How to Use Social Media to Share the Gospel
Pictures of my baby nephew. Swipe.
My coworker's photo-worthy dinner. Swipe.
Another video of my cousin's cat. Swipe.
As we scroll through social media, mundane activities to life's proudest accomplishments can have a moment in the spotlight.
So how can we leverage our social media posts to share something more significant, like Jesus?
One easy way to promote spiritual conversations is to post a series of short films for discussion. Whether you have 100 friends
on facebook or 5,000 a Short Film Campaign can help you shift through all the distant acquaintances and close friends to find
people who are interested in having deeper conversations.
The strategy is simple. Post a short film to your wall with a question. This gives everyone the opportunity to share their opinion
in the comments section below and gives you a stepping stone to more meaningful dialogue. Whenever someone comments, you
can individually message them to continue the discussion.
The goal of this strategy is to surface people to have meaningful conversations over digital platforms. Film and story connect
people. It's the perfect media for creating an atmosphere of bringing people together relationally.
Preparation
Pray
Ask the Lord to give you wisdom and creativity as you choose which films to use. Pray for open hearts for the individuals who
respond, that you might share the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and leave the results to God.
Short Film Poll Questions
Now it’s time to choose which short film you would like to post to spur on conversations with friends. Here is a helpful list of
short films found on the Jesus Film Project app with coordinating questions. Start with posting one film along with one of the
questions below and see what conversations come from it. Then you can try out posting another film, when you are ready to spur on more conversations.
Delight
o
Share a time when you poured your heart into something only to have it carelessly destroyed by someone else?
o
Growing up, how did your relationship with your parent/guardian resemble or differ from this film?
o
Which character do you relate to more, and why?
Marea
o
o
o
o
Why would someone risk their life for a stranger?
Have you ever experienced helplessness and how do you cope?Why would someone risk their life for a stranger?
How do you cope with feeling helpless?
What advice would you give to someone who feels helpless?
La Liberte
o
o
o
From where do you think freedom comes?
What does freedom mean for you?
How do you respond when you feel trapped?
Ctrl Z
o
o
Describe a time in your life you wanted a re-do?
How do you handle the things you can’t undo in your life?
Connection
Once people comment with their thoughts on the short film, now it’s time to follow up with one-on-one conversations. Keep an eye on your comment feed below the short film you posted, you want to message people back in a timely manner.
These are some good next steps to take when people start commenting:
These are some good next steps to take when people start commenting:
1.
Thank them in the comments section for sharing their thoughts or perspective.
Helpful Hint: It is good to only post positive feedback in the comments section below
your film. You want to encourage people to open up to you and not discourage others
from entering into the conversation.
2.
Message each person that commented on the short film individually to hear more of their heart and seek to
create further connection.
You could say something like, “Thanks for letting me know your thoughts on the short film I posted.” Then
ask a follow-up question to get the conversation rolling individually.
Here are some potential follow up questions to ask in one-on-one conversations over the Facebook
Messenger app or texting:
What made this film relatable to you?
What do you think the message of the short film is?
Could you share more with me about (fill in the blank what they originally shared in their comment)?
Or create your own personalized question based on the film or comment.
As the individualized conversation continues remember that good conversations happen when we ask intriguing questions and are patient listeners. We want people to feel cared for and seen. So when we share Jesus with our friends it is done in love.
