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Mars Hill’s Text Life

Orginally published on Thursday, July 03, 2008 at 7:55 AM
by Todd Rhoades

According to the Mars Hill website, this fall, Mark Driscoll will preach what’s shaping up to be a landmark series in the history of Mars Hill Church. It will feature live texting across six campuses and twenty services (currently, SMS Q&A is used principally at Mars Hill Ballard’s night service). Look for more details later this summer.

Read more about the history and purpose of texting at Mars Hill Church.

Also, here’s a recent clip about Mars Hill Church’s live texting, from KOMO News in Seattle...


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  There are 9 Comments:

  • Posted by

    The more I listen to Mark Driscoll the more I really like and admire him.  And I used to be very critical of him.

    I’ve think this is gutsy and bold of him.  How many Pastors would be willing to answer questions that people text in during the service with no time to prepare?  Questions like; Is it wrong to abort a baby conceived by rape?  There is s video of Driscoll answering this question on You Tube and I’ve got to say he did excellent imho.  He answered it in accordance with his beliefs and in a loving way straight from the heart and reached out to the person who sent in the question.

    They do this now, after their Saturday night service Driscoll answers question that have been texted in during the service, with no time to prepare a response.  The anonymity allows people to ask questions that may be discussed in daily life, but rarely in church.  And some of the questions I’ve seen have been brutal. To do it for a live service should be interesting.

    Our church is doing something similar to what Mars Hill did when they put together a series of sermons based on questions people had sent in and voted for, but our staff compiled and summarized the questions in a manageable sized list and it seems like they softballed some of the questions.  Answering texted questions live pretty much guarantees you’re going to get some hardballs.  Mars Hill podcasts their services so this should be interesting to watch.

  • Posted by Josh R

    I think the SMS experiment has really improved Mark’s teaching.  The IM questions allow him to show his character as a Pastor, and not just a preacher.  I do believe there is a distinction between the two.
    Watching those live answers also reveals just how gifted Driscoll is.  He often quotes strings of scripture, all from memory, cites relatively obscure verse footnotes for many things that he his saying, and rarely breaks his rhythm.  I think he is a bit of a freak.  wink
    I find it interesting that Driscoll has managed to stay away from ‘being controversial’ when he preaches impromptu like this, even when he is handling a very controversial subject.  ("Is abortion after rape wrong” for example) I suspect the more casual the setting, the more likely Driscoll is to get himself in trouble.

  • Posted by paul merrill

    A bit too modern for me - the texting the pastor thing. I guess I’m an old guy.

  • Posted by

    It would be really great iof they did not censor the the really questions, or if the Mars Hill members who ask them are not subject to arrogant put-downs from the pulpit.

    For instance:  http://www.youtube.com/user/ReallySad1

  • thats gonna be good, i wanna see the recording

  • Posted by

    Ted,
    I watched the video you referred to.  I agree with one of the comments.  Whoever posted this is a coward and a slanderer.  You can quote anyone or pull a clip from ANY sermon and prove your predisposed agenda.  “heartless and rash firings”?  “friviolous and irrelevant charges”? I doubt it.  I don’t attend Mars Hill, but I know some people who do and have read some of Mark Driscoll’s books and watched a few of his sermons.  I don’t agree with everything he says (but then I don’t always agree 100% with my own pastor!), but I believe he is the real deal.  Mars Hill Church is making a difference for Christ in a very dark city (both spiritually and physically!) in a very dark state.  We are absolutely called to judge a minister’s fruit, but NEVER their heart and motives.  Only God knows that.  Kool Aid?  The danger here is not with Mark Driscoll, but of comparing a minister of the gospel with evil.  Not helpful to the body of Christ.

  • Posted by

    first, its unfortunate that the entire sermon or more of it isn’t posted to make sure the context is there. nevertheless, George Bush has been criticized for not having people who questioned his rational for going into iraq.  It is important to question authority and pastors, especially those that don’t operate with any controls or questionable controls. Again just from what I’ve heard driscoll is wrong.  the bereans were better christians because the searched the scriptures to see what they were being told was true, they did question.  Lastly, driscol shouldn’t be praised or condemned for his little innovative QA, he should be praised or condemned based on the answers he will give.

  • Posted by

    oh, and what kind of arogant megolomanic does it take to think he can field all these people’s questons, what ego.  do you think maybe a panel would be a better forum with better answers? no, good ol Mark, let all admire him for being the wizard of mars hill and singlehandledly take all those questions by himself.  Well, this does have plenty of entertainment value, and with no preparation ahead of time, it probably will have no educational value at all.  typical of most churches isn’t it? and for the critics?  you just little kids, shut up and drink your kool aid.

  • Posted by Todd Rhoades

    Oliver,

    Go away.

    Todd

  • Page 1 of 1 pages

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