How Digital Discipleship Can Transform Your Church: Practical Strategies for Every Week
Introduction
Are you looking for ways to help your congregation grow in their faith beyond Sunday mornings? You’re not alone! In today’s digital world, church leaders have more tools than ever to disciple their people throughout the week. In a recent episode of the Smarter Church Communications Podcast, host Zack Esgar and guest Mindy (a seasoned church staffer) unpacked practical strategies for using technology and social media to make Sunday truths become Monday morning realities. Here’s what you need to know to get started.
Repurposing Sunday’s Message: The Power of Social Media
One of the easiest and most effective ways to disciple your church during the week is by repackaging your Sunday sermon for social media. Mindy shared how her church takes the main points, key scriptures, and memorable quotes from the sermon and turns them into engaging posts. This isn’t just about filling your feed—it’s about giving your congregation something to chew on, share with friends, and revisit throughout the week.
With the average American spending over two and a half hours a day on social media, meeting people where they already are is a no-brainer. Whether someone missed Sunday’s service or wants to share a spiritual truth with a friend, these posts make it easy.
Practical Tips:
- Use tools like Canva for Nonprofits to create eye-catching typography posts, carousels, and lock screens.
- Share key scriptures, sermon takeaways, and “gut check” questions to spark engagement.
- Don’t worry about being perfect—consistency and authenticity matter more than flawless design.
Boosting Engagement with Carousels, Reels, and Automation
Social media algorithms love carousels and video content. Mindy explained that carousels (multi-slide posts) keep your message in front of people all week, increasing engagement and helping your content reach more eyes. Mix up your carousels with scriptures, sermon points, and application questions.
Short video clips or “reels” are another powerful tool. Platforms like Sermon Shots use AI to automatically generate highlight clips from your sermon, making it easy to share impactful moments without spending hours editing. These clips are highly shareable and can draw new people to your church.
Pro Tips:
- Set a weekly posting rhythm: for example, a carousel on Monday, a still photo with a takeaway on Tuesday, and a video clip on Wednesday.
- Use automation and AI tools to save time and focus on what matters most—connecting with people.
- Take advantage of free resources, like the month’s worth of Canva templates mentioned in the podcast (find the link in the show notes or resources page).
Beyond Social Media: Building a Digital Discipleship Hub
Social media is just the beginning. Mindy’s church has developed a “Sunday Resources” section on their website and app, powered by the Tent Apps platform. Each week, they post memory verses, discussion questions, Bible reading plans, and even Spotify playlists. This turns their digital presence into a true discipleship portal, not just an announcement board.
Why does this matter? Not only does it help your congregation engage with God’s Word all week, but it also boosts your church’s visibility online. When people in your community search for answers—like “how do I pray?”—your sermon notes, discussion guides, and resources can show up in search results, reaching people far beyond your regular attenders.
Getting Started:
- Start small: add a reading plan or memory verse to your website, then build from there.
- Use AI tools to turn sermon notes into discussion questions or study guides.
- Remind your congregation regularly from the stage to check out these resources.
Don’t Forget the Podcast!
Audio is a powerful way to reach people on the go. If you’re not already posting your sermons as a podcast, now’s the time to start. Tools like Buzzsprout, Riverside, and Restream make it easy to record, edit, and distribute your messages across all major platforms. Many people prefer to listen while driving or working out, so make your content accessible wherever they are.
Bonus Tip:
Organize your sermon library by topics, books of the Bible, or themes. People will “binge” your content when they’re hungry to grow!
Conclusion
Digital discipleship isn’t about doing more for the sake of it—it’s about meeting people where they are and helping them grow in their faith every day of the week. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your strategy to the next level, these practical tips can help you make a real impact.
What’s your next step?
- Download the free Canva templates to jumpstart your social media.
- Set up a Sunday Resources page on your church website or app.
- Start posting your sermons as a podcast.
Have questions or want to see how our platform can help? Reach out to us or leave a comment below—we’d love to help you streamline your church communications and reach more people for Christ!
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