Innovative Ways to Encourage Learning
Living in a Digital Age
From television and music, to movies and the internet, we are immersed in a world full of media. Whether these mediums offer entertainment or information (or both), they often raise questions of values, behavior and choices. Many Christians struggle with the best response to media. Do we shut it out, embrace it, or use it as a teachable moment?
We need to decide as individuals, churches, and citizens, how we should live in a media-filled world. Christians are called to participate redemptively in the world. We need to realize that we and the people around us are shaped as much by our popular culture as by our formal education and religious training. Many statements about values and morals are made in the arena of electronic entertainment, one of the main cultural mirrors through which we see and define ourselves. How can we Christians participate in one of the most powerful and pervasive developments of our time? If we intend to remain in touch with the world around us, we will have to keep an ear to the TV set, movie theater, and the CD player. If we intend to love our neighbor and speak the gospel, we will have to live with, not retreat from, electronic entertainment.
In this series, we draw models from the writings of the apostle Paul, models for living in, but not being of, the world. In his letters to churches, Paul often struggled with this issue of living freely as Christians in the world. He understood the power of a grace-filled life that set us free from rigid religious observances but did not free us from the obligation to love. From Paul’s letters, we can gain insight on how to live as Christians in a media-filled world.
“Living in a Digital Age” helps adults and youth participate in activities and discussion around the best response for Christians and the church to make to the growing presence of media.
Week One: The Pervasive Presence
Setup: Begin the event early with a light supper (soups & sandwiches). Have music playing in the room, and also place one or more TV sets playing movies. Scatter magazines and newspapers on tables. After eating, move into the session.
Focus: The presence of media in our world is inescapable. What is the proper Christian response? We are called to live within the tension of not being conformed to, yet reaching out to, the world around us.
Scripture: Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 9:19-22
Leaders Guide: pages 12-20
Week Two: Moral Morass?
Media intro: Consider beginning by showing a brief scene from a DVD movie that illustrates a moral message. Or show two… one that may be questionable to many Christians, and one that would seem more consistent with Christian values.
Focus: What are the moral messages found in media? In this media-filled world, we are called to set our minds on the way of peace.
Scripture: Philippians 4:6-9
Leaders Guide: pages 21-28
Week Three: Marketing Monster
Media intro: Record a few commercials to a VCR tape and show these at the beginning of the meeting.
Focus: How do we handle the strong and constant value messages of marketing through media? We are called to rise above the commercialism that fuels media values.
Scripture: Philippians 4-10-13
Leaders Guide: pages 29-37
Week Four: Plug-in Drug
Media intro: Before the session begins, and as participants arrive, have music playing. Choose a variety of styles… rock, pop, hip-hop, jazz.
Focus: How much of our time and lives are consumed by media? We are called to be proactive in our management of electronic entertainment.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Leaders Guide: pages 38-46
Week Five: Communal Catastrophe
Media intro: Select and show a short scene from a recently released DVD that raises a faith-related issue or question.
Focus: We are called to find creative and healthy ways to participate together in, but not part of, the media culture.
Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-32
Leaders Guide: pages 47-53
Resources
• A teaching guide is available, ironically, as a digital download. The guide, titled, Media & Morality: Living in an Electronic Age offers Bible study material, learning activities, and handouts that match the outline for this event. The teaching guide can be purchased and downloaded here:
http://www.nextsunday.com/nextsunday/
web-content/topicalstudy/ts_media.html
Once downloaded, simply print the guide and provide it to the leader.
• For help in selecting movie scenes for viewing and discussion, this website can be helpful:
http://www.movieministry.com
Organization
• Arrange for leadership for planning and providing the light supper on the first night.
• Select a leader that is comfortable and knowledgeable about media. A movie buff who is also an able teacher would be one example.
• Where DVD clips or music selections are to be played, arrange to provide the necessary audio/visual equipment for the session.
Promoting the Event
• Create posters that “look” like movie posters. If your church has a graphic artist as a member, ask them to help prepare the posters. “Living in a Digital World” should be the title, and then provide brief info on the meeting, including time, place and leadership.
• Enlist various members to appear “in costume” as famous film or music artists. They might appear during a mid-week meeting or meal, or during an announcement time in worship or Bible study. The volunteer should be given a grand introduction (as their character). Once at the microphone, the actor (in character) can offer an invitation to the upcoming sessions on “Living in a Digital World.”
• Promote the event in your church’s newsletter and website.
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