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Monday, November 2, 2009

Why We Use Stage Props

There are three reasons we use stage props for worship.

 (1) Simplest is that our worship space is pretty sterile on its own.  That is, we worship in essentially a school auditorium, not a warm sanctuary.  Things that add color or interest are a welcome relief for those who don't want to feel like they're in a school.  (Indeed, even expensive sanctuaries add flowers and other plants, as well as stained glass and candles and woodwork purely for decoration.)  We can’t make things more permanent in our worship space because in fact the room is used as a school auditorium each week as well as a worship space, complete with school assemblies, plays, musicals, etc., so the space has to remain flexible. 

 (2) Some people are visually oriented and have trouble staying hitched when everything in worship is only auditory.  They need other things to focus their attention on.  And related to this, but extending it some,

 (3) We use props that are integrally related to the message theme.  We want people to go away with a full understanding of God's Word applied to their lives.  With the TV Religion series, very subtly (in fairness, one might argue "too subtly"), I wanted people to internalize a sense that Jesus is Lord even over television shows, and we need to seek His perspective when we flip on the tube.  And with the current series, The Elephant in the Room, I wanted to make a lasting impression on us so that every time a new member joins the church, we will think seriously about the vows we’ve all taken to support our church with our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness.

When we build a permanent sanctuary, we will need far fewer props for purely decorative reasons (number one above), though the other two reasons (numbers 2 and 3) may suggest that we will want them on selected occasions.

For those who don’t care for the props, please know that there are significant numbers of other folks who actually do benefit from them – who indicate that their spiritual lives are enhanced as a result of having them in our sacred space.  I invite you to celebrate with those who are helped, and I pledge to only use props that are integral to the message.

 

Blessings,

Richard

 

BTW:  Do you have any suggestions for disposing of the elephant?

Posted by Richard Dunagin

Labels: props, worship, tv, elephant

Comments(3) Login to Post Comments

Maranda Thompson on Nov 2, 2009 11:44am
I believe the props are beneficial to your sermons. Not only do they help me, but they keep my teenager more attentive!
Nancy Golden on Nov 8, 2009 4:02pm
I think in general the props enhance the message without being a distraction - it is obvious a lot of thought is put into their use. They serve as a "trigger" for remembering a particular message, and when you get as old as I am - that is a very good thing! As far as disposing of the elephant - well - it would be an awesome addition to desensitizing horses - the idea is to expose your horse to things they would normally freak out about. You do it in stages so that the horse comes to understand that the object in question is really not going to eat them - thus improving your chances of staying on his back when golden elephants (or similiar "scary" objects) unexpectedly appear. Convincing a horse that the huge golden elephant is not going to eat him would be a very interesting challenge...LOL
Iliana Marchant on Nov 23, 2009 1:57pm
The question still remains for me, though, thinking of the verse of not being eloquence in speech, but in demonstration in power. Does the props take away from experiencing the power of God by relying on props to take home a message rather than the Holy Spirit taking it into the heart?

Jesus seemed to use little to none props, as well as the other biblical preachers. Yet is props becoming as them so that we might win them as Paul encourages? Whatever makes for a soul into the kingdom ....

(Don't dispose of the elephant, use it as a prop in a epic play or ask neighboring schools or colleges if they can use that prop in their future productions.)