VideoTeaching.com: Free video teaching resources for your church

Over the past several years, many churches have started using pre-recorded video sermons at their multi-site venues or simply when their pastor is away. While some initially scoffed at the idea of a church service without live pastoral teaching, the use of video teaching has actually proven to be quite effective. There are now many examples of healthy, growing congregations that use video sermons alongside of traditional elements such as ushers, announcements, communion, and live worship music; however, not every church has the skills or resources to produce a high quality video sermon. LifeChurch.tv, based in Edmond, OK, recognized that need, and in response launched www.VideoTeaching.com on July 21, 2009.

VideoTeaching.com is a free online library of high-quality video messages from gifted pastors and communicators from around the world. Churches will be able to download sermons or message series and use them for instructional and inspirational teaching, completely free of charge. This opens the door to endless possibilities. New church plants and smaller churches looking for a teaching pastor can have access to many of the most respected teachers via video. Churches can use video teaching as an alternative when their pastor is away on vacation. Churches may simply use the videos to supplement their current teaching staff or help to launch a new campus location.

LifeChurch.tv helped to make the concept of free video teaching mainstream when they launched the One Prayer initiative in 2008. The goal of One Prayer was to see what could be accomplished when the Church works together. Gifted pastors and communicators contributed hundreds of pre-recorded video sermons on a common theme and LifeChurch.tv made the videos available at www.OnePrayer.com. In June 2009, nearly 2,000 churches from all over the world used the video sermons for free as a part of their teaching. Now, through an expanded library of messages at VideoTeaching.com, LifeChurch.tv hopes to provide these valuable resources free to thousands of more churches.

It remains to be seen if a church relying solely on video teaching will thrive. Does the lack of a teaching pastor inhibit the sense of community and connectedness in the church? Does it further promote the consumerism mindset of the visitors to the church? Or will community within the church still grow by having the members worship together, actively participate in small groups, and other related activities? These questions may be answered in the future, but for now, VideoTeaching.com looks to become an invaluable resource to churches of all sizes.