Word Count: 334 – Est Reading Time: < 90 Seconds
What’s Up:
Phones aren’t going away. So instead of fighting your congregation’s screen time, start harnessing it for something that matters.
So What:
Don’t get me wrong, in some ways, phones have become a curse and an addiction. But they can also be a megaphone for the gospel, a discipleship tool, and a direct line to the unchurched … if we use them right.
The Point Is:
Scripture Access Is Instant
Plenty of your members probably already use their phones for Bible reading. Don’t shame it. Encourage it. Leverage apps like YouVersion for deeper engagement.
Sermon Resources on Tap
Make sermon notes, biblical background, and bonus study tools accessible through QR codes and shared Google Drives. Equip them while you preach.
Texting as Outreach
Invite people to text real questions to unchurched friends mid-sermon. You’ll get insights, engagement, and sometimes the perfect quote for your point.
Social Sharing = Evangelism
Encourage check-ins, shares, quotes, and invites right from the pew. A single tagged post could reach someone who’s never heard the gospel before.
And … ?
Phones in church aren’t the enemy. Addiction is. Distraction is. But the devices themselves? They’re tools. And tools can build or destroy depending on who’s using them.
Instead of waging war on cell phones, start asking how you can disciple phone-holders to use their screens in kingdom-serving ways. Post the scriptures. Share the links. Ask for mid-sermon engagement. And when you see a young adult scrolling, don’t assume they’re bored … assume they’re tuned in and resourced up. (Or at least give them the benefit of the doubt.)
You can post a sign that says, “Please silence your phones.” That’s fine. But better yet? Encourage them to use their phones for good. Because the piano was once called a saloon instrument and church leaders tried to ban it … you can see how that worked out!
Action!
Train your people to use every tool they have—including phones—for discipleship and outreach with the Disciple-Making Blueprint. https://effective.effectivechurch.com/org-disciple-making-blueprint
