You see them every time you open your favorite social media app. But what exactly can you and your church post on TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts?
Here are five ideas that you can easily do this week, maybe even today!
1. Another Amen
You spent hours writing your sermon last week. You had 15-20 fantastic minutes preaching it from the pulpit. And now what? On to the next one? Yes, but…
Before you dive into the next one, take the sermon video and upload it to OpusClip or another platform that can automatically take your long form sermon and repurpose it into short form clips. Choose one or two of your favorites and schedule them to your favorite social media platforms. It just takes a little work to give that sermon another amen!
2. I’ve Never Seen That Before
What are the spaces in your church building that most congregants don’t get to see? Take out your phone and give is a mini tour of these lesser-known areas!
This could be anything, from the closet you keep your robes to creepy basement that hasn’t been cleaned out in two decades to the rickety staircase up the steeple and more. Pull back the curtain and show off some of these lesser known areas of your church. I bet they are filled with incredible stories!
3. Once Upon a Song
In addition to writing a sermon, you are probably involved in selecting music for every Sunday. Take a minute and record a quick video explaining why you chose these specific songs. How does it connect to this particular Sunday or liturgical season? What is the history behind this selection? What is your personal connection to the song?
A simple video telling the story behind a song you will be singing on Sunday can create anticipation in your congregation and you just might hear them singing a little louder!
4. Your Inner Karl Barth
“We must hold the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other.”
This is one of Karl Barth’s most well known quotes. And I think it’s a great inspiration for short form videos you can make!
Maybe you’ll actually hold a physical newspaper (do they still make those?) as you talk about some current events and headlines, offering a pastoral and theological reflection.
Or perhaps you take a screenshot of an article online, drop it into a green screen effect (this is built into the editor on TikTok and other third party editors like CapCut). Then you can record yourself standing in front of the image as you offer your pastoral and theological reflection.
But however you do it, summon your inner Karl Barth as you hold the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other!
5. Collaborative Q&A
This one has a few steps, making it a bit more involved but still very simple to pull off! Here’s the idea:
First, come up with a simple framing question for your upcoming sermon. Something people can respond to quickly and easily with a short response.
Second, send this question to your congregation. You can choose specific congregants or the whole church. Send an email. Text. Whatever works for you! Ask people to film a quick selfie video with their response and send it back to you!
Third, film yourself asking the question. Then add all the responses after it.
And there you have it — a collaborative Q&A, inviting the congregants who participated to prepare for the upcoming Sunday and inviting everyone who sees the video to lean in a bit closer, even before you preach your next sermon.
More ideas?
I know you have them. Leave a comment and let us know where you are posting your shortform content so we can all follow along and be inspired by one another!
And if you want to hear me unpack these five ideas a bit more, watch the full video. Enjoy!
