Advice needed

I stopped doing my teaching videos a few months ago due to a couple of reasons.  First, my camera stabilizer that I was using malfunctioned.  I bought a different and cheaper setup but didn't like it.  So, I used that as an excuse to stop.  Also, I wasn't getting a lot of hits either.  Oh, I didn't expect to build thousands of viewers, but it would have been nice to get 50-100.    I got discouraged and stopped.

But, I want to get back at it as it was fun to produce the segments.  I also felt that it could be a good advertisment for my little church as they could get to know the pastor, hear a little bit of what my preaching/teaching is like, etc.  All of the church growth "experts" say that Millennials and the generation below them are more apt to check out a video from a church than they are to visit one to find out what they are like.

So, I am going to dive back in.  Here is where I need your advice:

I need topical help.  What subjects would you like to hear covered in a short format (striving to stay under 5 minutes)?

What would a good name be for this kind of production?  Maybe I need to shoot my video someplace specific to give it a more cozy and personal feel.  Perhaps that locale could be worked into the name.  For example, if I did a coffee house setting, I could do something like "Coffee With Pastor Chris" or "Heavenly Grounds" or something better.  I just need ideas.

Trouble is, it's all been done. If you can come up with something totally different, unique and cool, then you may just see numbers grow. Unfortunately we live in times where people need a much higher amount of stimuli to hold their attention. Play some tunes in the background, edit in a fast transition between thoughts, pull a zoom on some shots or a side view on others. Course you'd have to buy a video editor and mess with it :-\

As for subject matter, I'd love to hear more messages challenging legalism, explaining our freedoms in Christ - not to be abused but to feel free and to answer questions about guilt and feelings of condemnation. I think a lot of believers have struggles with these things.

Hmm, how about doing one while white water rafting? That would be different 

Through The Dark Radio wrote:

Hmm, how about doing one while white water rafting? That would be different 

Or standing on your head.

Through The Dark Radio wrote:

Hmm, how about doing one while white water rafting? That would be different 

I am not getting in a rubber deathtrap!

How about going in to town and then asking folk if they have any questions on Christianity/morals/etc (and recording them on the camera), then replying later on.

That way you can get some folk to check the video out and may generate some extra viewers.

Guilty/Forgiven wrote:

As for subject matter, I'd love to hear more messages challenging legalism, explaining our freedoms in Christ - not to be abused but to feel free and to answer questions about guilt and feelings of condemnation. I think a lot of believers have struggles with these things.

This gets me thinking - maybe something addressing tensions and paradoxes in Christianity. It sounds esoteric, but it could be quite practical. For instance - what is the place of works in our salvation? Many messages lean almost too much on grace - it's all good man, we're free, etc - while others will provoke guilt and fear - examine yourself, are you really in the faith if you don't see fruit, you should be doing more. In time, I've realized we are indeed free from the law and these things don't justify us - BUT fruit should come in time from a child of God, and we need to be intentional about our actions and about seeking God, knowing that we are predestined TO good works and not BY them. Or, in the same vein, how can we accept sinful lifestyles without either condemning or condoning people? How can we be merciful and graceful to people who don't see things the same way as us without affirming sin, either?

I confess I don't remember how most of your videos went, but some visuals go a long way for people like me. Even just adding captions to the YouTube post helps me stay focused.

Good stuff right there Driven

Fundy wrote:

How about going in to town and then asking folk if they have any questions on Christianity/morals/etc (and recording them on the camera), then replying later on.

That way you can get some folk to check the video out and may generate some extra viewers.

PHENOMENAL idea !  There could very well be people out there who have legitimate questions about things they don't understand. You could answer them right there, or (if you're super non-social like me and go blank around people) you ask them permission to ask their question on film, then give them a card with your info and YouTube address to later watch you answering these questions Biblically once you've uploaded the video.
This would: 
A. Give you ample time to research and plan out an excellent answer
B. Help someone out who has a legit question 
C. Intrigue their families and friends to see this person on your show and in doing so, plant seeds from your message
D. Raise more interest in your area for your Church and bring new members
E. Be such a super cool idea 

That's not a bad plan at all!

I also wouldn't mind doing a series about what pastors wished their congregants knew.

alldatndensum wrote:

That's not a bad plan at all!

I also wouldn't mind doing a series about what pastors wished their congregants knew.

That sounds like a cool idea too.