Everyone loves the movie theather experience, right?

In fact, tracking by the MPAA shows us that 80% of us (actually 79.6% over the last 5 years) see a movie at least once per month!

The average moviegoer sees over 8 movies a year which translates into the 1.5 BILLION movie tickets sold in 2007 by movie box offices in the US alone!

It's hard to dispute that movies have become one of the largest common denominators of today's culture.

Have you ever been sitting in the pews of church on Sunday morning and thought to yourself, that it's kind of like sitting in a movie theather.  .  . except it's probably brighter and the seating may not be as comfy?

Today, it's not uncommon to view a projector screen showing static PowerPoint slides during the worship service.  Some of the contempoary casual churhes even encourage taking in the sermon with a nice hot cup o' joe and refreshments - not far from the popcorn and concession stand that you're used to at the box office.

But what's missing?  Is it the engaging and adventurous plot that you might experience through film?  Or jaw-dropping epiphanies that unravel themselves as the story is told?  What about the complete awe and heart-moving response that you feel after realizing the underlying message in the movie?

Who say's sermons can't have the same impact?  There's a growing movement that is using the stories found in contemporary film to connect the congregation with the Jesus we know and love.  If you haven't ever thought about using this approach, then what are you waiting for? :-)

Do you see how the oral tradition of yesterday is now the cinematic big-screen experience of today?

Jesus leveraged awesome stories that were relevant and commonly understood at the time to teach his flock. . .perhaps you can try it with film in your own teaching?

If used properly, harnessing some of the most experienced experiences in our culture to tell a different story - the Gospel story! - will transform the lens in which our church  see the world outside the multi-plex.

Incorporating movie, TV and other video clips as part of your sermonic messages can challege the audience to view the storyline in a completely different way.  And with over 600 new movies released every year, there is no shortage of material to access in telling your story.

I created this TheaterTheology website to help aggregate some of the great resources that are emerging that bring cinema into the sanctuary.  I encourage you to send your suggestions and feedback to me about this nascent project at theatertheology [at] fingerclickinggood.com