Session 4: Shane Hipps - How Technology Shapes the Sermon

Here are my notes from Shane Hipps’ first talk at Poets, Prophets, & Preachers. I found the talk to be very similar to his first book, which I do recommend. But since much of it was not new, I didn’t get into the session too much. Quotes mean a direct quote or a paraphrase of Shane. Everything outside of quotes is me. Here it is:

“Used to be in advertising mainly with Porsche. Left it and went to seminary - now a Mennonite pastor”

“Marshall McLuhan - the most important thinker you’ve never heard of.”

“Christianity is fundamentally a communication event”

“God is all about using various media to communicate his message”

“The methods change but the message stays the same. This has been central within Christianity. But McLuhan says, “The medium is the message. Works beneath our conscious knowledge.”

“We become what we behold - McLuhan”

“Patter of words on a page shaped so much. Pews didn’t exist before the printing press. We become what we behold.” Ok, so let’s get rid of pews! Why didn’t you say that Shane?

“The gospel also was formed and changed by this new technology. Example: Apoligies for sins + believe in Jesus = go to heaven.”

“Linear sequential way of thinking.”

“Our current digital age is a hall of mirrors. Almost impossible to discern what is reality.”

“Invention of the photograph recast the world as an icon. Began to lose our capacity for abstract thought.”

Hipps’ comparison of word and image:

Word - left brain, abstract, sequential, rational

Image - right brain, concrete, holistic, intuitive

“Images pin the logical sides of our brain to the back of our skulls”

“Western world more word-based. Eastern world more image based. This shaped their philosophies, etc. We come what we behold.”

“We are increasingly moving from the west to the east with a more image based culture.” Great - so let’s keep talking, talking, talking! I’m getting tired. Show me more images.

“Images always win. You will remember what you see far more easily than what you read or hear. And it will captivate your imagination.”

“Images allow shared experiences.” This really is good stuff. Right out of his book.

“What does the image actually do? What does a word actually do? You must ask these questions when communicating.”

“My point is we have to understand them before we use them.”

“Image Age changing Christianity. What does this mean for faith? Change of church space, now circles instead of pews. The way we read the Bible. More important on ideas that can be put into image - stories of Jesus, etc. Paul less important. Theology/stuff of mind is less important. Following Jesus more important.” Sounds right on.

“Not interested in advocating anything but rather to describe and make us more aware.”

“New and old wineskins in Mark 2 - both the new wine and new wineskins. Medium and message have to change.” Wow, Jesus beat McLuhan to this! Good job Jesus!

“My deepest desire is to encourage you to step back and become aware of what is going on.”

“Understand before we critique. This will allow us to use our media instead of being used by it.”

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Shange then went on to talk more specifically about how all this impacted the sermon. We got a two minute break. I was started to go a little crazy - session. way. too. long.

“How all this changed the sermon: middle ages was Eucharist centered and homily was not always done and was done in Latin - more musical language.”

“Invention of printing press turned the church into a lecture hall. Focus on learning. Intensely intellectual.”

“I think all of this is value neutral” Do you really, Shane? Actually later on he said he is not a fan of Twitter. I feel like Shane is a little too cautious of the new technology.

“Television age turned church into a television show”

“Internet age - church became a coffee shop. Conversational. Sit in circles. No single authority.” So why aren’t churches really moving in this direction. I know very few that have.

We live in an age when all these ages co-exist. Complexity.” Right on.

“I still believe some things are common in every era.” Whew, good, you still believe in absolute truth. Well done. Sorry, I’m getting sarcastic - that happens when you are sitting in a small seat for over two hours. But we did get that two minute stretching break…

“Capacity of our audience is shrinking. Up to preachers to bridge the gap.” Ok, Shane, do you realize that the capacity of your current audience is also shrinking? And I don’t agree with the preacher comment. Isn’t the obvious answer here that we change the role of the sermon, get rid of it altogether, or at least minimize it? I don’t think the answer is for preachers to just get more creative or something to keep people’s attention. I strongly disagree here. And I have to go to the bathroom.

Shane went on to tell how preachers can survive in this changing world. Seems like he is giving info on how to do good sermons in spite of the new visual age. But isn’t the obvious answer that the sermon should be reduced in it’s importance?! Strangely, I seem to be one of the only ones I come across who feels this way.

Sitting here and listening, I am starting to not like sermons…I’m outta here. I missed the last twenty minutes or so. Everyone will enjoy watching me get up and leave on the DVD.

Good content, but I think I disagree on how to use it.

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Reflections on Poets, Prophets, & Preachers

adam moore | blog

Session 4: Shane Hipps - How Technology Shapes the Sermon