thing''s

Tony Bland avatar

Tony Bland

commented on Aug 4, 2014

That may be ok for bible study every now and than, but we should just Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. 2 ti 2:4

Tony Bland avatar

Tony Bland

commented on Aug 4, 2014

opps... 2 tim 4:2 ;) i need more 2 tim 2:15 study

Steven Farless avatar

Steven Farless

commented on Aug 16, 2014

I find it strange that modern church bylines always promote themselves as being "a church for people who don't like church" when they are built on transfer growth (all that glitters is not gold). it's bad enough that the world and the devil are out there slamming the church, it's kind of disgusting when "the modern" church piles on with them.

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