This Sunday at Church: Helpful Considerations in using Zoom for the Glory of God

More and more churches are doing service online.  If you are using zoom this Sunday at Church I want to encourage you to do the following: Use Zoom for the Glory of God.

Obviously this is not the ideal as a Church should meet physically and in person.  I want to think beyond just the situation with the virus since there’s also times when persecuted churches due to security reasons might have to use a limited duration of Zoom services as churches have to get smaller into small group size for the typical Sunday while from time to time a “larger” Church service might use “Zoom” for their Service.

I want to go over helpful Consideration in using Zoom for the Glory of God.  There’s ten suggestions (commandments?) offered below:

1. Join the meeting early.  Especially if this is your first time.  While you don’t have to sit in a car to go to church don’t forget you might experience technical difficulties that require time for trouble shooting.  Our church is encouraging people to log in thirty minutes early to make sure there’s enough time that it works before service.  There’s fellowship that goes on before the music and preaching!  That gives you time to also be familiarize yourself with how Zoom works.
2. Help others join in the service.  You might say thirty minutes is early.  But this is also the time to help others troubleshoot via phone, messages, etc.  With many other people trying to join in your pastor and the IT guy might not be able to assist everyone in time before service and here you need to step up and help with what you can.
3. Remove all distraction.  If you are using your laptop don’t have many tabs open.  for instance you don’t want to hear the “ding” for Facebook with a new notification and then your mind starts wandering as you wonder who just liked or commented on your post, etc.  If you are using your smartphone close all other apps.  This is a time to worship God.  Give God your undivided attention.  Emails can wait!  Distractions is not just only on your electronic devise you are using; you might think about not eating and chewing loudly, etc.  Also try to use a physical Bible so you don’t make typing noises.
4. Sit in a quiet area without background noise.  Again remember the principle of removing all distraction for the sake of worshiping God.  Also this would be “neighborly” by not distracting the service.  Wouldn’t it be distracting at a church service if someone sat there cutting their fingernails and everyone could hear it while the Pastor is preaching?  Most of us wouldn’t do it.  Likewise let us be aware of background noise.
5. Share your screen with others.  If you are with family members or have room mates joining you or a limited amount of people who is joining you make sure you don’t hog up all the screen.  If you have young ones talk to them prior to the service about the importance of being considerate of others.  This might mean using something with a larger screen than a cellphone if you other devices and platforms available.
6. Mute your microphone during preaching.  Preaching is usually the longest part of the service.  While usually during songs of praise and prayer a congregation’s verbal response is acceptable and add to the social dimension of the gathering usually during preaching for most churches that’s a time of concentrated listening; doesn’t mean we take away the “Amen” and “Praise God!”  Still for the purpose of Zoom muting yourself during the preaching means preventing unexpected noise happening around you that might distract others.
7. Being proper to edify others.  Others can see you!  While service is going on it might not be the time to stick your fingers in your nose.  Its going to distract others.  Plus you probably shouldn’t be touching your face a lot for hygienic purposes.
8. When the time is appropriate bless others with your presence.  When its time to greet, verbally greet others.  Wave!  Smile!  Also make sure your microphone is on at this time.
9. Dress for the Lord as if you would be dress at Church on Sundays.  I saw a secular Zoom etiquette post about the importance of dressing for success for your zoom interview.  There’s a principle here for even Christians attending service on Zoom!  I am not shirtless during an interview or a board meeting on Zoom with other pastors and missionaries; let’s consider the same rule for online church service!  Sure it might be awkward to be wearing your best Sunday clothes in your own living room.  But you are trying as much as possible to have continuity with Church.  For my kids they also need to know that this is not just another video chat hang-out time; its time to worship!
10. Pray.  Wouldn’t it be sad to go to church and have a prayer-less time when you sing, give and listen to God’s Word?  That ought not be.  That’s true also for your time with Zoom.  Pray for it to go well when you see technical difficulties, pray to God praise when things work out, pray to God also that as a church you guys can soon meet up again as one body!