When Christians don’t know the story behind the story of Christmas as well as we think we do, we risk turning Jesus’ birth into a fairytale or bedtime story every year.

So, here's a Twitter 🧵about the first Christmas. It's important to know this stuff, because what makes the story of Jesus' birth so BELIEVABLE is that the story is so unbelievable.

And I believe that when you have the whole story, this unbelievable story becomes a remarkable story!

Want to invite the families in your local community to church this Christmas?

Here is a Twitter 🧵 outlining one simple idea that will cost no more than $100 and only take about a day to organize. Step 1:
Set up a few Christmas photo booths in the lobby of your church.

These could simply be two old doors from Facebook marketplace that are painted red and decorated with garland and lights.

I've had a few pastors and Church leaders ask me to share some thoughts on the Matt Chandler situation.

While I don't want to speculate on the "unwise" nature of the situation, I do have some thoughts on the "unguarded" aspect.

So ... here's a 🧵 outlining my thoughts. Social media is morally neutral.

It can help you go into the world to preach the Gospel and give you a platform to defend the marginalized, or it can be used to create private places for inappropriate relationships and give you a platform to bully people who think differently.

Question for pastor friends:

What would you say to someone who, in 2022, still says that assembling as a church does not and should not include ONLINE platforms. That it ONLY happens when people are physically in the same room?

Here's a short 🧵 I'd offer some thoughts in reply.

1. as a matter of ONTOLOGY: Ontology is the study of existence and reality. The person watching your message on-demand, on YouTube or on live-stream is an actual person who really exists.

They have hopes, dreams, needs, family and friends ...

Over the past 3-months, I’ve helped a US church go from 5000 message video views, to over 130,000 views per month.

In this Twitter 🧵 I’m going to tell you exactly how I did it! Here’s what you’ll learn in this Twitter thread:
1. Why your church YouTube views are low
2. How to Repurpose on Purpose
3. The step-by-step process to getting more views
4. BONUS ideas for reaching more people

1/27
Re-reading the recommendations from the @McCrindle_ "Future of Church in Australia" report today ... and they are SO close to being helpful!

I think every #AustralianChurch leader needs read the report ... and then take the recommendations one step further. 2/27
The first @McCrindle_ recommendation suggests that the #AustralianChurch "... is much more likely to grow if church leaders and churchgoers are engaging with their local communities"

Yes! And this engagement starts in the digital space.

Here are SIX things I pray the Church has learned during quarantine (1/6):

1. YouTube, Instagram, FaceBook, Zoom and online platforms can be sacred places where people can commune with the Divine, and be in community.

#OnlineChurch Here are SIX things I pray the Church has learned during quarantine (2/6):

2. Online worship doesn't have to look like a music video or rock concert ... it just needs to be authentic.

#OnlineChurch