Smartphones are everywhere!  People love them.!

What if the church could learn from smartphones how to create that kind of market saturation and love for Jesus?  Here are some things the church can learn from smartphones.

* People appreciate and rise to the challenge of something new.  Smartphones are new and complicated, yet billions of people, all over the world, have learned to use them, love them, and depend on them.  In this fast changing world, the church needs to be willing to get out of the box of tradition and introduce Biblical concepts in new ways.  The church needs to search the Bible for some new apps!

* People love to express themselves. (It makes them feel alive.)  Smartphones are popular because they give people many opportunities to connect with and communicate with other people.  Church, however, generally requires people to just sit and listen.  Church meetings need to allow people opportunities for personal expression — to give them the freedom to share testimonies; Scriptures; words of encouragement, teaching, and comfort; needs and prayer requests; gifts of the Spirit; and person-to-person ministry.

* People like to be able to obtain information about the things they are interested in.  Smartphones allow people direct access to facts, help, and information.  Perhaps the church should allow people to ask questions in meetings so that the members can help one another with suggestions, encouragement, and assistance. 

The smartphone approach really works in church.  I recently saw something I have never seen before in a Sunday morning church meeting.   In our smartphone (participatory) church in Nashville (The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center), a woman asked a question about forgiveness.  Spontaneously, ten or so people gave brief answers to her questions.  It was an amazing teaching about forgiveness presented by the Holy Spirit.  What an app!

Come and visit us some Sunday at 10:45am.  We are at 225 Berry St., Nashville, TN 37207.